Everything is new

So what else is new? A young child complains about a recent move. There's an unfamiliar new pool and trees and a curly-haired boy next door keen to make friends. This lonely grumbler regrets having left behind treasured belongings, except for a beloved, worn-out tricycle that still provides comforting familiarity. When it breaks, Dad can't fix it, so he purchases a new two-wheeler for the protagonist. After they both apply stickers to it, Dad helps the wary child take it for a spin. At first, this new experience is scary, but going fast is also fun. "Maybe new things aren't so bad after all?" the child muses. The little one decides to try more new things: swimming in the pool, appreciating the trees' comforting shade, checking out the new playhouse, and going on adventures with Sam, the child's new best friend, formerly known as "the boy next door." This wise, sweet story, translated from Dutch, depicts a situation that will be familiar to many. Young readers will feel reassured to see another child taking those first steps toward navigating potentially unnerving situations with courage and self-confidence (and some encouraging adult backup). The soft, colorful, calming illustrations portray the child and Dad as light-skinned and Sam as brown-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Proof that new things can be wonderful. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.