David Jumps In by Alan Woo, Katty Maurey
ISBN: 1771388455
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads

On his first day at a new school, David is unsure and feeling like an outsider. He feels nervous about making new friends but eventually works up the nerve to ask some other kids to play a game called “elastic skip” with him. He teaches them the game, and it’s a huge hit.

This is a sweet story about friendship and inclusion. It’s well told with compassion and empathy. Any child who has been the new kid anywhere will relate to David’s feelings of insecurity, and watching him overcome his fears may help kids find a way to step up when they’re in that situation. The illustrations are colorful but sparse with lots of white space. They are, however, very effective at conveying David’s emotions before and after making new friends. There is a paragraph on the back pages about the game David plays so kids can learn more about it and its origins. Recommended for children 4 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME