Change is hard, particularly for children. If it’s moving to a new home, starting school, or missing a friend, these are all big experiences that introduce big feelings. That’s why Rodney’s Big Move: A Spruce Hollow Tale by Cheryl Farnsworth is such an important book for families. This gorgeous children’s book with accompanying illustrations takes comfort, support, and common experience to children who are experiencing anxiety and being nervous about changes.
Rodney’s story is one that is familiar to many children. It teaches young readers through his eyes that change isn’t to be dreaded, it’s to be grown up.
Relocating to a New Residence and Missing a Friend
When he wakes and hears the moving truck, Rodney realizes everything in his life is about to change. His family has moved into a new home in Spruce Hollow and he doesn’t approve. Since he moved, he can no longer be with his friend Sam. Missing a best friend is one of the toughest aspects of moving, and Rodney feels it hard.
Kids who have experienced, or soon will experience, a move will immediately identify with Rodney’s unhappiness and worry. The book gives kids permission to feel that way and allows them to understand that it’s natural to feel split up and uncertain about facing significant changes.
Starting School: A New Adventure Begins
As if moving to a new home wasn’t enough, Rodney is also starting school in a completely new place. Like many kids, he’s full of worries. Will the teacher be strict? Will he have to eat lima beans? Will he make any friends?
Rodney is obviously anxious and nervous about changes, yet when he enters his kindergarten classroom, he’s pleasantly surprised. His kindergarten classroom is cheerful and playful, his teacher Mr. Foxden is friendly, and there are unlimited chances to learn and play. The book captures the nervous energy of starting school while showing how quickly fears can fade when a child is supported in a warm, inviting environment.
Making Friends While Missing a Friend
Throughout the book, Rodney still misses a friend, but he also starts forging friendships in his new town. One of the absolute best parts of the book is the classroom’s “Me Too Meet-Up” activity, in which students share common interests such as soccer, swimming, and strawberry ice cream.
Rodney’s experience shows children that making friends doesn’t mean forgetting the old ones. It’s a gentle reminder that hearts have plenty of room to grow and welcome new people, even when you’re still holding onto special memories.
A Must-Have Book for Any Family in Transition
If your child is moving to a new home, starting school, making friends, or feeling nervous about changes, Rodney’s Big Move: A Spruce Hollow Tale is the perfect story to read together. With relatable emotions, fun characters, and a hopeful message, this book helps children feel seen, heard, and ready for what’s next.
Cheryl Farnsworth has created a heartfelt tale that every parent, teacher, and child can treasure during life’s biggest, and sometimes scariest, moments
