🎒

The New Kid

A story about school, kindness, and making friends

📚 Reading Class
🎓 Ages 6–8
⭐ Friendship

Chapter 1

🌞 A New Morning

Lily sat at the breakfast table and stared at her cereal. She did not eat it.
Today was the first day at her new school. Her tummy felt like a jar full of butterflies.

What if no one talks to me? What if I sit alone at lunch? she thought.

“You will be great,” said her mom, kissing the top of her head. “Just be yourself, and you will find a friend.”

Lily picked up her backpack. It had a yellow sun on it. She took a deep breath and walked out the door.

Chapter 2

🏫 Room Seven

The classroom was loud and bright. Cubbies lined the walls. Crayon drawings were taped above the windows.
A big yellow rug sat in the middle of the room with the letters of the alphabet on it.

Lily stopped at the door. Twenty pairs of eyes looked at her.

“Class, this is Lily,” said the teacher, Ms. Park. “She just moved here from far away. Let’s make her feel welcome.”

Some kids smiled. One boy waved. But Lily could only see all the empty seats — and she did not know which one was hers.

Chapter 3

🖍️ The Girl with the Purple Pencil

Ms. Park led Lily to a seat next to a girl with two braids and a purple pencil behind her ear.

“Hi! I’m Amara,” the girl whispered. “Don’t be scared. Ms. Park gives out stickers on Fridays.”

Lily almost laughed. “Stickers?” she whispered back.

“Star stickers,” said Amara, very seriously. “They are the best ones.”

Lily felt the butterflies in her tummy calm down — just a little.

Chapter 4

🥪 The Lunch Problem

At lunchtime, Lily carried her tray into the big cafeteria. It was very noisy. She could not see Amara anywhere.

Maybe I will just eat fast and go outside, she thought.

She found an empty corner and sat down. She opened her lunchbox. Inside was a note from her mom. It had a drawing of a sun and a heart.

Lily smiled at the drawing. Then she heard a voice.

“There you are! I looked everywhere for you. Scoot over!”

It was Amara — holding a tray piled high with tater tots.

Chapter 5

🌳 Something in Common

Amara sat down and pointed at Lily’s backpack. “I love your sun! Yellow is my favorite color.”

“Really?” said Lily. “Mine too!”

They both laughed. Then Amara pulled the purple pencil from behind her ear.

“Okay, yellow is my second favorite. Purple is first.”

“Purple is my second favorite,” said Lily. Now they were both grinning.

They ate their lunches and talked about dogs (Amara had one named Biscuit), jumping rope (Lily was very fast), and books (they both loved the same series about a flying turtle).

By the time the bell rang, Lily had forgotten all about being scared.

Chapter 6

⭐ The Walk Home

At the end of the day, Ms. Park gave everyone a star sticker for being so kind to Lily.

“Told you,” Amara whispered proudly.

Outside, the two girls walked together until the sidewalk split in two different directions. Amara went left. Lily went right.

“See you tomorrow!” called Amara, waving her purple pencil in the air.

“See you tomorrow!” Lily called back.

She walked home with her star sticker on her shirt and the sun warm on her face.
She thought about her mom’s words that morning — just be yourself — and smiled.

Making a friend, Lily decided, was the best thing about first days.

🌟 The End 🌟

✏️ Word List

Look for these words in the story!

nervous
welcome
cafeteria
serious
directions
tummy
whispered
braids
decided
favorite

🧠 Talk About It!

1

How did Lily feel at the beginning of the story? How do you know?

2

What did Amara say that made Lily feel a little better in class?

3

Name two things Lily and Amara had in common.

4

How did Lily feel at the END of the story? What changed?

5

What would YOU do to help a new kid feel welcome in your class?

☀️ Made for Reading Class  ·  Ages 6–8  ·  Friendship Theme