Personalised story for child nervous meeting new people: your child Meets the New Neighbour

What happens in your child Meets the New Neighbour

1. A moving van arrives at the house beside your child's home.
2. Your child spots the new child holding a green dinosaur and stays by the gate.
3. Dot the garden snail gives your child something quiet to watch while the boxes are carried inside.
4. A chalk drawing on the pavement becomes a simple reason to wave.
5. Your child chooses a short hello, then heads home feeling pleased with their own small step.

How the first page could read

On a quiet afternoon, your child was drawing chalk circles by the front gate when a small moving van rolled into the house next door. A child stood beside a stack of boxes, holding a green dinosaur. Your child felt a fluttery, stay-close feeling. Their grown-up squeezed your child's hand and waited.

Your child’s name, look and little details replace these words, and the whole story is written for their age.

Why this story works

For children aged three to six, this 32-page story keeps the moment small and recognisable: a front gate, boxes next door, chalk on the pavement and a first wave. Your child is allowed to pause, watch and decide when to step closer, rather than being hurried into a long chat. The new neighbour is simply another child with a toy and a move to manage. As your child notices shared play, the story gives a gentle, practical shape to saying hello. A photo-based illustration puts your child at the centre of all 15 story spreads.

Reading it together

• Before reading, ask your child whether they would prefer to wave, draw or simply watch if someone new moved nearby.
• Pause at the gate scene and let your child choose a tiny next step for the character, with no need to choose the same answer twice.
• Afterwards, keep a piece of chalk by the door for a low-pressure drawing or waving game when neighbours are around.

Suggested art style: Storybook watercolour

Soft watercolour gives the doorstep, garden wall and pavement chalk a calm, familiar feel without making the new encounter seem too big. A sidekick idea: Dot, a slow garden snail. You can pick any of the four styles and change the details in the form.