Kids' Books About Moving to a New Home

Last updated: March 19, 2026

Moving from one place or home to another can be difficult for kids. The books on this list explore how it feels and the challenges of adjusting to a new home, city, country, language, culture, or family situation. Some of the kids in these stories deal with parental loss or splitting their time between two homes due to divorce. Some are refugees who are feeling the loss of the only land they've ever known. All are compelling tales of growing up, adapting to new situations, and, in many cases, making new friends. For more great reads, check out our Coming-of-Age Books and Kids' Books About the Immigrant Experience.

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Lenny & Lucy Poster Image

BOOK

Lenny & Lucy

age 3+

Masterful book about moving is emotionally powerful.

Philip C. Stead Picture Book (2015)

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Alexander, Who's Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move Poster Image

BOOK

Alexander, Who's Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move

age 4+

Alexander has big feelings in funny story about moving.

Judith Viorst Family Life (1995)

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Anything book cover: A multicolor title and squiggly lines surround a girl on a box, one leg dangling, the other bent up

BOOK

Anything

age 4+

Touching tale about a girl, her daddy, and an unwanted move.

Rebecca Stead Picture Book (2025)

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Nana in the City Poster Image

BOOK

Nana in the City

age 4+

Gentle tale of grandma helping boy feel brave in new place.

Lauren Castillo Picture Book (2014)

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When You Are Brave Poster Image

BOOK

When You Are Brave

age 4+

Girl scared of moving away finds courage in inspiring tale.

Pat Zietlow Miller Picture Book (2019)

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cover of Birdsong book

BOOK

Birdsong

age 5+

Gentle story of friendship and nature through the seasons.

Julie Flett Picture Book (2019)

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Diwali in My New Home

BOOK

Diwali in My New Home

age 5+

Warm story embraces celebrating holiday in a new place.

Shachi Kaushik Picture Book (2022)

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Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away Poster Image

BOOK

Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away

age 5+

Touching story captures besties' last day as neighbors.

Meg Medina Picture Book (2020)

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Home book cover: Girl in a tire swing on a green hill against a deep orange sunset sky

BOOK

Home

age 5+

Poetic meditation on what makes a place feel like home.

Matt de la Peña Picture Book (2025)

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Kick Push Poster Image

BOOK

Kick Push

age 5+

Kid explores new neighborhood in fun tale of self-pride.

Frank Morrison Picture Book (2022)

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Mindy Kim Series Poster Image

BOOK

Mindy Kim Series

age 6+

Warm series about Korean American girl's life in new town.

Lyla Lee For Beginning Readers (2020)

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Weekends with Max and His Dad Poster Image

BOOK

Weekends with Max and His Dad

age 6+

Playful, realistic tale of adjusting to life after divorce.

Linda Urban Family Life (2016)

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Extraordinary Birds Poster Image

BOOK

Extraordinary Birds

age 8+

Kid in foster care learns to trust in beautiful story.

Sandy Stark-McGinnis Coming of Age (2019)

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Lunar Boy book cover: Boy with white hair, white shirt and tie, blue pants, barefoot, sitting on pile of household items backlit by a big white moon

BOOK

Lunar Boy

age 8+

Heartening, wholesome interstellar trans tale of belonging.

Jacinta Wibowo , Jessica Wibowo Graphic Novel (2024)

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Prairie Evers Poster Image

BOOK

Prairie Evers

age 8+

Great novel about a girl, her chickens, and her best friend.

Ellen Airgood Friendship (2012)

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Silver Meadows Summer Poster Image

BOOK

Silver Meadows Summer

age 8+

Poignant story of Puerto Rican girl adapting to life in U.S.

Emma Otheguy Coming of Age (2019)

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Squished book cover

BOOK

Squished: A Graphic Novel

age 8+

Graphic novel takes relatable look at life in a big family.

Megan Wagner Lloyd Graphic Novel (2023)

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The House That Wasn't There Poster Image

BOOK

The House That Wasn't There

age 8+

Engaging story of loss, friendship, and a mystery to solve.

Elana K. Arnold Friendship (2021)

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The Next Great Paulie Fink Poster Image

BOOK

The Next Great Paulie Fink

age 8+

Funny, touching, thought-provoking middle school story.

Ali Benjamin School (2019)

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Turtle in Paradise: The Graphic Novel Poster Image

BOOK

Turtle in Paradise: The Graphic Novel

age 8+

Family secrets fuel lively tale of trying to fit in.

Jennifer L. Holm Graphic Novel (2021)

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