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Quick answer: The best books for Kids About Moving to a New Home include Big Ernie's New Home by Teresa Martin and Whitney Martin, Alexander, Who's Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move by Judith Viorst, The Berenstain Bears' Moving Day by Stan and Jan Berenstain and twelve more picks chosen for story quality and age fit. Each book below has a short description, a suggested age range and who it suits best, with a comparison table to help you choose quickly.
Moving to a new home can be exciting and scary at the same time. These picture books and early chapter books help children talk about saying goodbye, packing up, making new friends and finding comfort in a new bedroom, with gentle stories and plenty of reassurance.
Table of Contents
Quick Comparison Table
| Book | Author | Ages | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Ernie's New Home | Teresa Martin and Whitney Martin | 3-7 | children who need a reassuring story |
| Alexander, Who's Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move | Judith Viorst | 4-8 | kids who are angry about moving |
| The Berenstain Bears' Moving Day | Stan and Jan Berenstain | 3-7 | young fans of the bear family |
| Boomer's Big Day | Constance W. McGeorge | 3-6 | dog lovers |
| A House for Hermit Crab | Eric Carle | 3-6 | children who like animals |
| Moving Day | Ralph Fletcher | 6-9 | readers who like poems |
| Moving House | Anne Civardi | 3-6 | children who want to know what happens |
| Ira Says Goodbye | Bernard Waber | 4-8 | kids whose best friend is moving |
| I'm Not Moving, Mama! | Nancy White Carlstrom | 3-7 | children who resist change |
| We Are Moving | Mercer Mayer | 3-6 | fans of Little Critter |
| Amelia's Notebook | Marissa Moss | 8-11 | older kids starting a new school |
| The Name Jar | Yangsook Choi | 4-8 | children moving to a new country |
| We're Moving! | Heather Maisner | 3-6 | toddlers and preschoolers |
| Goodbye House | Frank Asch | 3-6 | very young children |
| A New House for Mouse | Petr Horáček | 3-6 | the youngest listeners |
How We Chose These Books
We looked for real, widely available titles that match the theme and the age range, and we favoured books with clear storytelling and strong reputations with parents, teachers and librarians. Age ranges are suggestions, not rules, so you know your reader best. Previewing a book before you hand it over is always a good idea, especially for sensitive topics.
The 15 Books
1. Big Ernie's New Home by Teresa Martin and Whitney Martin
A young turtle worries about moving to a new city and finds it can feel like home. Recommended ages: about 3-7.
Best for: children who need a reassuring story.
2. Alexander, Who's Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move by Judith Viorst
Alexander refuses to move, listing everything he will miss. Recommended ages: about 4-8.
Best for: kids who are angry about moving.
3. The Berenstain Bears' Moving Day by Stan and Jan Berenstain
The bears leave their old home for the famous tree house. Recommended ages: about 3-7.
Best for: young fans of the bear family.
4. Boomer's Big Day by Constance W. McGeorge
A dog is confused when everything is packed into boxes on moving day. Recommended ages: about 3-6.
Best for: dog lovers.
5. A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle
A hermit crab outgrows his shell and decorates a new one. Recommended ages: about 3-6.
Best for: children who like animals.
6. Moving Day by Ralph Fletcher
Poems follow a boy as his family moves to a new town. Recommended ages: about 6-9.
Best for: readers who like poems.
7. Moving House by Anne Civardi
An Usborne First Experiences book showing each step of a family's move. Recommended ages: about 3-6.
Best for: children who want to know what happens.
8. Ira Says Goodbye by Bernard Waber
Ira's best friend Reggie moves away, and both boys feel mixed emotions. Recommended ages: about 4-8.
Best for: kids whose best friend is moving.
9. I'm Not Moving, Mama! by Nancy White Carlstrom
A little mouse insists he will stay behind, until his mother reassures him. Recommended ages: about 3-7.
Best for: children who resist change.
10. We Are Moving by Mercer Mayer
Little Critter worries about leaving his old house and friends. Recommended ages: about 3-6.
Best for: fans of Little Critter.
11. Amelia's Notebook by Marissa Moss
Amelia writes and doodles about her move and new classmates. Recommended ages: about 8-11.
Best for: older kids starting a new school.
12. The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi
Unhei worries her new classmates won't say her name. Recommended ages: about 4-8.
Best for: children moving to a new country.
13. We're Moving! by Heather Maisner
Kim and Sam prepare for moving day step by step. Recommended ages: about 3-6.
Best for: toddlers and preschoolers.
14. Goodbye House by Frank Asch
Little Bear says goodbye to every room before the family leaves. Recommended ages: about 3-6.
Best for: very young children.
15. A New House for Mouse by Petr Horáček
Mouse searches for a new home big enough for a giant apple. Recommended ages: about 3-6.
Best for: the youngest listeners.
How to Choose the Right Book
For toddlers and preschoolers, start with Goodbye House, We're Moving! and Big Ernie's New Home, which explain moving simply. Children who feel upset or angry may connect with Alexander, Who's Not Going to Move, while Ira Says Goodbye helps when a friend moves away. Older kids starting at a new school will enjoy Amelia's Notebook and Moving Day.
Tips for Choosing and Sharing These Books
- Read it first. A quick skim lets you spot anything that might need a conversation.
- Match the book to the child. A reader who loves jokes may prefer a funny pick, while a quiet reader may prefer a gentler story.
- Read together. Pausing to ask what a character might feel or do next turns a story into a conversation.
- Visit the library. Borrowing a few titles from this list lets you find the ones your child returns to.
- Revisit favourites. Children often ask for the same book again and again, and rereading builds confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best book on this list to start with?
Big Ernie's New Home by Teresa Martin and Whitney Martin is a strong place to start, and every book on this list is a good option.
What age are these books for?
The books on this list suit roughly ages 3 to 11, and each entry shows its own suggested range.
Should I read these books aloud?
Many of them work well read aloud, especially with younger children, and older readers may enjoy reading them independently.
Where can I find these books?
Most of these titles are easy to find at public libraries, school libraries and bookshops, and many are available as ebooks or audiobooks, which can help reluctant or struggling readers.
Related: 15 Best Children’s Books About Moving to a New House (Ages 2–10) · How to Teach a Child to Read at Home