Gila Monsters Meet You at the Airport

A New York City boy dreads his family's move out West, convinced he'll have to ride a horse to school, dodge buffaloes, and avoid cactus everywhere he sits.

For the kid who insists their whole life will fall apart over one big change, this book turns that exact panic into something you can laugh at together.

• Big idea: The scary unknown is usually just the ordinary, dressed up by your own imagination.
• Vibes: Funny, anxious, wry, and reassuring — a worrier's imagination played for laughs.

• are working on handling a big move or life change
• enjoy exaggerated, funny worst-case scenarios
• respond well to stories that gently poke fun at fear
• like to talk through their worries out loud

• Feelings & empathy: Why do you think the boy was so sure he'd have to ride a horse to school out West?
• Story & problem-solving: What did the boy imagine life out West would be like before he got there?
• Real-life connection: Have you ever worried about something new turning out to be scary, like moving or starting school?
• Imagination: If you had to guess what a new place would be like, what wild ideas might you come up with?
• Story & problem-solving: What actually happened on the ride to his new home, and how was it different from what he expected?