cover
Inside a sunlit afternoon living room, Max touches his glasses at the window and gazes at the backyard basketball hoop, while Mom and Dad stand nearby exchanging gentle, concerned expressions.
"We're moving to England," Mom said softly. Max felt his tummy flip. He looked at his basketball hoop outside. "When?" he whispered. "Next month, sweetie," Dad answered. Max touched his glasses nervously. Everything felt different now.
In Max's half-empty bedroom lit by morning light, open suitcase on the floor, Max kneels placing toy cars inside, as Mom crouches beside him giving an encouraging smile.
Max packed his favorite toys slowly. His room looked empty and strange. "Will I make friends there?" he asked Mom. She hugged him tight. "You're brave and kind, Max," she said warmly. He smiled just a little.
Inside a bright daytime airplane cabin, Max presses his face to the window, clouds like pillows below, while Dad leans over the seat pointing eagerly toward the distant glimmering ocean.
The airplane roared across the sky. Max pressed his face to the window. Clouds looked like fluffy pillows below. "Look, Max! That's the ocean!" Dad pointed excitedly. Max's heart beat faster. Adventure was really happening now.
Outside a stone-faced row house on a cloudy afternoon, a red double-decker bus passes the curb, Max stands at the gate smiling, as a football-holding neighbor boy waves from the adjoining garden wall.
A red bus rolled past their new house. Max saw stone buildings and smiled. "It's different, but pretty," he said bravely. A boy waved from next door. "Want to play football?" the boy called. Max grinned wide and nodded yes.