Lily. An Unexpected journey
A Cozy Chapter Book About Friendship, Feelings, and the Magic of Drawing (Ages 7–10)
with Kateryna Didevych (Illustrator); Viktoriia Medvied (Translator)
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Pub Date Mar 7 2026 | Archive Date Feb 28 2027
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Description
What if moving to a new home meant leaving everything familiar behind?
Lily’s life changes overnight when her family relocates to Spain. A new house, a new school, and a language she barely understands make her feel lonely, nervous, and completely out of place. Like many children facing a big move, Lily struggles to express her feelings and adjust to an unfamiliar world.
Everything begins to change when she discovers a mysterious old book and meets Ding-Dong — a tiny dragon with a gentle heart and a gift for inspiring courage and creativity.
Through drawing, imagination, and a little magic, Lily slowly learns how to overcome her fears, build confidence, and start making friends in her new environment.
This heartwarming illustrated chapter book combines fantasy and emotional growth in a story that helps children navigate change, friendship, and self-discovery. Perfect for families looking for kids books about feelings, social emotional learning stories, and comforting books about moving to a new house.
Ideal for readers ages 7–10, especially children:
- adjusting to a new school or country
- coping with anxiety or loneliness
- learning friendship and social skills
- building confidence through creativity
A touching story about change, resilience, and discovering that home is the place where you feel loved and understood.
A Note From the Publisher
This is a cozy, heartfelt chapter book for readers aged 7–10 about friendship, big feelings, and the magic of drawing — with charming illustrations throughout. It's a gentle, emotionally warm story, and a natural fit for classrooms, school and public libraries, and any young reader who loves art and stories about belonging.
We'd truly value your honest review. If you enjoy the book, posting your feedback on Amazon and Goodreads, helps other parents, teachers, and young readers discover Lily. Please feel free to reach out with any questions — happy reading!
Advance Praise
"This story really resonates with our family situation so I couldn't not leave a review. My daughter saw herself in Lily from the very first pages. Same feelings, same fears. It was hard to watch but also really healing.
The book is easy to read and understand and the illustrations are just beautiful. We kept stopping just to look at them together.
Thanks to the author for talking about this subject. Not enough people do."
— Fanisk, book reviewer
"I was absolutely thrilled to see a book by a Ukrainian author here! The story of a young girl named Lily is striking in its sincerity, and at the same time, it reveals a side of war that not everyone knows about—one of childhood struggles and loss, and of how a person, while still just a child, loses everything they love and is forced to rebuild their life in a new place. Thank you to the author for tackling this subject!"
— Marina, book reviewer