Welcome to Maple Block. Everyone gets a spot. That’s the rule. Ziggy just moved to Maple Block — and doesn’t know a single neighbor. With a yellow sun backpack, a pocket full of pebbles, and a heart full of hope, Ziggy takes the bravest step of all: walking out the front door and saying hello. Benny the rabbit brings blueberry muffins. Pip the frog makes the biggest splash. Luna the butterfly paints everyone on the mural wall. Dot the turtle shares her wisdom slowly and surely. And Milo the bear cub — quiet and shy just like Ziggy — becomes the truest friend of all. But not everyone on Maple Block is welcoming. Slick the snake and his crew have other ideas. And Ziggy will have to find out what it really means to be brave — not the loud kind of brave, but the quiet kind. The kind that stands still and says: I belong here too. A warm, funny, and deeply reassuring picture book for children ages 4–7 about moving somewhere new, standing up to bullies, and discovering that belonging starts with one small act of courage. Perfect for: Children starting preschool or kindergarten Families who have recently moved Classroom and library read-alouds Children experiencing bullying or social anxiety Anyone who has ever felt like the new kid Bedtime reading that sparks big conversations “Being mean doesn’t make you big. It just makes everyone smaller.” Book 1 of the 10-book Maple Block Story series — follow Ziggy and friends through every season on Maple Block! 42 pages · 21 full-color illustrations · Ages 4–7 Changing the world · one thought · one hand · one heart · one smile · at a time