Meet Ira Crumb. He's the new kid in town. He knows what that means: when the new school year starts, he'll play alone at recess, eat alone at lunch, and walk home alone at the end of the day. So Ira launches a whole-hearted campaign to befriend neighborhood kids before the first day. But his best-laid plans ? A sandwich stand! A dance-off! ? fall flat, and playing it cool doesn't seem to work either. Just as Ira decides school will be HORRIBLE, a comical misunderstanding connects him with Malcolm, who was the new kid last year and totally gets it - and who, it turns out, will make a pretty good friend. Full of comedic touches, comics-style storytelling, and a diverse cast of quirky characters, this hilarious debut picture book puts an endearing spin on the anxiety that accompanies change and making friends. Ages 3-7 AUTHOR: Naseem Hrab is a writer, a storyteller and a pretty good friend. Her comedy writing has appeared on McSweeney's Internet Tendency and The Rumpus. Naseem worked as a librarian for a time and now works in children's publishing. She lives in Toronto, Ontario. Josh Holinaty is an illustrator whose works include public art commissions and book, magazine and newspaper illustrations. His previous books include the Norma Fleck Award finalist A Beginner's Guide to Immortality: From Alchemy to Avatars. Originally from Alberta, Josh now lives in Toronto, Ontario, with his wife Genevieve and their dog, Jack, eater of socks. SELLING POINTS: . Deals with the challenge of making new friends . Endearing character full of personality, humor, and heart . Elements of comics-style storytelling support reading on different levels