Discussion Tips for Parents

The Brand New Kid , by Katie Couric

Lazlo S. Gazky, a new kid in class, has just come to this country from Hungary. Lazlo's first days at Brookhaven School are a nightmare: His "different" looks and manner set him apart from the other children and inspire the kind of teasing elementary school kids and their parents will quickly recognize. After initially joining in the taunting, Ellie McSnelly and Carrie O'Toole offer Lazlo their hands in friendship and prove to the rest of the class that looking different is not such a bad thing.

To Discuss with Your Child:

1. What was the first day of school like for you? Do you remember the feelings you had? Were you scared? Excited? A bit of both?

2. How do you think Lazlo felt in this book? Why?

3. Why were the other kids in Lazlo's class mean to him?

4. What did Ellie do to make a difference in Lazlo's life? Why was that important?

Children who feel good about themselves are often the ones who are most able to reach out to others. As Fred Rogers from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood says in his book You Are Special, "What matters most is how children feel about their uniqueness once they do begin to realize that they are different from everyone else. How each of us comes to feel about our individual uniqueness - determines whether we grow into adults who rejoice in the diversity of the world's people or into adults who fear and resent that diversity."

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