Collingwood Press has released Mudpuddle’s New Friend, a picture book by New England author Miles F. Stember that tackles themes of immigration, empathy, and the courage to challenge a parent’s snap judgment. Written for readers ages 3 to 8 and the grownups who read with them, the story follows a small earthworm named Mudpuddle who responds to the arrival of a moving truck next door with one of the bravest things a child can do: he walks next door and says hello.
Set in the peaceful town of Turtletown, the narrative begins when a new family moves in beside Mudpuddle’s house. He meets Gus de la Tierra, whose parents have left a faraway country in search of a better life. When Mudpuddle brings the news home, his father looks up from the newspaper and decides the new family should be avoided. Mudpuddle speaks up, his mother stands with him, and soon the whole family is sitting at the de la Tierra dinner table. There, a plate of unfamiliar food softens a hardened opinion, and by the end of the evening Mudpuddle’s dad is asking for the recipe.
The book handles a timely subject with a light touch. At its heart are kindness, curiosity, and the courage to question a snap judgment. The moment where a child gently challenges a parent’s assumption opens the door to family conversations about fairness, empathy, and what it means to be a good neighbor. Teachers and librarians will find it a natural fit for lessons on community, belonging, and making newcomers feel at home.
“I wanted to write a story that shows children how much good can come from one simple hello,” Stember said. “Sometimes the youngest member of the family sees most clearly, and I hope Mudpuddle encourages readers to open their doors and their hearts.”
Stember has been writing stories since he was about Mudpuddle’s age. In fifth grade he placed second in his group in a young writers’ contest, and New Hampshire Public Broadcasting in Durham gave his work its first audience. He went on to sharpen his craft at NHTI, Concord’s Community College, and at the University of New Hampshire. He has always loved telling stories to family and friends, and now he shares them with young readers everywhere. He lives in New England.
Readers can find Mudpuddle’s New Friend on amazon.com/dp/B0HFDMDHG6, on Mudpuddle’s New Friend on Goodreads, and on Mudpuddle’s New Friend on Kobo. It is also available through Mudpuddle’s New Friend on Bookshop and at greenapplebooks.com/book/9798951043214.
