Turn worries into questions
Yan learns to name the worries that come with his first day of school and turn them into questions he can explore.
Yan The Little Squirrel | Ages 4-7
Yan the Little Squirrel
And a Big Change
A story about starting school, big feelings, and new beginnings.
Additional Book Information
Reading age
4-7 years
Print length
140 pages
Language
English
Dimensions
13.97 x 0.81 x 21.59 cm
Publication date
August 19, 2026
Category
Yan The Little Squirrel
Editions
Paperback
Kindle eBook
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Price 24.99 CAD
Paperback and Kindle eBook editions are available now on Amazon Canada.
Inside the Book
A story for new beginnings
Gentle social-emotional learning for children and families navigating change.
Prepare for the unknown
With small plans and familiar routines, a big change starts to feel more understandable and manageable.
Find familiar pieces
Yan discovers that new places can still hold comforting pieces of home, friendship, and connection.
One little leaf at a time
Every brave beginning can start with one small, hopeful step.
A new school. A big change. A thousand questions.
Starting school, moving to a new place, changing classrooms, or meeting new friends can bring excitement, worry, and many big feelings — for children and for the grown-ups who love them.
Join Yan the Little Squirrel as he prepares for his first day of school and learns that big changes do not have to feel impossible. Through his journey, children discover how to recognize feelings, turn worries into questions, prepare for the unknown, and find familiar pieces in new experiences.
- Confidence during transitions
- Emotional awareness and communication skills
- Problem-solving, friendship, and resilience skills
Perfect for children starting kindergarten or a new school, moving to a new home, city, or country, changing classrooms or teachers, saying goodbye to familiar friends, or facing any big life transition.
Big changes can begin with small, manageable steps.
A Note From the Author
One morning, my little one ran straight to the window. “What are you looking for?” I asked. “I’m looking for yellow leaves! Is it autumn yet?”
A few days earlier, I had told him that when the trees turned yellow, orange, and red, he would start a new school. From that moment on, he searched the trees every morning.
And I realized that while we were waiting for autumn, he was also trying to understand a much bigger change. So we talked. We turned worries into questions. We found the answers we could. We prepared for what was ahead. And we learned to leave some things as surprises. One little leaf at a time.
— Anna Klimentova
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