What This Book Is About
A girl has had enough of her new baby brother, who looks "just like a potato" and cries all the time. So she sits down in a cardboard box marked FREE KID and waits for a better family to come and take her.
A lost dog joins her in the box. Then a stray cat. Then a turtle. All three of them are claimed before she is, and in the end she chooses her own family back. Hiroshi Ito wrote and illustrated the book in Japanese; Cathy Hirano's English translation is published by Gecko Press. The humour is dry and the drawings do a lot of the work.
Available at Popular bookstores, Kinokuniya, and the Singapore National Library.
Why We Recommend This Book
For A1-level readers (Grade 2), this book works beautifully for three reasons.
First, the humor is immediate and physical—kids laugh out loud within the first few pages. Nothing motivates a young reader more than genuine enjoyment, and this book delivers that in spades. When reading feels fun, children voluntarily pick up the next book.
Second, it is a translated work from Japanese, which is exactly the kind of global literature UWC values. Reading stories from different literary traditions teaches children that humor, love, and family frustrations are universal—a core lesson in international-mindedness.
Third, the theme of family relationships gives parents and children a natural conversation starter. After reading, kids often want to talk about their own siblings, which turns a reading experience into a language-rich discussion—exactly the kind of interaction that accelerates English acquisition.
Reading Level Guide
Still building foundations. Start with picture books and read-alouds to build vocabulary first.
Perfect difficulty. Challenging enough to grow, accessible enough to enjoy.
A comfortable, confidence-building read. Great for fluency practice or a relaxing weekend book.
Other UWC Recommended Books for This Grade
Not sure if this book is right for your child? Take our free English assessment to find their CEFR level, then choose books that match.