Here are a few excerpts from our fun and exciting book, written by elementary school kids especially for kids ...

[page 1]..."I don't care where we're going.  Let's just go!" Eleven year-old Asterio was so excited.  He was jumping up and down, twisting and turning.  He couldn't wait.  This was the day that his family was moving from their outerspace home in Tooperville, Jupiter, to Springfield ... on Earth.  Dad had told him that he could drive the family rocket ship.  He was going to push the beeper to tell people, "Hey, get out of my way."

Suddenly, Asterio stopped jumping and looked at his sister, Jupiteria. She was six years old.  She was mad.  She didn't want to pack her things.  She didn't want to move.  She scrunched up her mouth and crossed her arms. She stomped her feet.  She started crying.  "I hate moving.  I like it on Jupiter.   I like my school.  I like my friends.  They are cool and have worms and alien heads.  There are probably too many people in Springfield.  And our planet is better because it's made of gas.  Earth has gravity and my hair will get all messed up."

Asterio pointed at Jupiteria and said to his mom, who was packing boxes, "Mom, the only bad thing about moving is we have to take HER..."

[page 8]...Mom thought about her family while she was packing.  All Jupiterians looked different, which was fun and interesting.  Their family name was Pencil, but they didn't look like pencils.   They all had two horns, four eyes, a big oval mouth, six feet, two arms, and three snake tails.  On one hand they had seven fingers and the other hand had three fingers...

[page 11]..."Ok, everyone fasten your seatbelts, take one last look, and we're off to our new adventure on Earth," said Dad... Everyone was quiet for a minute. They were thinking about last night when they had said "Goodbye" to their grandparents, friends, and Dr. Broccoli, their favorite principal.  Everyone promised to write and the Pencils promised to come back to visit...

[page 21]..."SHOOM!"  They landed at their street in Springfield. They saw their home.  It was big again and looked just like it looked on Jupiter.   They saw the Rocket Moving Company van parked in front, next to Mom's space car...The Pencil family could hardly wait to get out and look around...

[page 26]... While the kids jumped and jumped and played games, the parents talked about Springfield, about Earth, and about the new school.  The Sharpeners said that Asterio and Jupiteria would go to the same school as Jingle and Joe Go.  "We like Springfield," they said.  "People come here from all over.   You'll fit right in..."

[page 27]..."The Pencil kids ran into their house and were happy that they had moved to Springfield."

Our association's children's book, written as a school project by students at Springfield Ball Charter (elementary) School, Springfield, Illinois, and published by WeWrite Corporation  is available from IMAWA or one of our members! Follow the adventures of The Pencil Family as they move from Jupiter to Earth. 

"We're Moving!" was written to help children understand that moving to a new home can be a fun adventure ... and help alleviate some of the trauma caused by this major life change.  In addition to a delightful story appropriate for elementary school aged children and younger, "We're Moving!" also includes practical advice about moving for Mom and Dad.  It's a terrific permanent addition to any library.

This fun and helpful book is now available from IMAWA.

The "We're Moving!" project was financially sponsored by independent members of the moving industry as a benefit for children and to provide factual and unbiased information about moving.  The book does not endorse any particular moving companies.  

For more information,  e-mail IMAWA.