About the Book

"A narwal's horn keeps getting in the way during his first week of kindergarten, until his new friends help him find just the right accommodations"--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

A gentle tale from the beloved creator of The Box Turtle about a narwhal whose horn keeps getting in the way during his first week of school, until his new friends help him find just the right accommodations

Hugo has a problem. A big, tall problem. One that refuses to go away, no matter how many hats (or donuts) he puts on his head to try and hide it. His horn is a barrier to the bus and a calamity in the classroom, and nothing Hugo tries seems make it better.

But with the help of his friends and a rousing, inclusive baseball game, Hugo learns that everyone needs something a little different to succeed and that working together is no trouble at all.

Review Quotes

"A laugh-out-loud, fish-out-of-water, first-day-of-school read."--Kirkus

"Friendly multimedia vignettes...emphasiz[e] themes of community support." --Publishers Weekly

"Hugo learns everyone has their unique abilities and differences, and that working together makes everything better. A fun story about fitting in while also embracing our differences." --Kidsbookshelf.com

Featured in:
Imagination Soup: 10 New Back-to-School Books for 2025
Publishers Weekly: Back-to-School Books for Fall 2025
Sheaf and Ink: Back to School Children's Book Recommendations

About the Author

Vanessa Roeder is an author and illustrator whose work has been featured in Highlights magazine and on Apartment Therapy. Her picture books include The Box Turtle, The Stack and The King Penguin. She lives with her family in Austin, Texas.