The Suitcase

The Suitcase by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros is a powerful picture book that introduces children aged five years plus to themes of kindness, empathy, belonging and welcoming others. Through the story of a stranger arriving with a suitcase and the suspicion he faces from other animals, children are encouraged to explore feelings, understand different perspectives and discuss the importance of inclusion.

The simple text and expressive illustrations make complex ideas, such as displacement and friendship, accessible to young learners. In the classroom, the book provides rich opportunities for literacy, PSHE and creative learning. Children can develop speaking and listening skills through role play and discussion, practise inference by exploring the illustrations and engage in writing tasks such as letters, diary entries, or welcome messages. It also supports discussions about diversity and community, helping children understand how acts of kindness can help others feel valued and accepted.

All in all this is a wonderful book that children will readily engage with.

Picture book / Reviewed by Louise Gahan, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 7+

The Suitcase is all about making new friends, particularly with those that seem different from you, and deciding whether to believe tales that people tell you.

As a strange animal approaches a group of friends, he tells them all about the magical things he has in his suitcase. The other animals find it tricky to decide whether he is telling the truth or not so, when he is sleeping, one of the animals decides to open his suitcase and see for themselves! The animals are shocked at what they find, and then troubled that they have broken into his suitcase, and search for a way to help set things right.   Luckily, instead of being cross that the animals had doubted him in the first place, the stranger decides he may have some new friends after all.

This is a nice story with some interesting opportunities for several moral discussions - trusting people, making new friends, dealing with difficulties with others, and how we treat 'strangers' who probably have more in common with us than we think.

Picture book / Ages 5+ / Reviewed by Lucy Newton, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 5+