The best Usborne books to prepare children for moving house

Moving house is a big adventure for little ones. Between packing, goodbyes and first nights in a new bedroom, stories and simple activities can make everything less wobbly and much more exciting. Below you’ll find our favourite Usborne books to support children from nursery through KS1, with gentle explanations, practical prompts and lots of reassuring fun.

Before the boxes: helping children picture the change

Start with a friendly walkthrough of what moving actually means. First Experiences: Moving House follows a family step by step, from packing to removal vans and that all-important first bedtime in a new room. The calm, matter-of-fact tone helps younger children understand what will happen and when, so routines feel safer even as the scenery changes.

For slightly older preschoolers who enjoy a narrative arc, We’re Moving House captures the swirl of emotions and small surprises: saying goodbye to a favourite tree, exploring a new street, and finding cosy corners in an unfamiliar home. It’s perfect for a cuddle and chat at the end of a packing day.

And if your child loves a bit of monster mayhem, Monsters Move House turns the process into a silly, giggly caper. The playful chaos is brilliant for when everything feels a bit serious, and it opens the door to conversations about what they might find funny (or not!) about the move.

Busy hands, calm minds: sticker fun for smoother pack-ups

When energy is high and boxes are everywhere, engaging hands-on activities can be a lifesaver. First Sticker Book: Moving House keeps little helpers occupied with friendly scenes to complete, such as loading the van, sorting rooms, settling in, while also building vocabulary for all the new sights they’ll encounter. 

Talking about feelings (and normalising them)

Big changes often bring big feelings. All About Worries and Fears explains anxiety in child-friendly language, with practical tips to try together: breathing slowly, naming feelings, and planning what to do when worry pops up. It reassures children that butterflies are normal and only temporary.

For very young children, Very First Questions & Answers: Why do I sometimes feel sad? uses sturdy flaps and simple questions to help toddlers recognise and label emotions. It’s a gentle way to validate tears or grumps on packing days, and to practise short, soothing routines.

To keep the conversation flowing across the whole family, All About Feelings offers colourful, everyday scenarios (feeling left out, feeling proud, feeling nervous) that you can dip into after school or before bed. Pair it with First Sticker Book: Feelings for reflective, screen-free time while you tackle the to-do list nearby.

New places, new faces: settling into friendships and family rhythms

Starting fresh often means meeting new neighbours, classmates and clubmates. Lift-the-Flap First Questions & Answers: How can I make friends? turns social skills into small, doable steps: saying hello, taking turns, joining in and bouncing back when things feel awkward. Try a page together before a first park visit or trial day.

Alongside this, Lift-the-Flap Questions & Answers about Families celebrates the many ways families live, look and organise themselves, including moving closer to grandparents or living further apart. It’s a brilliant springboard for talking about what’s changing for your family and what’s staying exactly the same.

First nights and new routines: keeping it cosy

In those first days, revisit First Experiences: Moving House at bedtime to anchor the new routine. Invite your child to choose a favourite page and spot something similar in their new room, such as the lamp, the window, the bedtime toy. If worries simmer, hop back into All About Worries and Fears for a quick “what can we try now?” check-in, or lift a reassuring flap in Why do I sometimes feel sad? to name a feeling and let it pass.

Ready to build your moving-day book basket? Shop our wonderful collection of books that will help prepare children for moving day below.