Collins Big Cat - The New Kid : Band 12/Copper

Copper Band 12

The

The

THE NEW KID

d i K New

d i K w e N

Ammar doesn’t want to go to his new school.

He can’t speak English and he wishes he was back home in Syria. Will Ammar find a friend, when he can’t speak the language?

A contemporary story collins.co.uk/collinsbigcat

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A.M. Dassu

Hüseyin Sönmezay

20/04/2022 15:22

The

d i K w e N

Written by A.M. Dassu Illustrated by Hüseyin Sönmezay

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1 First day Mama tapped Ammar on his shoulder. “Come on, you need to get ready,” she said, smiling. “We don’t want to be late for your first day at your new school!”

Ammar looked out of the window and swallowed the big hard lump in his throat. He didn’t want to go to a new school where he didn’t know anyone or understand their language. No one would speak Arabic and he hardly knew any English – he’d never make any friends!

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Ammar wanted to tell Mama he was scared but the words wouldn’t come out. He didn’t want to upset her, especially because this was the first time that he’d seen her excited since they’d suddenly left Syria.

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Mama explained he should be happy he got into a school in England so quickly. But Ammar didn’t feel lucky. He felt sad.

School in Syria was fun. He always looked forward to going and playing with his friends.

Everything felt safe … until one day it wasn’t.

When a bomb fell in their neighbourhood, Mama and Baba said they had to leave.

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“But, Mama, you need me at home!”

Ammar said. “Who else will look after baby Yusra when you’re cooking?”

Mama laughed. “I managed to raise you without any help. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine! We’d much rather hear your stories when you get home.”

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The school gates loomed in the distance and Ammar’s tummy rocked. What would Mama do if he turned around and ran back home? She wouldn’t be able to grab him in time because of the pushchair.

Or maybe he could tell Mama he felt sick? He didn’t want to run away alone in this new scary city.

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“Mama, my tummy hurts.” Ammar wrapped his arms around his stomach.

“You’re fine!” she said, stroking Ammar’s back as she walked towards school. “Come on!

You’re just nervous!”

Ammar dropped his shoulders and followed Mama. Nothing was going to work.

He’d have to go to school.

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2 School The teacher spoke to Ammar in a strange language he guessed was English. She pointed at a chair tucked under a table where lots of children were sitting. Ammar thought this meant he should sit down, so he pulled out the chair and sat quietly. Ammar could feel all the other children staring at him.

His cheeks were burning.

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The teacher went to the whiteboard and the children started talking. It was a strange classroom. There were five big tables with children sitting around all of them facing each other. In Syria, Ammar sat with his friend at a desk that faced the board and his teacher.

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Copper Band 12

The

The

THE NEW KID

d i K New

d i K w e N

Ammar doesn’t want to go to his new school.

He can’t speak English and he wishes he was back home in Syria. Will Ammar find a friend, when he can’t speak the language?

A contemporary story collins.co.uk/collinsbigcat

79060_Cover.indd 1

A.M. Dassu

Hüseyin Sönmezay

20/04/2022 15:22