A dorm room labeled Room 202 at Lux University

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Someone New in Room 202

Name: Someone New in Room 202
Availability: InStock
Author: Wanderly

A new student is coming to Lux University—someone from far away who's never seen a city as big as Opal City before! Echo the Iguana is nervous, overwhelmed, and doesn't know anyone. Will you help him feel welcome? Discover how small acts of kindness can make a big difference, and learn that being curious about new people is always better than judging them.

CuriosityCourageKindnessGenerositySelf-AwarenessSocial AwarenessDecision MakingLuxterra

About This Story

What your child will experience

Your child helps their character welcome Echo, a new student who feels overwhelmed and out of place at Lux University. Through prompted choices and open questions, they decide how to notice someone struggling, whether to reach out, and how to respond when others exclude or judge the newcomer. They'll explore what curiosity looks like in action and practice standing up for someone who needs a friend.

The story uses a visual metaphor—Echo's lightstone dims when he feels excluded and brightens when included—to make emotions concrete and visible.

Why this approach helps

This story builds social awareness and relationship skills aligned with early elementary SEL frameworks. By making small choices in a low-stakes setting, children rehearse empathy, practice noticing exclusion, and explore how their actions affect others' feelings. Over time, stories like this help children develop vocabulary for inclusion, grow confidence in reaching across differences, and recognize that curiosity is kinder than judgment.

What to notice as a parent

Your child's answers reveal how they think about newcomers and outsiders. Do they notice when someone is alone? What makes them curious versus hesitant? You can also use this story as a conversation starter if you've noticed a new child joining your child's community.

Personalize This Story

Make this story truly special by adding these details:

✓Who will welcome the new student?

Story Questions

Questions your child may be asked while creating this story:

What does the main character notice about Echo?
How might Echo be feeling right now?
What is the main character curious about?
How do the mean words make Echo feel?
What does the main character do?
What did the main character learn from meeting Echo?

Loved by Families

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— Taryn S

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“Ok, so I installed this yesterday, and I've already read 5 stories with my 4 year old. That's over an hours worth of time. Today he tried to negotiate to have me read 4 in a row... He's fully engaged, and takes his time over the choices - I think that and the funny moments in the stories are what have him hooked. He lost it when our cat (yes, you can include your pet in a story!) turned into a elephant. As a parent, it's whimsical and a welcome change from the regular books in rotation. I was initially unsure about using my phone to engage him during bedtime, but he entrallment quickly overcame that. I would wholeheartedly recommend it to others.”

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“As an lifelong educator, I give this app an enthusiastic 5 stars+. With opportunity to choose and name characters, type of story and plot ... what could be more creative? What could be a more productive use of screen time? I love that this app was created and is carefully monitored by a Mom of young kids. She also happens to have technical/AI chops ... she was a Google Product Manager in their Education Products sector. The graphics are quite lovely, the story lines are fun and age-appropriate.”

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— Bill

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