The Girl at the Front of the Class

The debut picture book from Onjali Q. Rauf, the bestselling and award-winning author of The Boy at the Back of the Class.

There's a new girl in my class. She has eyes as wide and as golden as a tiger's, a face as pale as a glass of milk, and hair as shiny as a mirror. I'd like to be her friend. But she never wants to play with me in the playground or makes sandcastles in the sandpit.

The cleverest people I know say that the new girl is sad because she had to leave her home, her family, her school, her toys, her books and all her friends too.

But I've got a plan! There's something I can do to make her feel better when she's missing everything she's left behind . . .

This heartfelt story about the power of friendship and kindness shows young children what steps they can take to make refugee children feel welcome.

Onjali Q. Rauf (Author)

Onjali Q Rauf's first book, The Boy at the Back of the Class, was Winner of the Waterstones Children's Book Prize in 2019, the Blue Peter Book Prize 2019 and other accolades.

Rauf's second book, The Star Outside My Window, went on to win the Diversity Book Award for Children's Fiction (UK) 2020.

Further titles include The Night Bus Hero, The Great Food Bank Heist, The Lion Above the Door, Where Magic Grows and Hope on the Horizon.

In 2022, Rauf was recognised for her services to Literature and Women's Rights in the New Year Honours.

Pippa Curnick (Illustrator)

Pippa Curnick grew up in rural Essex and studied at Camberwell College of Art. She graduated from the University of Derby with a First Class degree in illustration. Pippa's picture book Lucie Goose was shortlisted for the Evening Standard's Oscar's First Book Prize. Her website is and you can follow her on Insta @pippa_curnick and on Twitter @PippaCurnick

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