Calvin and Pudge Learn the Truth About Growing Up

growing up book for kids. A social emotional learning story about friendship and empathy

Growing up isn’t one big moment where everything suddenly makes sense.

In Calvin and Pudge Learn the Truth About Growing Up, readers follow Calvin as he begins to discover that maturity doesn’t arrive all at once—and it doesn’t come with instructions.

This story gently explores:

• What growing up really looks like — small, everyday choices rather than dramatic milestones

• Why empathy starts with listening, not fixing or giving advice

• How responsibility matters most when no one is watching

• Why mistakes don’t mean failure — they mean learning

• How friendships can change as people grow, and why that’s okay

• The importance of self-respect and self-kindness during emotional growth

With Pudge the loyal beagle always nearby, Calvin learns that becoming more grown-up doesn’t mean becoming harder or louder—it means becoming more aware, more honest, and more willing to keep learning.

This is a thoughtful, relatable story about real emotions, real growth, and the quiet moments that shape who we become.