I don’t remember how or when I learned the word divorce. I’m not sure I learned it intentionally. One day, I came home from school and my dad’s things were missing, and somehow I realized that he wasn’t coming back. somehow I realized this was a divorce.
but that was in the eighties, when communication between parents and children was not as normalized as it is now. (at least in my experience).
You are reading: Kids books on divorce
All that has changed now. It seems that we as a society have a better understanding of the kind of intentional conversations that need to happen between parents and children when it comes to divorce. Unfortunately, conversations aren’t any easier now than they were then.
That’s where books come in. books can help parents find the words to explain concepts that seem too difficult for young minds. For that reason, we’ve rounded up fourteen children’s books that can help kids understand and begin to process divorce.
“a new special friend” by tamar burris
This is the perfect story for kids who have gotten used to the idea of divorce, but now need to figure out how to handle dating their parents. “A New Special Friend” is the story of the little fox trying to figure out how to navigate his father’s new special friend. Through Little Fox’s journey, young children can learn that their feelings and concerns about their parents’ new partner are valid and that it’s okay to let someone new into their lives.
“a children’s book on divorce” by ashley simpó
Divorce is a scary and confusing thing for most kids. this book can help answer some of the remaining questions, even when those answers are not easy. Part of the “A Children’s Book About the Series” series, this guide is intended to help parents and children start an honest conversation.
“shine: why don’t the moon fairy and the sun prince live together?” by amanda gummer ph.d, mark jordan and noah charney
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For children who prefer fantasy to realistic fiction, this book is the story of the fairy of the moon and the prince of the sun, who decide that, to be happy, they need to be apart. however, they realize that they will always be connected by the beautiful thing they created together: their little star.
“the ring bearer” by floyd cooper
jackson’s mom is getting married and he’s the ring bearer. it’s a big responsibility that he’s taking seriously, but he’s not sure his soon-to-be stepsister is taking his job as a florist seriously enough. this story is perfect for kids who are exploring what it means to come together in a blended family.
“lou caribou: weekdays with mom, weekends with dad” by marie-sabine roger and nathalie choux
lou caribou is a little reindeer who lives with his mother at one end of the forest and visits his father every weekend at the other end. is a great story to help young children understand that even though one parent doesn’t live with them, the separation hasn’t changed how much they both love them.
“a tale of two seders” by mindy avra portnoy and valeria cis
“A Tale of Two Seders” is a great story for children trying to understand what certain holidays can look like when they split their time between two households. taking place over three years and six seders, this book shows how a family adjusts to new lives and new traditions.
“divorce is the worst” by anastasia higginbotham
Part of the “Ordinary Terrible Things series,” this book is perfect for kids who want its honesty with a dose of humor. This “child-centered divorce performance” communicates the challenge of trying to stay together when he feels like everything else is falling apart.
“two homes” by claire masurel and illustrated by kady macdonald denton
alex has a soft chair at his mom’s house. she has a rocking chair at her dad’s house. In both houses she has a special space, friends and a lot of love. Described as “simple, yet deeply satisfying” by Booklist, “My Two Homes” helps kids focus on what they’ve found, rather than what they’ve lost in the divorce.
“standing on my own feet: a child’s affirmation of love in the midst of divorce” by tamara schmitz
Using bright pictures and child-friendly language, this book tells the story of a little boy who wishes he had a house. he learns that no matter where he lives, he has two parents who love him. this book is an excellent choice even for very young children facing divorce.
“my two homes” by claudia harrington and zoe persico
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When Lenny visits Skye’s house, he learns that Skye has three parents and two houses. This upbeat story helps normalize children’s lives after divorce and is part of a series that includes a variety of diverse family units.
“when my parents forgot how to be friends” by jennifer moore-mallinos and marta fabrega
part of “let’s talk about it!” series, this book is written and illustrated especially for very young children. addresses the concern many children have when parents divorce: is it my fault? this book helps them understand that it’s not their fault and that both parents love them very much, even if one doesn’t live at home.
“living with mom and living with dad” bymelanie walsh
a simple story for very young children whose parents live in two separate houses. This book takes children through the changes in routine that can occur when they live in two separate houses and have two sets of toys.
“was it the chocolate pudding?” by sandra levins and bryan langdo
with a focus on the big questions: will my parents still love me? who will take care of me? It’s my fault? This book is for early school-age children who are feeling all kinds of new emotions, from anger to loneliness to confusion.
written by jane annunziata, psy.d., “was it the chocolate pudding?” walks parents through the common emotions children may experience during parental divorce and helps show them how to guide young children through this difficult time.
“divorcing dinosaurs (a guide for changing families)“ by laurie krasny brown and marc brown
Families have turned to this beloved story for more than two decades. This book helps young children understand what divorce means, why it happens, and how to talk to each other during the hardest parts.
Books have the power to make what feels scary and isolated feel universal and, at least a little, normal. For a child learning to navigate life after divorce, these books might just be the thing to make their day a little easier.
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