Dealing with Divorce

Dinosaurs Divorce, by Laurene Krasny Brown and Marc Brown.   Text and illustrations of dinosaur characters introduce aspects of divorce such as its causes and effects, living with a single parent, spending holidays in two separate households, and adjusting to a stepparent.

 My Mother’s House, My Father’s House, by C.B. Christiansen.   A child describes having two different houses in which to live, “my mother’s house” and “my father’s house,” and what it is like to travel back and forth between them.

Dear Mr. Henshaw, by Beverly Cleary.   In his letters to his favorite author, ten-year-old Leigh reveals his problems in coping with his parents’ divorce, being the new boy in school, and generally finding his own place in the world.  This is a long chapter book that would be best for third graders.

The Un-Wedding, by Babette Cole.   As their parents disagree more and more about everything, Demetrius and Paula Ogglebutt decide that everyone would be happier if they “un-marry.”  This silly tale can serve as a refreshing way to talk about divorce.

Amber Brown is Not a Color, by Paula Danziger.   This is the first in a series about Amber Brown, a spirited third grader who deals with divorce and her father’s remarriage.  It is just right for second and third grade girls—a great alternative to Junie B. Jones.

Changing Families: A Guide for Kids and Grown-ups, by David Fassler.   Provides advice on coping with such family changes as separation, divorce, remarriage, new family members, and new schools.  This book also serves as a workbook for children with writing and drawing activities and samples of other children’s responses.

At Daddy’s on Saturdays, by Linda Walvoord Girard.   Although her parents’ divorce causes her to feel anger, concern, and sadness, Katie discovers that she can keep a loving relationship with her father even though he lives apart from her.

Celebrating Families, by Rosmarie Hausherr.   This beautifully photographed book presents many different kinds of families, both traditional and non-traditional.

What Can I Do?,  by Danielle Lowry.   A young girl tries everything she can think of to keep her parents from getting a divorce, but with the help of her school counselor, she comes to realize that the divorce is not her fault.

I Don’t Want to Talk About It, by Jeanie Franz Ransom.   A child describes having two different houses in which to live, “my mother’s house” and “my father’s house,” and what it is like to travel back and forth between them.

My Other Mother, My Other Father, by Harriet Langsam Sobol.   In this rather long, picture book, twelve-year-old Andrea, whose parents have divorced and remarried, discusses the complexities of her new, larger family.  This is illustrated with rather dated photographs but is still relevant for an older child who is coping with new family members.

Scooter, by Vera B. Williams.   Elana “Lanny” Rosen has to move to New York City after her parents divorce.  Her new silver scooter helps her adjust to the many changes in her life. This is a chapter book that would be good for second or third graders.