Changing families

Luna Loves Library Day, by Joseph Coelho & Fiona Lumbers

“Luna loves library day: that’s the day she spends with her dad. Exploring the shelves they find magic, mystery and even start to mend their own history.”

Dealing with my Parents’ Divorce, by Jane Lacey & Venitia Dean

“Sometimes you can sort out a problem on your own. But sometimes you need to ask for help. This book helps young children to make this decision and find out about and understand what’s happening when their parents divorce or separate. It features eight case studies from children who have a range of issues from a girl who is angry with her parents to a boy who is worried about what will happen next. “

My Family’s Changing: a first look at family break-up, by Pat Thomas & Lesley Harker

“Using beautiful but realistic artwork, Pat Thomas and Lesley Harker take the extremely sensitive and often painful subject of divorce and explain the facts, gently but seriously, for the very youngest of readers.”

Why Don’t We All Live Together Anymore? Big issues for little people after a family break-up, by Emma Waddington, Christopher McCurry & Louis Thomas

“Advice and guidance from two child psychologists on talking to your child after a family break-up.”

Split in Two: keeping it together when your parents live apart, by Karen Buscemi

“From how to organise your stuff to making both houses feel like your home, to how to negotiate with your parents to get the things you need, Split in Two helps readers to deal with parents who live apart. Advice includes how to become a better packer, organiser and money-saver.”

Two Nests, by Laurence Anholt & Jim Coplestone

“This is a gentle story about family separation with a happy ending.

“Betty and Paul are two little birds who build a nest. Betty lays an egg and out pops Baby Bird. But the nest is small, Betty and Paul squabble, and they decide that Paul should live in a different nest. But Betty and Paul both love Baby Bird, and soon he is able to fly over the cherry tree, visiting his two nests.

“‘You had a home, now you have two, four little words, dear, we BOTH love you.’”

Candyfloss, by Jacqueline Wilson & Nick Sharratt

“Floss’s parents split up, and now she divides up her week, spending five days with her mum, and the other two days with her dad. But, then their arrangement is thrown into disarray when Floss’s mum decides to move to Australia for six months. Floss has to choose whether to go with her or stay with her dad.”

But I Want to Stay With You…: talking with children about separation and divorce, by Jill Burrett

“Jill Burrett, a consulting psychiatrist specialising in divorce situations, writes plainly about communication between children and parents that are divorced.”

Goggle-eyes, by Anne Fine

“Kitty doesn’t like her mother’s new lover, yet when they separate after a dramatic quarrel, she finds that she misses him.”

Madame Doubtfire, by Anne Fine

“Lydia, Christopher and Natalie Hilliard are used to domestic turmoil. But all that changes when their mother takes on a most unusual cleaning lady. Soon the Hilliard children discover that there’s more to Madame Doubtfire than domestic talents.”

More People to Love Me, by Mo O’Hara & Ada Grey

“This little girl’s family is huge! The only way to show how huge would be to draw a family tree. With a step-mum, a step-dad, four brothers and sisters, and a whole lot of grandparents, her family tree has a lot of branches - and a lot of people to love her.

“Mo O’Hara’s warm and playful story will speak to any young child with an extended or step-family.”

It’s Not the End of the World, by Judy Blume

“Karen’s parents have always argued, and lately they’ve been getting worse. But when her father announces that they’re going to get divorced, it seems like Karen’s whole world is falling apart.”

Two Homes, by Claire Masurel

“Alex has two homes - a home where daddy lives and a home where mummy lives. Alex has two bedrooms and two favourite chairs. But she is loved by both of her parents. This book is a positive portrayal of the life of a child whose parents are divorced.”

Weekends with Dad: what to expect when your parents divorce, by Melissa Higgins & Wednesday Kirwan

“When your parents divorce, it can feel like the world turns upside down. What do you do? Whether you live mostly with your mum or dad, this story can help you through the tough times.”

Mum and Dad Glue, by Kes Gray & Lee Wildish

“This picture book looks at divorce from a child’s eye view. A little boy tries to find a pot of parent glue to stick his mum and dad back together. His parents have come undone and he wants to mend their marriage, stick their smiles back on and make them better. Even though his parents may be broken, their love for him is not.”

My Daddy is a Silly Monkey, by Dianne Hofmeyr & Carol Thompson

“My daddy is a great big bear. He gets out of bed and grumbles and grouches, scratches and yawns!

“This charming picture book for younger children portrays a day in the life of a dad and daughter in a single-parent home, as they get up, have breakfast, go to school, go swimming, make dinner and prepare for bedtime. Dad is a great big bear, a silly monkey, a crocodile, an octopus and, at bedtime, a scary monster for a little while - but in the end it’s Daddy being Daddy that the little girl loves best.”

All About Families, by Felicity Brooks & Mar Ferrero

“Families come in all shapes and sizes and from all sorts of backgrounds. They speak various languages, eat different sorts of food, live in different kinds of homes and celebrate special occasions in a variety of ways. This book lets children explore questions such as ‘What is a family?’, ‘What different sorts of families are there?’ and more.”

The Great Big Book of Families, by Mary Hoffman & Ros Asquith

“What is a family? Once, it was said to be a father, mother, boy, girl, cat and dog living in a house with a garden. But as times have changed, families have changed too. Mary Hoffman takes a look through children’s eyes at the wide varieties of family life, from homes, food and schools to holidays, jobs and housework.”

The Family Book, by Todd Parr

“The Family Book celebrates the love we feel for our families and all the different varieties they come in. Whether you have two mothers or two dads, a big family or a small family, a clean family or a messy one, Todd Parr assures readers that no matter what kind of family you have, every family is special in its own unique way.”

The Daddy Book, by Todd Parr

“The Daddy Book celebrates all kinds of dads and highlights the many reasons they are so special. Whether your dad walks you to school or walks you to the bus, whether he wears suits or two different socks, whether he has a lot of hair or a little, Todd Parr assures readers that every dad is special in his own way.”

Dealing with my Stepfamily, by Jane Lacey & Venitia Dean

“Sometimes you can sort out a problem on your own. But sometimes you need to ask for help. This book helps young children aged 7+ to make this decision and find out about and understand life in a step family. It features seven case studies from children who have a range of stepfamily issues from a girl who doesn’t want to share to a boy who is worried because he likes his stepdad more than his ‘real’ dad. The end of the book features a short playscript to act out and discuss.”

Family Differences, by Honor Head

“Family Differences looks at different family set-ups including single parents and step-families and examines issues that can arise within families - sibling fall-outs, poverty, abuse, illness and child carers, and getting on with parents. It is part of the series ‘My Life, Your Life’, which takes a sensitive and positive look at some of the issues that concern children aged 10+.”