Divorce is tough on families — especially when young children are involved. There are very few picture books about divorce because it’s not an easy subject to broach and it has quite a niche audience. Still, these books are essential for the kids processing parental separation or divorce. If you’ve been on the lookout for picture books about divorce and separation, this is the list for you. And if you have older kids, you may want to check out the middle grade book list about divorce, separation, and blended families.
Picture Books About Divorce
Here are 15 relatable picture books about divorce:
Luna Loves Library Day
Published: November 28, 2017
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. An inspiring story from one of the UK’s greatest up-and-coming poets for children, captured in all its flights of fancy by newcomer Fiona Lumbers.
Fred Stays With Me
Published: June 1, 2007
Sometimes I live with my mom. Sometimes I live with my dad. But Fred stays with me.
Told from the point of view of a young child whose parents are divorced, Fred Stays with Me follows a girl and her dog, Fred, from one parent’s house to the other’s, giving her a sense of continuity and stability. With a simple text and childlike language, the story expresses and addresses a child’s concerns, highlights the friendship between child and pet, presents a common ground for the parents, and resolves conflict in a positive way. Tricia Tusa’s charming and whimsical artwork adds a light, happy feel to this poignant–but not overly sentimental–story.
Weekend Dad
Published: August 1, 2020
“This home is home because my dad is here, and it’s nothing like home because my mom isn’t here,” thinks the boy in this story when he enters his dad’s new apartment for the first time. His dad moved out on Monday and now it’s Friday night, the start of his weekend with his dad.
The boy and his dad follow their normal weekend routine ― they eat eggs for breakfast, play cards and spend time at the park. And then they do the same things on Sunday. It is hard to say goodbye at the end of the weekend, but Dad gives his son a letter to remind him that, even if they can’t always be together, the boy is loved.
When Otis Courted Mama
Published: March 1, 2005
Young children become confused and hurt when their parents constantly argue, then decide to divorce. This sensitively written book assures boys and girls that children are in no way responsible for their parents’ inability to get along together. It lets kids know that although one parent chooses to move away from the home, both parents continue to love their little boy or girl. Both Mom and Dad will continue to spend happy times with them. Even very young children have concerns and anxieties, and Let’s Talk About It! books are written and illustrated especially for them. Parents are advised to read these books aloud while their preschooler listens and looks at illustrations of the boys and girls in each story. Many children in early grades will be able to read the stories for themselves. Let’s Talk About It! books encourage children to explore their feelings, and then to speak openly about things that trouble them.
Shine: Why Don’t Moon Fairy & Sun Prince Live Together?
Published: September 14, 2017
If you want to raise happy children after divorce this divorce book is a must have and suitable for all children aged 5 upwards. Looking for divorce books for kids, divorce books for women and divorce books for men – this book is all in one? The fairy tale about two beings and their little Star is accompanied with engaging illustrations and a storyline which explains that divorce is easier when two people can no longer live happily together and acknowledge that it isn’t, and never was, the child’s fault. The book explains that a child should never feel guilty and know that he or she is truly loved.
Mum and Dad Glue
Published: January 1, 2009
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. This story is brilliantly told with a powerful message that even though his parents may be broken, their love for him is not.
Living with Mom and Living with Dad
Published: June 12, 2012
Her parents don’t live together anymore, so sometimes the child in this book lives with her mom and cat, and sometimes with Dad. Her bedroom looks a little different in each house, and she keeps some toys in one place and some in another. But her favorite toys she takes with her wherever she goes. In an inviting lift-the-flap format saturated with colorful illustrations, Melanie Walsh visits the changes in routine that are familiar to many children whose parents live apart, but whose love and involvement remain as constant as ever.
Here and There
Published: March 31, 2019
A young boy, Ivan, experiences the early stages of his parents’ separation and finds hope in the beauty and music of nature. This tale of personal growth will provide a much-needed mirror for children in times of change — and an important reminder for all that there’s beauty everywhere you look.
Monday, Wednesday and Every Other Day
Published: February 4, 2014
Henry Cooper and his dog Pomegranate have two houses. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and every other weekend, they live with Mama in her new apartment, but on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and every other weekend, they live with Papa in his new house.
Henry and Pomegranate are happy as they dance with Mama and sing with Papa, but Henry knows that sometimes Pomegranate gets confused and just wants to go . . . home.
I Have Two Homes
Published: December 2, 2011
A young girl named Nina recounts her feelings about her parents’ divorce and describes what it is like to live in two households in this touching picture book. Everything is different from the way it was, and sometimes the behavior of the adults around her is upsetting to Nina. When she is with her mom, she wants to be with her dad. She misses her hamster, her cat, her playmate, and her favorite climbing tree when she is away from them. Many things about her new life upset her, but there are happy moments, too—she celebrates her birthday twice, and both her parents are there when she jumps into the deep pool for the first time. Her parents don’t like each other any more, but they both love her and they make sure she knows it. This honest, uncomplicated account of divorce from a child’s point of view will reassure and comfort young readers who are experiencing the changes that divorce brings to a family.
Was it the Chocolate Pudding?
Published: September 15, 2005
When a young boy’s parents divorce, he thinks it’s because of the chocolate pudding he and his brother smeared all over the wall. If only he had brought a spoon!
Divorce usually changes many things in a young child’s life, including family structure, lifestyle, and the child’s home. As a result, children of divorcing parents may feel sad, lonely, angry, or confused. And, like the young boy in this story, they often feel that they are to blame.
Was It the Chocolate Pudding? addresses the confusion experienced by children who are early school age and younger, and focuses with comforting reassurance on the questions that are foremost in their minds: Do my parents still love me? Who will take care of me? And perhaps the biggest question of all: Was it my fault?
Why Do Families Change?
Published: March 21, 2017
Separation and divorce are difficult on the entire family.
Often young children blame themselves or are unsure of their place in the family if these events occur. Child psychologist Dr. Jillian Roberts designed the Just Enough series to empower parents/caregivers to start conversations with young ones about difficult or challenging subject matter.
Two Homes
Published: March 25, 2014
At Mommy’s house, Alex has a soft chair. At Daddy’s house, Alex has a rocking chair. In each home, Alex also has a special bedroom and lots of friends to play with. But whether Alex is with Mommy or with Daddy, one thing always stays the same – Alex is loved. The gently reassuring text focuses on what is gained rather than what is lost when parents divorce, while the sensitive illustrations, depicting two unique homes in all their small details, firmly establish Alex’s place in both of them. Two Homes will help children – and parents – embrace even the most difficult of changes with an open and optimistic heart.
My Parents Forgot to Be Friends
Published: March 1, 2005
Young children become confused and hurt when their parents constantly argue, then decide to divorce. This sensitively written book assures boys and girls that children are in no way responsible for their parents’ inability to get along together. It lets kids know that although one parent chooses to move away from the home, both parents continue to love their little boy or girl. Both Mom and Dad will continue to spend happy times with them. Even very young children have concerns and anxieties, and Let’s Talk About It! books are written and illustrated especially for them. Parents are advised to read these books aloud while their preschooler listens and looks at illustrations of the boys and girls in each story. Many children in early grades will be able to read the stories for themselves. Let’s Talk About It! books encourage children to explore their feelings, and then to speak openly about things that trouble them.
Standing on My Own Two Feet
Published: June 12, 2008
Addison is a regular kid whose parents are going through a divorce, but he knows that no matter what happens, his parents will always love him. The text in this beautifully illustrated picture book is inspiring, gentle, and uplifting, and teaches kids that having two homes to live in can be just as great as having two strong feet to stand on.
There they are: 15 great picture books about divorce. Which of these have you read and loved? What did I miss?
More Picture Book Lists
- Picture books about welcoming a new sibling
- Children’s books about the sibling bond
- Picture books about grandparents
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