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Divorce is a reality that many couples and their children face in our society, and it involves many complex issues. Children, particularly younger children, find divorce hard to understand. When parents leave they can think it is their fault, or that the parent who left doesn't love them anymore. Using picture books and fiction that look at divorce can help your child, or a child you know, understand more about divorce and what it could mean for them.
There are a variety of book formats recommended here, and library staff at your local library will be able to help you find these items.
Picture books
Since Dad left
Caroline Binch
Sid is cross. He doesn't understand why his mum and dad don't live together anymore. Sandra, his mum, arranges for him to spend some time with Mick, his dad, but Sid doesn't want to go. But Mick slowly wins him over, and by the time he returns to his mum, Sid feels he really has a dad again.
Two homes
Claire Masurel
Alex has two homes - and a place in both and lots of love. A reassuring look at shared custody arrangements.
Annie & Moon
Miriam Smith; illustrated by Lesley Moyes
Annie and Moon, her cat, are best friends - and this helps them out when they move. Annie's mum, Meg, is a sole parent.
Two homes for David
Jillian Sullivan
David lives between two homes - with his mum and with his dad.
Good-bye, daddy
Brigitte Weninger
Tom's teddy bear reassures him after Tom's parents' separation.
Sam's Sunday dad
Margaret Wild and Lorraine Hannay
Sam can't wait until Sunday when he can tell his dad all about his week.
Always my dad
Sharon Dennis Wyeth; illustrated by Raúl Colón
A young girl is reassured by her father that wherever he is he is always her dad.
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Children's fiction
Priscilla twice
Judith Caseley
Priscilla's parents are divorcing and have shared custody. Initially angry, Priscilla works through her feelings with the help of her loving parents.
Gyrfalcon
Grace Wells
Gyr, his mum, and his sister Poppy have moved to the Irish countryside from the busy London streets. His father is supposed to join them after he finishes with his job – but he never comes except for a week here and there. Angry and hurt, Gyr soon discovers a wonderful secret of his new home. A great warrior from the past has come to him and leads Gyr through a world that Gyr could only dream existed – a world that will teach him more about his own world.
Fantasy is used as a tool to help Gyr come to terms with the fact that his father is not coming to join the family in Ireland, but is instead involved in a relationship with another woman. An historical figure visits him and helps him come to terms with the angry Gyrfalcon that is his namesake and a representation of his inner emotions of anger and pain.
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