BOOKS FOR CHILDREN
The Bad Tempered Ladybird
The Very Busy Spider
Eric Carle, Hamish Hamilton
Very common in playgroups and nurseries, age 2+
Where the Wild Things are
Maurice Sendak, Picture Puffin, age 5+
Helps to explore fantasy, dreams and tantrums.
The Silly Book
The Hairy Book
The Smelly Book
Babette Cole, Jonathan Cape, ages 3+
Peace at Last
5 minutes peace
Jill Murphy, MacMillan Walker, ages 3+
About Mr Bear and Mrs Large
The Jolly Postman
Jill Murphy, MacMillan Walker, ages 3+
By the authors of Peepo
Dr Xargle’s book of Earthlets, Earthhands, Earthmobiles, Earth Tiggers
Jeanne Willis & Tony Ross, Andersen Press, ages 5+
Our world, as viewed by aliens
Angry Arthur
Kitamura, Andersen, ages 5+
Good for dealing with anger issues
Granpa
John Burningham Picture Puffin
Introduces mortality
My Mum is fantastic, My Dad is Brilliant, My Grandma is wonderful, My Grandpa is Amazing
(Series of 4 books)
Nick Butterworth, Walker, ages 3+
The Great Big Book of Families
Mary Hoffman, Ros Asquith, ages 3+
Explores different types of families
The Invisible String, The Invisible String Workbook, The Invisible Web
Patrice Karst, Ages 4-8
My Family’s Changing
Pat Thomas & Leslie Harker, ages 5+
Dinosaurs Divorce
Laurene Krasny Brown and Marc Brown
Collins 1987 Age 5-8
Two Homes
Claire Mazurel, Walker Books 3+
Two of Everything
Babette Cole, Red Fox 4+
Living with Mum, and Living with Dad
Melanie Walsh, ages 3-5
Rainy Day
Emma Haughton, Doubleday 4+
Its not your fault, Koko Bear
Vicki Lansky, Book Peddlars 4+
You make your parents super happy, a book about parents separating
Richie Chandler
Was it the Chocolate Pudding? A story for little kids about divorce.
Sandra Levins, Magination Press (American Psych. Association) 4+
I don’t want to talk about it
Jeanie Franz Ranson, ages 4-8
When Mom and Dad separate
Marge Heegaard, ages 8-12
The Monster Bed
Jeanne Willis & Susan Varley, Andersen Press, ages 5+
When my parents forgot how to be friends
Daddy’s Getting Married
Jennifer Moore-Mallinos, ages 5+
The Huge Bag of Worries
Virginia Ironside, age 3+
What to do when you worry too much
A child’s guide to overcoming anxiety
Dawn Heubner and Bonnie Matthews, ages 6+
Rescuing Dad
Pete Johnson, Corgi 7+
Where has Daddy Gone?
Trudy Osman and Joanna Carey
Heinemann 1990, ages 5-8
What in the world do you do when your parents divorce? A Survival guide for kids
Kent Winchester and Roberta Beyer
Divorce Survival Guide for Kids
Samantha Smith
Dealing with my parents divorce
Jane Lacey & Venitia Dean, age 7+
Madam Doubtfire
Anne Fine
Penguin Books 1987: 9 +
Step by wicked step
Anne Fine
Puffin Books 1984 8+
It’s Not the End of the World
Judy Blume
Pan Piper 1972: 10-13
Starring Sally J Freedman as Herself
Judy Blume, Piccolo, 9+
The Divorce Express
Paula Danziger
Pan Piper 1987 Age: 10-13
My Wicked Stepmother
Norman Leach and Jane Brown
Julie MacRae Books 1992 Age: 5-8
Let’s Talk About Stepfamilies
Angela Grunsell
Aladdin Books 1990 (Factual): 7 +
It’s an Aardvark-Eat-Turtle World
Paul Danziger
Pan Piper 1988: 10-13
The Cybil War
Betsy Byars, Puffin 9+
Goggle Eyes
Anne Fine, Puffin 9+
Ginny Morris and Dad’s New Girlfriend
Mary Gallagher, Magination Press 9+
Thin Ice
Marc Talbert, Hamish Hamilton 10-12+
The Lying Tree
Alexa Tewkesbury & Steve Legg, Canaan Press 10-12+
Clean Break
Jacqueline Wilson, Corgi 10-12+
A Heart with Two Homes
Monica Epperson, Xlibris 12+
Passion Flower
Jean Ure, Collins 12+
You win some, you lose some
Julia Clarke, OUP Oxford Teens
Other People’s Children
Joanna Trollope, Black Swans Teens (and parents)
OUT OF PRINT BOOKS (possibly available in libraries)
Dad’s Back
Jan Ormerod, Walker, Picture Book
I have two homes
Althea, Dinosaur 3+
The Amazing Hide & Seek Alphabet/Number
Robert Crowther, Viking 3+
The Visit
Dee Shulman, Bodley Head 3+
Are we nearly there
Louise Baum, Bodley Head 3+
The Not So Wicked Stepmother
Litzi Boyd, Puffin 5+
My Dad
Philippe Dupasquier, Mammoth 5+
The Twig Family
Jan Mark, Viking/Puffin 5-6+
Breadcrumbs and Clay
Don Taylor, Hamish Hamilton, 6+
Feelings
Aliki, Picture Piper 7+
Mum, will Dad ever come back?
Paula Hogan, Backwell Raintree 7+
The Visitors who came to Stay
Annalena McAfee & Anthony Browne, Hamish Hamilton 7+
But you promised
Bel Mooney, Mammoth 7+
Family Saturday
Marjorie Newman, Hamish Hamilton 7+
The Animal, the Vegetable and John D Jones
Betsy Byars, Press 10+
Jellybean
Tessa Duder, Puffin 10+
Come back soon
Judy Gardiner, Puffin 10+
Rob’s Place
John R Townsend, Puffin 10+
Marmalade, Jet & the Finnies
Edel Wignell, Hamish Hamilton u12’s
Who is Frances Rain?
Margaret Buffie, Viking/Puffin 12+
Tina into two won’t go
Elfie Donnelly, Andersen 12+
Its my Life
Robert Leeson, Collins 12+
When Parents’ split up
Ann Mitchell, Chambers Teen 12+
FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS
Parent problems! Children’s views on life when parents split up by Bren Neal and Amanda Wade published by Young Voice 2000.
Available online from Amazon and Blackwells stores although some only offering second hand copies. Cost £7 – £10 The second volume Parent Problems 2 seems to be unavailable currently. Recommended as direct quotations from children who have experienced separation about what does and doesn’t work and how they feel about how their parents behave.
FOR ADULTS
What most children say – Kent Family Mediation 6 Park Rd Sittingbourne Kent
contact@kentfms.co.uk or tel 01795 429689.
This is a pocket guide for separating parents, summarizing the research on childrens views. Very cheap 50p approx and thoroughly recommended if it’s the only thing you read. Many solicitors keep a stock.
The Silent Guide / The Chimp Paradox
Prof Steve Peters
The Book you wish your parents had read
Phillipa Perry
Don’t alienate the kids, a guide to raising resilient kids and avoiding high conflict divorce
Bill Eddy
Untying the Knot – how to consciously uncouple in the real world
Kate Gunn
The Truth about Children and Divorce: Dealing with the Emotions so you and your children can thrive
Robert P Emery Ph.D
Mom’s House, Dad’s House: Making Two Homes for your child
Isolina Ricci Ph.D
101 Questions Answered about Separating with Children
Rebecca Garland and Bob Grieg
Parenting Apart: How Separated and Divorced Parents can Raise Happy and Secure Kids
Christina McGee
The Which? Guide to Divorce
Helen Garlick
Consumer Association/Hodder 1992
How to Talk so Kids will Listen and Listen so Kids will Talk
Adele Faber & Elaine Mazlish, Piccadilly Press
CAMHS anxiety management workbook
Available from their website www.hampshireCAMHS.nhs.uk
Overcoming Your Childs Fears and Worries
Cathy Cresswell
Putting Children First: a Handbook for separated parents
Karen and Nick Woodall, Piatkus Books
Helping Children Cope with Divorce
Edward Teyber, Jossey Brass 2001
Coping with Separation and Divorce
Ann Mitchell
Chambers 1986
Helping Children Cope with Separation and Loss
Claudia Jewett
Batsford 1982
When children grieve, for parents to help children cope with loss and divorce
John W James & Russell Freedman
BIFF for coparenting communication
Your guide to difficult emails and texts and social media posts
Bill Eddy
Its all your fault, 12 tips for managing people who blame others for everything
Bill Eddy
To and Fro Children:
A Guide to Successful Parenting after Divorce
Jill Burrett
Thomsons 1993
