Children’s Books about Divorce and Separation

While divorce might be a regular thing—estimates show that 40%-50% of American kids will experience the divorce or separation of their parents—it’s still a monumental change that many children will find difficult to deal with. Children whose parents are divorcing or separating will have to adjust to a new kind of family structure, potentially splitting their time between two homes, and possibly finding their feet in new blended families. Even in amicable separations, with full support from all family members and friends, children can find these changes confusing and disorienting, and can sometimes feel very emotional or alone. Fortunately, there are many books out there dealing with parental divorce or separation, where young readers can see themselves and explore family situations that might be similar to their own. For very young children, there are picture books explaining separation in an age-appropriate way, which families can read together, and which emphasise the fact that, while the family situation is changing, the love that the child’s parents feel for them stays the same. Middle grade stories explore divorce and separation either as the main theme or an important context...