7 Books to Explain Divorce to Your Kids
When parents decide to divorce, it can be difficult to break the news to kids in an age-appropriate way. What are some explanations they can understand? How do you reassure them that while Mommy and Daddy won’t live together anymore, your love for them won’t change?
Many parents find books to be a helpful tool in this process. If you’re at a loss for what to say (or how to say it), consider these recommended titles:
For Younger Children (Preschool – 3rd Grade)
Why Do Families Change?: Our First Talk About Separation and Divorce by Dr. Jillian Roberts This book is part of a series called “Just Enough,” which helps young children deal with separation and divorce. It’s written in a question-and-answer format to help parents start tough conversations.
Two Homes by Claire Masurel
Kayden Roberts, a relationship coach who navigated her own divorce with young children recommends this title. “The narrative focuses on the positive aspects of having two homes, emphasizing that both parents greatly love Alex,” she says. “This book helps children understand that their parents’ love for them remains unchanged, despite the changes in their living arrangements.”
Dinosaurs Divorce: A Guide for Changing Families by Laurene Krasny Brown and Marc Brown
This book uses dinosaurs to explain divorce in a way that is accessible and engaging for children. “It covers a wide range of topics, from why parents get divorced to how life changes after the divorce,” Roberts says. “The illustrations and straightforward language make it an excellent resource for kids to understand their feelings and the changes happening around them.”
For Older Children (4th Grade – Middle School)
It’s Not the End of the World by Judy Blume
Originally published in 1972, this story and its message still hold up today. Karen is already upset with her mean 6th grade teacher when learns her parents are getting a divorce. She decides she needs to stop the divorce from happening and keep her family together under one roof. Ultimately, her efforts don’t work and she realizes her life will get better with her parents living apart.
The Great Treehouse War by Lisa Graff
Graff writes this story in a pitch-perfect middle school voice, where kids turn the tables on their parents. When Winnie discovers her parents are divorcing on the last day of 4th grade, she decides to spend three nights a week with each parent and spend Wednesdays in a tree house between their two homes.
The Divorce Helpbook For Kids by Cynthia MacGregor
MacGregor’s book helps parents guide kids through the many stages of divorce. It also includes a “Bill of Rights for Children Whose Parents Are Divorced” and a glossary of legal terms like “custody” and “alimony” for kids to understand.
Divorce is Not the End of the World: Zoe and Evan’s Coping Guide For Kids by Zoe Stern and Evan Stern
Find advice for kids, by kids, in this book by two siblings who navigated their own parents’ divorce. Zoe and Evan write about adjusting to different houses, celebrating special occasions, adapting to stepparents, and many other issues. The book also includes an update from the authors 10 years later, where they reflect on their experience as adults.
RANDI MAZZELLA is a freelance writer specializing in parenting, teen issues, mental health, and wellness. She is a wife and mother of three children. To read more of her work, visit randimazella.com.
