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book nook: Family Life
Divorce
4-8 Years
Missing Rabbit by Roni Schotter
When a young girl continually goes back and forth between her divorced parents’ houses, her stuffed rabbit becomes confused about which house is home.
Two Old Potatoes and Me by John Coy
When two old potatoes start growing sprouts from their eyes, a girl and her father learn how to grow new potatoes. Also includes a recipe for mashed potatoes.
Was It the Chocolate Pudding?: A Story for Little Kids About Divorce by Sandra Levins (Ages 4-8)
A young boy living with his single father and brother talks about divorce from a kid’s perspective, taking care to note that divorce is not the child’s fault.
The Days of Summer by Eve Bunting
The story of two sisters whose grandparents announce their decision to divorce.
Loon Summer by Barara Santucci
A girl and her father spend their first summer at the lake without the mother.
9-12 Years
Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary
Leigh first writes to his favorite author about how much he likes his book. Four years later, however, he is still writing to Mr. Henshaw about the problems he has had moving to a new school and the divorce of his parents.
It’s Not the End of the World by Judy Blume
Karen is trying to prevent her parents’ divorce. Her parents fight, she doesn’t like moving back and forth to different houses, and she continues to hope they’ll just forget about all their problems.
Divorce Is Not the End of the World: Zoe and Evan’s Coping Guide for Kids by Zoe and Evan Stern
With help from their mom, two teenagers share their experience and practical advice for other kids experiencing the divorce of their parents.
Rope Burn by Jan Siebold
Through a journal kept as part of a writing assignment, Richard shares his thoughts about life experiences, including the divorce of his parents.
The Batboy by Mike Lupica
Years after Brian’s dad (a former Major League Baseball pitcher) left Brian and his mom, Brian still longs for his return and for a relationship with his dad. Meanwhile, Brian gets his dream job as batboy for the Detroit Tigers. He is eager for the chance to get to know his favorite player, Hank Bishop, who has been given a second chance on the team.
Tackling Dad by Elizabeth Levy
Thirteen-year-old Cassie inherited her dad’s football abilities, so when the football coach opens team tryouts to girls, Cassie tries out and becomes one of the first girls to play on a boys’ team. However, her dad, who has moved out, won’t sign the consent form. Can Cassie change his mind?
New baby
4-8 Years
A Baby Sister For Frances by Russell Hoban
Frances decides to run away when the arrival of a new baby sister brings unwanted changes to her life.
The New Baby by Mercer Mayer
Little Critter doesn’t understand what you can do with a baby. His sister doesn’t laugh at his jokes or listen to him read and all she does is cry. What CAN you do with a baby?
The Thing about Georgie by Lisa Graff
Georgie has accepted that he’s a dwarf and will never be taller than a five year old. But when his parents tell him they’re having a baby who isn’t a dwarf, all of Georgie’s insecurities about being short come out. To top it off, his best friend isn’t talking to him and he has to do a project with the meanest girl in class.
Superfudge by Judy Blume
Peter Hatcher is facing a lot in his life – his embarrassing younger brother, Fudge, is going to start attending his school, a new baby brother or sister on the way, and the family is moving to a new state, leaving his friends behind. How will Peter cope with all the changes?
Silly Baby by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick
Beth thinks her new baby brother is a silly, silly baby! But with a little help from Grandma, she learns that maybe he’s not as silly as she first thought.
A Pocket Full of Kisses by Audrey Penn
In this sequel to The Kissing Hand, Chester Raccoon is ready for his mother to get rid of his new baby brother…especially when Chester sees her giving baby Ronny a “Kissing Hand”.
9-12 Years
Socks by Beverly Cleary
Socks the cat lives with a young couple who pamper him. Then a new baby arrives and Socks suddenly has to share the Brickers with the baby Charles William.
Who Ordered This Baby? Definitely Not Me! (Hank Zipzer series #13) by Henry Winkler & Lin Oliver
When Hank hears his mom and Frankie’s mom talking about having a baby, he worries about how he will break the news to Frankie. Hank never dreamed that it was his own mother they were talking about!
Parent & Child
4-8 Years
Two Peas in a Pod by Annegert Fuchshuber
A visit to the different mothers in the animal world shows twins Peter and Paul that all children, no matter how many a mother has, are special and unique.
Is Your Mama a Llama? by Deborah Guarino
Lloyd the Llama asks all of his friends if their mamas are llamas. Their riddled answers help Lloyd to guess what each one’s mama really is.
Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
A mother’s love follows her children through all the stages of life, no matter how old they get.
The Rainbabies by Laura Krauss Melmed and Jim Lamarche
An older couple longs for a baby to nurture. One evening after a moonshower the couple finds twelve rainbabies in the grass. Will she finally have a child of her own?
I Don’t Have Your Eyes by Carrie A. Kitze
A book to help children see the commonality within their blended family.
Mars Needs Moms! by Berkeley Breathed
Milo doesn’t think moms are very special, with all their nagging and making you do chores and punishing you. But it turns out that Martians don’t have moms, and they want them! When three Martians sneak into Milo’s house and steal his mother while she’s sleeping, Milo decides he must find her and bring her back home.
My Mom is Trying to Ruin My Life by Kate Feiffer
Emma’s mom might look like a nice mom, but Emma lists all the ways her parents are trying to ruin her life. She begins to imagine her life without parents, only to realize that she really does need them!
Daddy Kisses by Anne Gutman
A simple book which features a variety of animals and highlighting the love between fathers and children.
Because Your Daddy Loves You by Andrew Clements
Depicted through the story of a father and daughter spending the day at the seashore, Because Your Daddy Loves You focuses on the many ways a father shows his love for his children.
I Love You, Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt
Being tucked in at night, a young child needs to be reassured of her mother’s love for her, and asks a series of questions.
The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish by Neil Gaiman
When a boy’s friend, Nathan, comes over with two goldfish, the boy suggests a swap. The problem is, the only thing Nathan will swap them for is the boy’s dad. But when the boy’s mother gets home and finds out, she gets very mad and sends the boy to get the dad back.
My Monster Mama Loves Me So by Laura Leuck
An exploration of all the ways a monster mama shows her love for her monster child.
Just Me and My Dad by Mercer Mayer
Little Critter goes on a camping trip with his father, experiencing adventures in fishing, cooking over the campfire, telling scary stories, and sleeping in a tent under the stars.
9-12 Years
100 Days and 99 Nights by Alan Madison
Seven-year-old Esmerelda Swishback McCarther is no stranger to life in a military family – she has already lived in four different countries on four different continents! After they move back to the United States, however, her father leaves for a tour of duty: 100 days and 99 nights.
My Dad’s a Birdman by David Almond
After her mother’s death, Lizzie’s father stays in his room, unmotivated even to get dressed and to shave. When the Great Human Bird Competition is announced, he secretly builds a pair of wings, intent on winning the competition by flying over the river Tyne.
My Mom and Other Mysteries of the Universe by Gina Willner-Pardo
Arlie and her strict, neat-freak mom does not get along. When her mom goes on a six-week tour with her dad’s band, Arlie is thrilled. One day into the trip, however, the couple is involved in an accident that leaves Arlie’s mom in a coma. On the same day, a new girl arrives at school who looks – and acts – remarkably like Arlie’s mom.
Brushing Mom’s Hair by Andrea Cheng
Fifty-three free-verse poems explore the inner struggles that fifteen-year-old Ann faces throughout her mother’s fight with breast cancer.
Foster Care & Adoption
4-8 Years
Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born by Jamie Lee Curtis
Not your typical birth story, a retelling about the night that adoptive parents received the phone call that the young birth mother went into labor.
A Mother for Choco by Keiko Kasza
This adoption story featuring animals also carries a multicultural message and the idea of looking past superficial differences.
Through Moon and Stars and Night Skies by Ann Turner
A young Asian boy relates to his adopted mother the story of his adoption.
Red in the Flower Bed: An Illustrated Children’s Story about Interracial Adoption by Andrea Nepa
A poppy flower who is welcomed to the garden family learns that where a seed is planted is where it belongs.
Three Names of Me by Mary Cummings
As the young Chinese-American girl narrates, readers learn how Ada came to have three names. Ada is the name that her adoptive American parents gave her. Wang Bin is the name that the Chinese orphanage caregivers gave her. The third, unknown by Ada but treasured by her just the same, is the name that her Chinese mother whispered to her at her birth.
The Red Thread: An Adoption Fairytale by Grace Lin
Incorporated in this contemporary fairytale is the ancient Chinese belief that an invisible and unbreakable red thread connects those who are meant to be together.
9-12 Years
Parents Wanted by George Harrar
Andy was abandoned by his biological parents and has spent time in and out of various foster homes ever since. He longs to be adopted by a family, but when the opportunity comes with Jeff and Laurie Sizeracy, Andy has a difficult time adjusting to the new rules and expectations.
Grover G. Graham and Me by Mary Quattlebaum
When 11-year-old Ben moves in with his eighth foster family, he is determined to keep his distance, knowing that his time there will end before long. But despite his intentions, Ben finds himself drawn in by Grover G. Graham, a toddler who is also fostered with the family.
Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff
Hollis Woods has been in and out of foster homes and longs for a family. When Josie, a retired art teacher, takes her in, the two hit it off. Soon, however, Hollis becomes the caretaker as Josie’s memory fades. When Hollis stops going to school, a social worker comes to investigate.
Home, and Other Big, Fat Lies by Jill Wolfson
Whitney is headed to her twelfth foster home, knowing that it will be temporary. Why would anyone in a lumber-based community want to keep a hyper, messy, loud-mouthed kid who doesn’t know a thing about trees?
Kimchi & Calamari by Rose Kent
Joseph Calderaro has a problem. His teacher has just assigned an ancestor essay. Although his family is Italian, he was adopted and is Korean. Which ancestors should he research and write about?
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