Reviews (985)

Hatchet is my Favorite Book
Hatchet is my favorite book, this is a book where a boy whos parents are divorced and goes to visit his father and takes a single engine plane and and plane crashed into a river. The pilot suffers a heart attack and dies, the Boy, Brian survives and manages to live in the middle of no where for about a year, The boys mother, gave him a hatchet for his birthday and the hatchet represents life for without it the boy would not have been able to survive. The boy eventully gets rescued and flys back.

Hatchet
Hatchet
Hatchet
HATCHET
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Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Action & Adventure - General    3. Children's 9-12 - Literature - Classics / Contemporary    4. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    5. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    6. Classics    7. Divorce    8. Family - Marriage & Divorce    9. Fiction    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. Social Issues - Adolescence    12. Social Situations - Adolescence    13. Survival    14. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / General   

Reviews (28)

Use your judgement, and pick and choose
As a new elementary guidance counselor, I haven't found a kids' book on divorce yet that I LOVE. Meanwhile, this is useful. It covers several aspects of divorce. It is too long to use the whole thing in one sitting with young children, and not all of it applies in every situation or is appropriate with every age group. However, it's fairly easy to select what you think is helpful and appropriate for your child(ren) because of the comic-book format and different chapters on different topics (ie. Having Two Homes, Telling Your Friends, Meeting Parents' New Friends).
Horrible book with negative spin
In trying to explain divorce, I read this to my son and paraphrased what the book said because I found myself surprised at the way it was written (especially since it was written by Arthur's creator, Marc Brown.) The book is negative in tone, language and illustrations. I'm not a parent trying to candy-coat divorce, but there have to be better books out there than this!
Useful in school counseling groups
I use this routinely in elementary school divorce adjustment groups, particularly for grades Kinder through 3rd. The pictures are engaging and the situations are realistic. Students open up with information that helps me identify needs. Some parents have used this book with their children, and kids are always pleased to find that I have it, too. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    2. Children: Grades 1-2    3. Divorce    4. Family - Marriage & Divorce    5. Juvenile Nonfiction    6. Juvenile literature    7. Separation (Psychology)    8. Family & relations    9. Juvenile Nonfiction / Family / Marriage & Divorce    10. Personal awareness: family, relationship & social issues   

Reviews (12)

Ideal for Young Children
I bought this book two years ago when my husband and I separated. It was the perfect story to tell my 3 year old son while we transitioned to our new situation. After the first couple readings, it went back on the shelf for almost a year. Now that he's 5, it's regained popularity. I even heard HIM read it to his cousin to explain why he has two homes while his cousin only has one. It seems to be a good way for him to share his situation with his young friends. A true gift! Thank you Claire Masurel!

Must-have for 3-5 year olds... and comes with a lasting title!
Of the several separated-parenting/divorce children's books I got, this one really stood out at least apologetic and most encouraging of stability and normalcy.
Two of everything ~ including parents!
It is an excellent book! The biggest reason why I like it is that it is a neutral book ~ the child has two of everything ~ it doesn't convey the child lives with one parent and visits the other parent. I really like this book! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    2. Children: Preschool    3. Divorce    4. Dwellings    5. Family - Marriage & Divorce    6. Fiction    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Parent and child    9. Preschool Picture Story Books    10. Social Issues - Emotions & Feelings    11. Juvenile Fiction / Family / Marriage & Divorce   

Editorial Review

How do you talk to your children about your divorce?How can you best handle their responses?Here's a children's book and parenting tool rolled into one. Read more

Reviews (17)

Just what I wanted.
I am a preschool teacher looking for comforting stories for 3-6 yr. olds. This book was what I was looking for.

NICE BOOK
I bought this book for my 4 year old after my husband and I seperated and he seemed more confused after I read it to him than he was before. I think it's a very well written book but in my opinion for chidren say above 6 years old. For under 6 years I would recommend "Two Homes".

Helpful tool
What a helpful tool for the very young.It's hard enough to know what to say to other adults, let alone to children.This is a very helpful resource. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children of divorced parents    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Kindergarten    4. Divorce    5. Family - Marriage & Divorce    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Juvenile literature    8. Psychological aspects    9. Psychology    10. Social Issues - Emotions & Feelings    11. Family & Relationships / Divorce   

Reviews (7)

Disappointed
After reading the positive reviews of this book, I went ahead and bought it without reading it. Big mistake. It is a very strange and confusing book. It assumes that small children understand the depth and meaning of the word "divorce" yet can not understand or articulate any of their own feelings. It also depicts the "fairy tale" divorce, where the parents are mature enough to sit down to confront their child and actually "talk about it" together--as well as agree to divide time with the child equally afterwards. I read this before I read it to my son, and I was going to give it away, but he begged and begged to read it when he caught a glimpse of it. So I read it to him anyway and he really hated it. He thought the animals were scary, and he thought the girl was mean and a real whiner. Overall, he seemed to feel that the book was just confusing and negative. My son and I MUCH preferred Goodbye Daddy, which is much more positive and gentle, acknowledging hurt, but emphasizing keeping a positive attitude. I suppose if you have a feisty daughter who doesn't understand her feelings and you're having the perfect divorce, then I Don't Want to Talk About It may be for you. But it sure wasn't for us.

I don't want to talk about it
Great book to read to kids who are dealing with divorce

Recommendation despite initial misgivings
Though I was initially put off by the stark whiteness of the characters, I highly recommend this book to anyone going through divorce with young children. This book reads like poetry, is beautifully illustrated, and gets to the point quickly. All this allowed my active 4 year old son to be taken in on the first read, ask for it a second time, and actually start TALKING about his feelings! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Babies & Toddlers    3. Divorce    4. Family - Marriage & Divorce    5. Fiction    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Fiction dealing with divorce, separation, family break-up    8. Parents' divorce & separation, family break-up   

Reviews (4)

Blackthorn Winter reveiw by Julie D.
In one of her latest novels, Blackthorn Winter, Kathryn Reiss puts everything you would think of in a mystery, and more into the plot.This book wasn't just your average "who done it" mystery; it included drama, suspense, and more.I have to say, I have read a lot of mysteries in my life, and this one definitely is on the top of my list.Some mysteries are a little unrealistic, but this one I could understand how she was feeling, and it all seemed real to me.
Such a good book -- a review by Nina
This book is one of the best books I've ever read.Its about a girl named Juliana whose family goes to live in England.A friend of the family mysteriously gets murdered and Juliana must find out who has done it.
Blackthorn Winter
Sunny skies and warm beaches was the life for fifteen year-old Juliana Martin-Drake. All of this
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Subjects:  1. Adoption    2. Artists    3. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    5. England    6. Family - Adoption    7. Family - Marriage & Divorce    8. Family - Orphans & Foster Homes    9. Family life    10. Fiction    11. Juvenile Fiction    12. Mysteries (Young Adult)    13. Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories    14. Juvenile Fiction / Mysteries & Detective Stories   

Editorial Review

With her brilliantly hued flower-print dresses, her maracas andRead more

Reviews (11)

Review by BillyBob Buttertoast
Tia Lola Came to Stay is a pretty good book in the terms of the morals in the story, but I didn't really like the way it was written.It seems to be a book for kids much younger than I am, because it was very jumpy.The story line would jump around a lot, and it seemed as if one moment it was the middle of the winter, and the next it was mid July.That tended to confuse me a little bit.The author also placed a lot of Spanish words in the text, without any clues as to what they are.That got confusing also.
Excellent Piece
There is always someone in our family that stands out. There is also someone that's an influence.

A triumphant tale.
In HOW TIA LOLA CAME TO STAY, Miguel and his sister Juanita are facing the twin terrors of their parents' divorce and the move from New York City to a new home in Vermont. They don?t expect anything but more hurt feelings and complications when their Tia (?aunt? in Spanish) Lola comes to ?visit" them in Vermont.
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Subjects:  1. Aunts    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 2-3    4. Children: Grades 4-6    5. Dominican Americans    6. Family - Marriage & Divorce    7. Family - Multigenerational    8. Family life    9. Fiction    10. Horror & Ghost Stories    11. Humorous Stories    12. Juvenile Fiction    13. Vermont    14. Juvenile Fiction / Humorous Stories   

Reviews (3)

Chocolate Pudding Brings Relief!
As a professional Colorado divorce (attorney-trained) mediator, I don't often fall in love with new children's books about divorce; there are simply too many fine ones already out there.Sandra Levin's Was It the Chocolate Pudding?: A Story for Little Kids About Divorce, however, is a welcome exception, a total delight!
A picturebook story explaining the concept of divorce and joint custody to young children ages 2 to 6
Nicely illustrated by Bryan Langdo, Was It The Chocolate Pudding?: A Story For Little Kids About Divorce by Sandra Levins is a picturebook story explaining the concept of divorce and joint custody to young children ages 2 to 6. Offering insight into divorce and growing up through in a thoroughly "kid friendly" story of two young brothers whose mother and father are divorced, Was It The Chocolate Pudding? follows a six-year-old and his little brother as they try to understand why their parents no longer live together and why the boys shuttle back and forth between them. Featuring a light-hearted, easy-to-read, age-appropriate understanding of what happens in a divorce, Was It The Chocolate Pudding? is very highly recommended as an informative, entertaining, and a perfect vehicle by which a concerned parent can help their own child understand a divorce in their own family, thereby avoiding misunderstandings and self-blame on the part of a child trying to understand an adult process.
An Astounding Contribution
Simply the best children's book out there on the subject with adults enjoying it as much as the kids. Sanra Levins raises the bar when dealing with children and divorce and delivers it to us gently and sweetly, holding our hand through this often disasterous process. Bravo! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children of divorced parents    2. Children's 4-8 - Family / Parenting    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Kindergarten    5. Divorce    6. Family - Marriage & Divorce    7. Juvenile Nonfiction    8. Juvenile Social Problems (General)    9. Juvenile literature    10. Fiction dealing with divorce, separation, family break-up   

Reviews (7)

Beautiful Colors
What a wonderful story!I wish I had this book when I was a child.The protagonist is a beautiful little girl whose mother is black and her father is white.She describes their differences in color, but they are united in love.She describes how her color is "just right."What a gentle and lovely way to explain the physical racial differences, similarities and self identity and pride.
Black, White, Just Right!
My 4 year old (bi-racial) son really enjoys this book. It is nice to have a story with a diverse family.I am glad that it mentions race only briefly and shows that it is just another difference in their (& our) lives...just as their size, tastes and talents are different.The prose is a little mature for him and I have to explain what most of it means after each page...but he still loves it.

Bi- Racial 4 yr old daughter LOVES to have this read to her
My 4yr old daughter loves to have this read to her.She used to identify with herself as I'm "BOTH" (black & white), now she says "she's just right too".It's so light and age appropriate, while touching on the differences and similiarities of others.I love that the diffrences that are pointed out in this book between the mommy and daddy are not stereotyped by a the like's or dislike's of the black/white race.Beatiful illustrations and catchy rhymes.A definete must get. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 1-2    3. Family - Marriage & Divorce    4. Family - Parents    5. Fiction    6. General    7. Individuality    8. Interracial marriage    9. Juvenile Nonfiction    10. Parent and child    11. Preschool Picture Story Books    12. Racially mixed people   

Reviews (8)

Great price, cute book!
I got this book to help prepare my young flower girl for the big day.

Christian-oriented with some questionable values
First of all, this book is fundamentally Christian non-denominational. The plot takes place at a church, so the book is inappropriate for Jewish weddings. [Although flower girls aren't part of a traditional Jewish wedding, many couples are incorporating it into ceremonies these days (because the kids are so cute and it saves them from boredom).]
Great Way To Get the Flower Girls Ready for The Big Day!
I actually gave this to my flower girls ahead of our wedding because they're very young and I wanted their moms to start preparing them with this story so they can know what to expect and be comfortable. It's a lovely book for the girls and their moms seem to really love it, too. Plus, it's so inexpensive! Definitely the best book I've seen as far as having a story kids can relate to and absolutely the lowest price. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Kindergarten    3. Family - Marriage & Divorce    4. Fiction    5. Holidays & Celebrations - Other, Nonreligious    6. Holidays & Festivals - Other - Non-religious    7. Weddings    8. Juvenile Fiction / Family / Marriage & Divorce   

Reviews (14)

Children of Divorce learn there are others like them
Having to trudge back and forth between parents into different worlds can be very upsetting to a child of a divorce. The transition is emotionally charged and sometimes bringing the child to depression - especially if the child cannot identify their life with any other children. The mix of personalities and a happy life that Charlie Anderson leads transitioning between two families is something any young child can identify with and derive comfort from. I know my child did.

no analysis, just cute
I have not analyzed this book that deeply.I heard about this cute book and just happen to have a cat named Charlie that we suspected also lived "somewhere else" sometimes.I put a piece a tape on him that read "my name is Charlie and I belong to ....."It seems to have worked!He has returned full-time.Kind of funny.

Good Book For Children of Divorce
This book helps its' readers understand that divorce does not mean that there cannot be happiness. Charlie, the cat, has two homes and in each one he receives love and all of his needs are met. The book appears to be designed to help the child reader adjust to divorce and the new accomodationsof the parents. The book is a very nice story that sends its message without using the negative connotations that usually come with divorce. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Cats    2. Cats    3. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    4. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    5. Children: Grades 2-3    6. Family - Marriage & Divorce    7. Fiction    8. Juvenile Fiction / Family / Marriage & Divorce   

Reviews (4)

Will You Marry me?
I do, is the fifth and last book in the Caitlin series.It is mainly about Caitlin getting ready for her wedding.Josh proposed to her at the beginning of the book.He proposed to her in a very special way.All through the book she is fighting her wedding battles.She has to try to go through with her mom and Josh's mom telling her different things she needs to do.Josh's mom likes to spend lots of money and Caitlin's mom is the complete opposite.Caitlin just wants to have a simple wedding.Jenny was a very big help since she has transferred to Caitlin's school.They are now rooming together.Beanie got accepted to a design school in New York City and is helping Caitlin out with the designs for the bride's dress and the bridesmaid dresses.Caitlin is also trying to figure out where they should go on their honeymoon.Caitlin and Josh are having their wedding at a big church and the reception at a place they went together in high school.Is Caitlin going to get everything worked out or get completely stressed?
I Do!
I do! Is a story about a girl named Caitlin O'Conner. It is the fifth book in the series of Diary of A Teenaged Girl. Caitlin is a senior in college and was at a wedding for two of her good friend. After a while at the reception, Caitlin and her best friend Beanie were leaving when Josh Miller stopped them. Josh and Caitlin have a history together, and Caitlin has always liked him since high school. Josh asked Caitlin if she was busy that night, and she said no. Josh was driving somewhere that he told Caitlin was special, but Caitlin didn't know about it. He drove to the park and hopped out to open Caitlin's door.They walked through the park until they came to a clearing by the lake. There, Caitlin saw a table lit with candles. They sat down and were served by some high school-aged guys from their church. Then josh went down on one knee, and popped a question.
Good-Bye Caitlin!
I was so excited to have Caitlin and Josh get together! I loved hearing "from" Caitlin again. I'll admit, Caitlin's life is a little dull in comparison to Chloe's life (don't kill me, everyone!!), but it was a good book. I wished that we had had more about Zach, I really miss that guy! Anyhow, Caitlin had wonderful wedding, wonderful flowers, whole deal! Yay for her! Other then that (and everything already said in the other post) it was just a good book. I'm sad to leave Caitlin... But we'll still hear from her... hopefully! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Celebrations - Weddings    2. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    4. Christian life    5. Colleges and universities    6. Family - Marriage & Divorce    7. Fiction    8. Interpersonal relations    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Religious - Christian    11. Social Issues - Values    12. Weddings    13. Juvenile Fiction / Religious / Christian    14. YOUTH/ YOUTH INTERESTS / TEEN FICTION   

Reviews (1)

Explain divorce to young children
This book provides a wonderful explanation of how a family changes through divorce, especially for a very young child. It is one of the few books that does not discuss step families, which was not an issue at the time of our split, and supports the idea of a child spending significant time with both parents. Best of all, it's a pleasant read. More than a year after our move, my child still pulls this book off the shelf occassionally. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Broken homes    2. Children of divorced parents    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    4. Children: Kindergarten    5. Divorce    6. Family - Marriage & Divorce    7. Juvenile Nonfiction    8. Juvenile literature    9. Preschool Informational Books    10. Juvenile Nonfiction / Family / Marriage & Divorce   

Subjects:  1. Children of divorced parents    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Divorce    5. Family - Marriage & Divorce    6. Juvenile Nonfiction    7. Juvenile literature    8. Psychology    9. Parents' divorce & separation, family break-up   

Reviews (10)

Cannot believe that this book is still available...
Yes, this book "tells it like it is"- but only for the WORST case scenarios.Since circumstances and situations are different in every divorce, harsh reality is not always applicable- and I think this can feed into fears and worries that don't even exist in many cases.When I was [...] and my parents divorced (25 years ago), I was given this book by a well-meaning counselor.For a sensitive and imaginative child, already upset and grieving a former family life- this book not only can reaffirm many baseless fears, but give a whole new batch of them to worry about- such as boarding schools and foster homes. Another especially disturbing chapter discusses ways to find out if your parent doesn't love you- kids can see things in different ways and this chapter is VERY dangerous in my opinion! I feel that the only way that this book would be alright is for a parent to read it first, and then read with a child and explained in the context of their situation.There have to be better, more timely books out there.

Truth hurts but lies and denials devastate
The negative reviewers are in denial and, although they believe they are doing the right thing by not being honest with their kids or themselves, they are hurting their kids and probably screwing them up for life so they too can repeat the mistakes of their parents and continue the cycle.
Honesty is the best policy
I noticed this book because of my own miserable childhood.Read more

Subjects:  1. Children of divorced parents    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Divorce    5. Family - Marriage & Divorce    6. Juvenile literature    7. Family & Relationships / Divorce    8. Personal awareness: family, relationship & social issues    9. Separation & divorce   

Reviews (41)

Still Good, Even After All These Years
This book was witten in the early 70s, back when there were no cell phones and divorce laws were different.But, everything the family goes through holds true to today because feelings are timeless.
GO JUDY BLUME!!!!!!!!!!!
It's not the End of the World is a wonderful book.I have read almost all of Judy's books and I still think this one is the best of all.The main character is a girl named Karen, her parents are getting a divorce and Karen THINKS it is the end of the world.I am not going to say any more about the book other wise I will wreck it. Spend your money on THIS book.
funny things
Divorce. its the end of the world. At least that is what Karen thinks when he parents gets a divorce. Now Karen is trying to get them to talk face to face so they can realize that a divorce was a bad thing. Won't they? I like the book because it explains to people the divorce isn't the end of the world, and it is exciting also, and I think that everybody should read it so read this book if you want to laugh. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Divorce    5. Family - Marriage & Divorce    6. Family life    7. Fiction    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Social Issues - General    10. Social Situations - General    11. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / General   

Reviews (6)

touching and likeable but lacks depth
My Brother's Keeper is the story of a single parent family consisting of mom and her three sons: Eli who is slightly strange, has a bike called Tonto and a female cat called Mr. Furry; Jake, who has fallen into "bad company," decided that his beloved baseball is uncool and started using drugs; and finally Toby, a 13-year-old with grey hair and whose best friend is the local shopkeeper called Mr. D (who also happens to be a pensioner).
Book Review on My Brother's Keeper
"My Brother's Keeper," is written by the best selling author of "Cut", Patricia McCormick.This book is about a young boy named Toby that goes through a lot; he is 13 years old and already has gray hairs.He goes from having a loving family that is always there for each other to having only his mother who starts going out every night, his big brother, Jake, who smokes pot and goes out all the time, and his little brother, Eli, who Toby isn't around very often.
Book Review
By:Eric Evans
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Subjects:  1. Baseball    2. Brothers    3. Children's 9-12    4. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    5. Children: Grades 4-6    6. Drug abuse    7. Family - General    8. Family - Marriage & Divorce    9. Family - Siblings    10. Family problems    11. Fiction    12. General    13. Juvenile Fiction    14. Social Issues - Drugs, Alcohol, & Substance Abuse    15. Social Issues - General    16. Juvenile Fiction / Family / General   

Reviews (1)

Dear Mr. Henshaw
This book is about a young boy named Leigh Botts who writes letters to an author, Mr. Henshaw.Leigh Botts parents are divorced and he does not get to see his dad too much.Leigh writes in his journal when he does not write to Mr. Henshaw.Leigh's has a dog named Bandit that lives with hisDad.This is a great book that teaches journal writing. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Divorce    4. Family - Marriage & Divorce    5. Fiction    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Parent and child    8. Schools    9. Social Issues - General    10. Social Situations - General    11. Spanish: Grades 4-7    12. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (1)