Why Do Families Change?: Our First Talk About Separation and Divorce

by Jillian Roberts, Cindy Revell (Illustrator)

Overview

Separation and divorce are difficult on the entire family.

Often young children blame themselves or are unsure of their place in the family if these events occur. Child psychologist Dr. Jillian Roberts designed the Just Enough series to empower parents/caregivers to start conversations with young ones about difficult or challenging subject matter.

Why Do Families Change? is part of the Just Enough series. Other topics in the series include birth, death and diversity.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781459826441
Publisher:	Orca Book Publishers
Publication date:	09/22/2020
Series:	Just Enough , #4
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.12(d)
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

Dr. Jillian Roberts is a child psychologist, author, professor at the University of Victoria and mother of three children. Considered a go-to child psychology expert for journalists, Dr. Roberts is a regular contributor to HuffPost, Global News and CBC. She is the author of two bestselling and award-winning series of children’s books: the Just Enough series explains topics like birth and diversity to children ages 3–6, while the World Around Us series introduces kids ages 5–8 to issues like poverty and online safety. She lives in Victoria, British Columbia.

Cindy Revell’s illustrations have been used on billboards and wine bottles, and in magazines and numerous children’s books all over North America. She has worked with clients like Disney, Penguin Putnam, the L.A. Times and Scholastic. Her illustration of Mallory and the Power Boy (Annick Press) was nominated for a Governor General’s Literary Award for children’s book illustration. She lives in Edmonton.

Editorial Reviews

"Using upbeat, colorful illustrations and straightforward text, Roberts reassures kids that they are loved and that divorce or separation is not their fault...Potentially scary concepts, such as moving, are made accessible...A helpful tool for adults seeking to explain divorce to elementary students."

School Library Journal (SLJ)

"Children will feel understood and less alone when they realise they're not the only ones with these questions. And they will appreciate the simple, honest answers and their reassuring tone…Why Do Families Change? takes a complicated topic that's difficult to talk about, and breaks it down into simple, matter of fact answers. Its reassuring tone is helpful to both children and parents."

Butterfly Books blog

"This would be a perfect 'just in time' book to use with a young child to help explain the confusion of separation and divorce...The beautiful and engaging colour illustrations lend a storybook quality to the book that helps with its accessibility for younger kids."

Resource Links

"The answers throughout the book are realistic and appropriate...A useful resource for a common issue."

Kirkus Reviews

"A useful tool for explaining to children that the world is different, but not worse, when their parents separate."

BC Branch of the Canadian Bar Association BarTalk

"Cindy Revell's colourful illustrations capture the emotions that parents/caregivers and their children may feel...Why Do Families Change? is an excellent book to remind children that it's not their fault if their parents decide to separate or divorce and that they are still part of a family...and that the one thing that remains constant is the love that their family has for them. Highly Recommended."

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

"Cindy Revell's colourful illustrations capture the emotions that parents/caregivers and their children may feel...Why Do Families Change? is an excellent book to remind children that it's not their fault if their parents decide to separate or divorce and that they are still part of a family...and that the one thing that remains constant is the love that their family has for them. Highly Recommended."

CM Magazine

03/01/2017
PreS-Gr 1—Using upbeat, colorful illustrations and straightforward text, Roberts reassures kids that they are loved and that divorce or separation is not their fault. The author defines divorce and separation in terms that not only are easy for small children to understand but also lend themselves well to sparking discussions. Potentially scary concepts such as moving are made accessible: "If your parents are separating or getting a divorce, know that change is coming, which can make you feel sad, scared and even angry. These feelings are normal." Back matter addresses custody issues and blended families. VERDICT A helpful tool for adults seeking to explain divorce to elementary students. Consider for guidance counselor offices.—Robin Sofge, Prince William Public Library System, VA

School Library Journal

2017-02-01
A simple Q-and-A introduction to a difficult topic.The psychologist author starts by discussing relationships—animal and human, married and common-law—and the illustrator enhances the text with pictures of diverse couples from different cultures and sexual orientations. The questions in the illustrated text include: "What is separation?"; "What is divorce?"; "Is it ever the kid's fault?"; What should I expect if my parents are separating or getting a divorce?"; and "What can I do to feel better?" The digital illustrations show a range of situations and emotions, but some may soft-pedal individual kids' experiences. In demonstrating that both parents remain supportive, for instance, pictures depict two Asian parents side by side cheering a young baseball player on. This may well not happen in real life. On the last page, the author presents a few more-complex issues, including questions about custody, parents' getting back together, and blended families. While the whole book is meant to facilitate discussion between children and adults, these last few questions and answers, while still directed at child readers, may provide more information to adults. The answers throughout the book are realistic and appropriate. This could provide comfort to children going through serious periods in their young lives, but only if they are reinforced by thoughtful parents and other loving adults. A useful resource for a common issue. (Informational picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews