10+ Best Books On Divorce for 5-Year-Olds w/ Exercises (2024)

Navigating the topic of divorce with young children can be incredibly challenging, but fortunately, there are resources designed to help. Books on Divorce for 5-Year-Olds offer gentle, understanding perspectives to help little ones grasp this complex situation. Whether you're a parent, guardian, or educator, keep reading to discover a variety of carefully selected books that can aid in comforting and explaining changes in family dynamics to young children.

Fun Books On Divorce for 5-Year-Olds

• Two Homes by Claire Masurel, illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton
  • Genre(s): Family, Children's Fiction
  • Synopsis: This gentle story follows a young boy named Alex who has two homes after his parents' divorce. He spends time with both parents in different houses, experiencing the love and care from both.
  • Why we recommend this book: It introduces the concept of having two homes in a comforting and reassuring way, making it easier for young children to relate to and understand their own situations.
  • Perfect for: Children navigating their parents' separation or divorce.

• Standing on My Own Two Feet: A Child's Affirmation of Love in the Midst of Divorce by Tamara Schmitz
  • Genre(s): Family, Self-help
  • Synopsis: This story follows Addison, a young boy who learns about the enduring love his parents have for him, despite their divorce.
  • Why we recommend this book: It emphasizes the permanence of parental love and helps children affirm their own feelings of self-worth and security during a time of familial change.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who need affirmation of their parents' love during and after a divorce.

• My Family's Changing by Pat Thomas, illustrated by Lesley Harker
  • Genre(s): Family, Educational
  • Synopsis: This picture book is part of a series that helps children understand and cope with different emotional issues. It explains what might happen during and after a divorce in a straightforward and comforting way.
  • Why we recommend this book: It serves as a practical guide for children to understand the changes happening in their family, encouraging open discussion about feelings and questions.
  • Perfect for: Children who thrive on clear explanations and those who might have lots of questions about their new family dynamics.

• Dinosaurs Divorce by Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown
  • Genre(s): Family, Children's Fiction
  • Synopsis: Through the lives of dinosaur characters, this book explains why divorces happen, what might change afterwards, and how to cope with those changes.
  • Why we recommend this book: It uses fun dinosaur characters to explore a serious topic, making it more accessible and less intimidating for young readers.
  • Perfect for: Kids who love creative stories and need help understanding the complexities of divorce in a simpler form.

• It's Not Your Fault, Koko Bear by Vicki Lansky, illustrated by Jane Prince
  • Genre(s): Family, Children's Fiction
  • Synopsis: Koko Bear experiences his parents' divorce and learns various coping strategies to deal with the changes and emotions involved.
  • Why we recommend this book: It offers practical advice through a relatable bear character, helping children understand that their feelings are normal and that they are not to blame for the divorce.
  • Perfect for: Children looking for comfort and coping mechanisms during the transition of a family divorce.

Educational Books On Divorce for 5-Year-Olds

• Mom's House, Dad's House for Kids by Isolina Ricci
  • Genre(s): Family, Self-help
  • Synopsis: This book provides insights and advice for children whose parents live separately. It includes tips on handling transitions between homes and dealing with complex emotions.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Emotional resilience, adaptability, understanding of family structures
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a supportive resource that offers practical advice and emotional support tailored for kids experiencing their parents' separation.
  • Perfect for: Children who are adjusting to living in two homes and dealing with their parents' divorce.

• Was It the Chocolate Pudding? by Sandra Levins, illustrated by Bryan Langdo
  • Genre(s): Family, Children’s Fiction
  • Synopsis: A young boy believes his parents' divorce was caused by an accident he had with chocolate pudding. This story addresses the common fears and misconceptions children might have about the reasons behind a divorce.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Understanding of divorce, emotional literacy, self-blame
  • Why we recommend this book: It helps clarify for children that they are not responsible for their parents' divorce, addressing a common worry among young kids.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who might be feeling guilty or responsible for their parents' divorce.

• I Don't Want to Talk About It by Jeanie Franz Ransom, illustrated by Kathryn Kunz Finney
  • Genre(s): Family, Children's Fiction
  • Synopsis: A young girl uses her imagination to escape the reality of her parents' divorce but learns to cope with her feelings through conversations with her stuffed animals.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Emotional processing, communication, coping strategies
  • Why we recommend this book: It offers a gentle approach to discussing feelings and encourages children to express and manage their emotions.
  • Perfect for: Children who are reluctant to talk about their feelings or the changes happening in their family.

• At Daddy's on Saturdays by Linda Walvoord Girard, illustrated by Judith Friedman
  • Genre(s): Family, Children’s Fiction
  • Synopsis: This story follows a young girl who visits her father every Saturday after her parents' divorce. It explores her adjustments to the new family dynamics and her relationship with her father.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Understanding family relationships, emotional adjustment to divorce
  • Why we recommend this book: It captures the challenges and rewards of maintaining a strong parent-child relationship post-divorce.
  • Perfect for: Children who spend weekends or specific days with a parent and are navigating their feelings about these visits.

• Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary
  • Genre(s): Family, Realistic Fiction
  • Synopsis: Through letters to his favorite author, Leigh Botts navigates his feelings and challenges about his parents' divorce and his struggles at school.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Letter writing, emotional expression, resilience
  • Why we recommend this book: It provides a creative outlet for children to explore their emotions and promotes resilience through personal challenges.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who enjoy stories about other children's real-life challenges and personal growth.

Challenging Books On Divorce for 5-Year-Olds

• When My Parents Forgot How to Be Friends by Jennifer Moore-Mallinos, illustrated by Marta Fàbrega
  • Genre(s): Family, Children's Fiction
  • Synopsis: This book explores a young girl's feelings and thoughts as she witnesses the transformation of her parents' relationship from being best friends to becoming distant and separated.
  • Why this book is challenging: It tackles complex emotions and the concept of friendship within the family, which can be a profound and difficult topic for young minds.
  • Why we recommend this book: It helps children understand that even though relationships may change, the love parents have for their children remains constant.
  • Perfect for: Young readers dealing with their parents' separation and needing reassurance about the unchanging nature of parental love.

• Living with Mom and Living with Dad by Melanie Walsh
  • Genre(s): Family, Children's Fiction
  • Synopsis: This book uses a simple and engaging lift-the-flap format to show a child's life living separately with both mom and dad.
  • Why this book is challenging: The interactive format combined with the topic of divorce requires children to engage actively with both the physical book and the emotional content.
  • Why we recommend this book: Its interactive nature makes the topic of divorce more engaging and less intimidating for children.
  • Perfect for: Children who are adjusting to living separately with each parent and enjoy interactive reading experiences.

• The Invisible String by Patrice Karst, illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff
  • Genre(s): Family, Emotional Learning
  • Synopsis: This story introduces the concept of an invisible string made of love that connects us to everyone we care about, even when we are not physically together.
  • Why this book is challenging: It introduces abstract concepts of love and connection that are not visible or tangible, pushing young readers to think beyond the physical world.
  • Why we recommend this book: It offers a comforting perspective on separation, helping children feel connected to their parents even when they are apart.
  • Perfect for: Children who need emotional reassurance about their connections with separated parents.

• Fred Stays With Me! by Nancy Coffelt, illustrated by Tricia Tusa
  • Genre(s): Family, Children's Fiction
  • Synopsis: The story follows a young girl who navigates her parents' custody arrangement with her pet dog, Fred, who stays with her at both homes.
  • Why this book is challenging: It discusses the logistics of shared custody through the eyes of a child, dealing with continuity and change in a sensitive manner.
  • Why we recommend this book: It addresses the comfort and stability pets can provide during times of change, and it's relatable for children with pets.
  • Perfect for: Children experiencing shared custody arrangements and pet owners coping with family transitions.

• Divorce Is Not the End of the World by Zoe Stern, Evan Stern, and Ellen Sue Stern
  • Genre(s): Family, Self-help
  • Synopsis: Written by siblings who experienced their parents' divorce, this guide offers practical advice and personal insights to help children navigate this challenging time.
  • Why this book is challenging: It's written from the perspective of children who have gone through divorce, offering a peer viewpoint that requires emotional maturity to fully appreciate.
  • Why we recommend this book: It provides peer support and practical advice that is directly relatable and empowering for young readers.
  • Perfect for: Children looking for guidance and reassurance from others who have experienced similar family changes.

Exercises to Develop a Good Reading Habit

Hey there! If you're looking for ways to help your 5-year-old navigate through books on divorce, incorporating some engaging reading exercises can be incredibly beneficial. These activities not only make reading more interactive but also help in understanding and processing the themes of the books. Here’s a list of exercises tailored just for that:

• Picture Story Recap
  • What it is: After reading, ask your child to draw a picture of what happened in the story.
  • How it helps: This encourages comprehension and helps the child express feelings about the story.
  • Tips: Provide colorful markers and a big sheet of paper to make the activity exciting and visually appealing.

• Read and Discuss
  • What it is: Read a book together and discuss the story’s events and characters.
  • How it helps: Promotes critical thinking and helps your child articulate thoughts and emotions.
  • Tips: Ask open-ended questions to encourage your child to think and express more deeply.

• Character Role-Play
  • What it is: Take turns pretending to be characters from the book.
  • How it helps: Helps your child understand different perspectives and empathize with the characters.
  • Tips: Use simple props or costumes to make the role-playing fun and engaging.

• Story Sequencing Cards
  • What it is: Create cards depicting scenes from the book and ask your child to arrange them in order.
  • How it helps: Enhances understanding of the narrative structure and sequence of events.
  • Tips: Use large pictures and keep the number of scenes manageable.

• Feelings Finder
  • What it is: Discuss specific moments in the book and ask how different scenarios might make the characters feel.
  • How it helps: Encourages emotional intelligence and empathy by relating to the characters’ feelings.
  • Tips: Use emotive words that your child can understand and relate to.

These exercises are designed to be fun and educational, helping your child develop a love for reading while also providing tools to understand complex emotions involved in family changes. Remember, the key is to be patient and make each reading session enjoyable and stress-free. Happy reading!