This book explaines what its like to have parents going through a divorce and how children can cope with the separation. this book explains divorce to children and how they are never the reason parents spit, and that they still love you the same, but also explains the difficulties and emotions that children also go through when dealing with a huge change in their family.

Family Changes is a helpful book for younger children who are confused about separation and divorce. The story features a rabbit family with Zoey worried that her parents are getting a divorce. she asks her mother what separated and divorced mean. As they drive to school, she gets a stomach. She talks to her best friend about the divorce and she tells her that she is worried it is her fault (a common concern with children). Her father comes to the school for a visit on the Treasure Hunt Day, and he explains why adults get divorced a reassures her that it is not her fault and that they will continue to love and take care of her. Reading that Zoey's parents are not divorced because of something Zoey did (or didn't) do, can reassure youngsters that their own parents are not getting a divorce because a child forgot to do their homework, or some other small transgression. The story touches on several key issues that children worry about - will their parents still love them, will they have two homes now, did they somehow cause the divorce, etc. I really liked the illustrations, especially the warm fuzzy feeling when Zoey was with either of her parents.

I liked that the book opened with a not to adults and that there were a list of possible questions that children might ask parents about divorce and separation.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Family Changes: Explaining Divorce to Children was designed to help parents, family members and professionals guide young children through the confusion of divorce. It comes from a clinical psychologist who uses the picture book format to help adults understand how divorce may be explained to the very young, with the help of this book.

A host of animals are used to reach kids ages 4-8 years old, with a young bunny at the forefront as she struggles with her family's changes and embarks on an emotional roller coaster ride in the process of exploring her new circumstances.

Because there's a good amount of text (for a picture book), this is not recommended for new young readers. It's designed with the adult/child read-together experience in mind, and will benefit both audiences with its colorful, full-page animal character drawings (by Polona Lovsin) paired with a series of questions on why Zoey Bunny's parents are getting divorced, what that means, and how she feels about life in general.

Based on the typical emotional turbulence a child feels from separation or divorce, Family Changes receives high recommendation as the first title that adults should turn to in the effort to explain, explore, and support a child's feelings in the matter, concluding with a list of 'process questions' which adults can use to further enhance the story line's overall approach. ( )

(ARC was provided to read and review.)

Family Changes uses a warm hearted story, with some of the most beautiful illustrations I've come across in a picture book, to help parents, therapists and teachers to explain the meaning of divorce and separation to young ones.
The book, which is aimed at kids between four and eight, starts with a note to adults, in which the author explains the idea of the book and how children experience divorce and how the story will help small children to express their feelings and anxiety concerning the changes in their family, when parents decide to go separate ways.

The story centers around the little bunny girl Zoey and the big day at the Sunny Bunny School, as it's the day of the annual treasure hunt. It's a cheerful story with lots of magic and fun, when the wee bunnies are trying to find the Glittering Feather and eat chocolate carrots. But it's also a story where, after her parent's divorce, Zoey now lives with her mother and the father turns up at school to take part in the special activity day with his child. Zoey is unhappy and confused, because of her parent's divorce and she wonders, if it was all her fault.
Her parents take turns to explain patiently the difference between separation and divorce and try to answer her questions and to address her feelings. They assure her, that they love her as much as before and the story ends on the positive note, that Zoey will now have two homes, where she is equally welcome and where toys will be waiting for her to play with.

After the story the author, who is an experienced clinical psychologist, offers a list of questions for adults (eg. "Will I ever feel OK again?") to discuss with children, who undergo such a significant and life-changing situation.

A very useful book and an excellent tool, to explain the changes to children, in which a separation or divorce of their parents will result and to help them to cope with the new situation. ( )