Everything Preschool - Early Childhood Education Made Easy
 

Google
Web everythingpreschool.com






Two Homes


Author(s): Claire Masurel
Kady Macdonald Denton (Illustrator)
Binding: Paperback
Pubilication Date: 2003-07-14
Publisher: Candlewick
Pages: 40
SKU: 0763619841

Avg. Rating:
Description:
"Parents looking for a book about separation or divorce will find few offerings as positive, matter-of-fact, or child-centered as this one. . . . Simple, yet profoundly satisfying. - BOOKLIST (starred review)

At Mommy’s house, Alex has a soft chair. At Daddy’s house, Alex has a rocking chair. In each home, Alex also has a special bedroom and lots of friends to play with. But whether Alex is with Mommy or with Daddy, one thing always stays the same - Alex is loved. The gently reassuring text focuses on what is gained rather than what is lost when parents divorce, while the sensitive illustrations, depicting two unique homes in all their small details, firmly establish Alex’s place in both of them. TWO HOMES will help children - and parents - embrace even the most difficult of changes with an open and optimistic heart.
4.5337
Alex has two homes, two sets of friends, two styles of life
Alex's Mommy and Daddy don't live together anymore and so Alex shares time with them in two different homes. He has his own room in each, his own toothbrush, his own favorite chair, and his own special times with Mommy and Daddy. Through the simple illustrations of Kady MacDonald Denton and the comforting words of the author, Claire Masurel, this book reassures the young child that despite the separation in his family, he is very much loved by both parents. This book is good for the younger child for whom 'divorce' is not easy to comprehend. It can help a child understand more the impact of sharing homes as well as parents.


A Simple and Comforting Read For Young Children of Divorce
I recently purchased 2 copies of this book for my own Alex - 1 to keep at Mom's and the other to keep at Dad's. I bought this book especially because my 3 1/2 year old has a very difficult time leaving his home at Mom's to go visit at Dad's. It gives us a chance to personalize the text and discuss and share details about how (my) Alex has 2 of several things - favorite chairs, toothbrushes, places to hang coats, sets of friends, bedrooms and, most importantly, parents who love him. The text is very simple, and the pictures are relative to a kid's world. Alex quickly adopted this book as one of his favorite must-reads at bedtime. It brings a smile to his face each time we read it, and it gets him involved in talking about how he has 2 homes. I would suggest this book to anyone with young children (ages 3-5)in a family of divorce.


Great resource for younger kids
I loved this book! It was exactly what I was looking for. My 2 year old son loves reading it, and talking about Alex's 2 homes. He understands that he is like Alex and has two homes too. It is a simple story that doesn't try to explain divorce, or justify it. It just explains how the boy has two homes and that both his parents love him, in a loving and simple way. It has wonderful pictures that my son really relates to. Hope you enjoy it too.


The Perfect Book for Young Children Coping With Divorce
Thank goodness there is a book like Two Homes by Claire Masurel. It doesn't try to explain or justify divorce to young ones. It just comforts, supports and reaffirms to young children that now they have two homes where they are loved. I can't praise this book enough for its simply explained and well illustrated message.


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!


4.5337
Excellent
I was divorced a couple years ago and my then three year old was really having a tough time. I bought LOTS of books. This one stands out from them all. My girls could really relate to it. It is a pretty simple book, this is what my room looks like at mom's, this is what my room looks like at dad's. It also reinforces that fact that they are loved no matter where they are. I would highly recommend this for anyone going through the nightmare of divorce where kids are involved.


Good for toddlers or younger children
This book is simple and encouraging for the very young child. Amazon has a note that this is for the child up to age 8, but a school age child, other than kindergartener, would find it disappointing. This helps dispell fears of the toddler, young child group of losing their parents somehow with divorce. It addresses that they have a place and home with each parent which helps a young child adjust to divorce in the family. For the younger child, it is worth the cost. For the older child, look for a different book like Dinosaurs Divorce which addresses more feelings and complex issues.


Wonderful, comforting book!
This book is simple enough for a young child, who doesn't need technical details about his parents separation/divorce, but does need reassurance that he/she is still loved no matter what happens ishis/her life. It is a good tool for getting your younger child to talk about their own feelings in a safe way. My 4 1/2 year old son loves this book. The illustrations are sweet and have a certain gentleness, which matches the text nicely. Overall, I would highly recommend this to anyone who knows a child going through this difficult life change.


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.

I got it in 2003 for my then preschooler, and it stuck around in her bookcase for a couple years, read a few times a year (per her desire).

Despite the less-than-ideal circumstance of splitting up a family, the book doesn't even address the negative. It rather, matter of factly (understanding that kids are pretty resilient), just shows what life is like for the child in the book... two sets of everything, and of course the same amount of love as always. It's not scary, it's not unknown. It's a life that any pre-schooler will be able to understand.

My daughter, now in kindergarten, still refers to her situation as "two homes". She even commented that some of her classmates have "two homes" too.

What a testament to a children's book on a difficult subject when the title gets incorporated into a kid's vocabulary!


Review of Two Homes
I think the is a great book. It shows how Alex has two homes, one with his Mom and one with his Dad. He has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, two favorite chairs, and friends at each house. The pictures show us how happy and comfortable Alex is at both house. The story tells us he talks to Mommy at his Dad's house and Daddy at his Mom's house. Alex knows he is loved by both his parents at all times wherever he is. This is a very comforting story. It is a great book for young children experiencing a divorce or just to teach children about divorce. It doesn't try to explain divorce, it just shows Alex's two homes in a simple, happy way!


4.5337
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!


Very good Book
I bought this book for my 4 year old after my husband and I seperated and it seemed to help him understand the situation more clearly. It is a simple book that he was able to understand. Now he feels he's "super lucky" because now HE has two homes instead of just one.


Great Little Book for Small Kids
My daughter, who was just about to turn 6 when I bought this, loves this book. It is essentially 'her life' because of divorce and I think it means a lot to her to realize she is not alone in having two homes. When I first got this book I was disappointed, it is so short and so simple; but it is not intended for me-and she loves it.


good message
This was a good book for my 5 yr old Grandson. It was a great way to show that other children live in split family situations; most importantly--it reminds the reader that the child is still loved by BOTH parents, and still freely loves BOTH parents in return.


Very good book on a tough subject
I was extremely unhappy with the number of books available for children on this subject. I realize it is difficult to convey such a complex subject in simple terms that children can understand; however, that I why I'm looking for a book on this. If it were so simple, why would I need a book to help explain it? Anyway... this does a nice job and in a non-evasive way to expaining the situation that my child faces. He's 4 and totally incapable to comprehending the situation, but he does relate to a couple of the examples put forth in this book (eg two homes, two rooms, etc). Overall, i'd buy this book even if there were a plethera of books available. I'd recommend it for a child(ren) a little older (maybe 5-10). it is well written and overall a very good book.