Books That Heal Kids: moving

Showing posts with label moving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label moving. Show all posts

Book Reviews: Home Is a Window and Goodbye, Friend! Hello, Friend!

Author: Stephanie Parsley Ledyard
Illustrator: Chris Sasaki

From the Book Jacket: Home can be many things - a window, a doorway, a rug...or a hug. At home, everything always feels the same: comfortable and safe. But sometimes things change, and a home must be left behind. Follow a family as they leave their beloved old home and learn to make a new one in this heartfelt book. 


Author/Illustrator: Cori Doerrfeld

From the Book Jacket: Every goodbye brings a new beginning. Goodbye to snowmen means hello to stomping in puddles! Goodbye to the sun means hello to the stars! Sometimes goodbyes are especially hard, and sometimes new beginnings take time, but tomorrow always comes. This picture book follows two best friends as they help each other through life's transitions, both big and small!

Why They Are On My Bookshelf: I just discovered these two books and I'm so happy about it. I have a lot of requests for recommendations on helping kids transition to a new home/school or deal with a friend moving. They are also great read alouds for the classroom. 

A Link To These Books: 


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Book Review: Goodbye, School

Author: Tonya Lippert
Illustrator: Tracy Bishop

From the Book Jacket: Franny loves her school! She's had lots of fun, learned to read, played with her friends, made art, and even napped here. It's hard for Franny to say goodbye. But she must - today is her last day of school, and it's time to leave. 

Franny figures out a way to say goodbye and honor this special place. 

Includes a Reader's Note to help you guide children through periods of transition or change and acknowledge their feelings throughout the experience. 

Why It's On My Bookshelf: It's really difficult to find GOOD books on this topic. We usually have a few families leave at the end of a school year due to a move or change of circumstances. This was such a helpful resource to read to the whole class not just individually. It's also important for kids who are not moving to use empathy and provide support and hope to children who are moving on. Goodbye, School helped give closure to our students in a really positive way. Will be using and recommending to teachers and parents for sure!

A Link to This Book and Others You Might Find Helpful:
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Book Review: A Tiger Called Tomas

Author: Charlotte Zolotow
Illustrator: Mart Alvaerz Miguens

From the Book Jacket: Tomas is too shy to go out and meet the kids in his neighborhood, even with his mom's encouragement. Instead he just sits on his stoop, watching the world go by. On the night of Halloween, opportunity arrives in the form of a tiger costume, complete with a mask that hides his identity. He can go trick-or-treating without anyone knowing i's him. But Tomas soon discovers his costume doesn't hide him quite as well as he thinks... 

A tender story that gently explores children's hesitancy to pursue friends, and the joy in making them. 

Why It's On My Bookshelf: This is a really sweet story on being new and overcoming shyness. It also really validates the feeling of having a fear that people might not like you when you are trying to make friends. Throughout the book Tomas says: "they might not like me." He soon discovers everyone knows his name and is also surprised to see how friendly everyone is as he goes trick or treating. I think shyness can sometimes steal a child's inner smile. This story is a very encouraging reminder that it's okay to put yourself out there. 

A Link to This Book:
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Book Review: Life Without Nico

Author: Andrea Maturana
Illustrator: Francisco Javier Olea

From the Book Jacket: Best friends Maia and Nico are inseparable. So when Nico's family must move away for a while, life without him leaves a big hole in Maia's world. 

But little by little, Maia's sadness eases, thanks to a kitten, a new friend and the magic of music. When it's finally time for Nico to return home, Maia worries. Can she find room in her life for him again?This is an endearing story of friendship and the infinite capacity of the heart. 

Why It's On My Bookshelf: I've had a few students have to deal with a friend moving away and really feeling devastated by the loss. This is a sweet story that validates these circumstances and feelings. It also shows you can fill the void in your heart by making a new friend and finding hobbies. I don't have too many books on this subject so glad I found it. This will also be a great resource to teach The Zones of Regulation. Great find!

A Link to This Book and Others You Might Find Useful:
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Book Review: Where I Live

Author: Eileen Spinelli

About This Book:  Diana loves where she lives. She loves the astronomy charts on her walls and the fact that she can wave to her best friend, Rose, from her very own window. And best of all, a wren has recently made its home right by her front door! When her family is forced to move, Diana wonders if she’ll ever find that same grounded and happy feeling again. Six Reasons Why We Have to Move


1. Because Dad lost his job. 

2. Because we're short on money.

3. Because Grandpa Joe lives alone in a big, empty house.

4. Because Grandpa Joe wants to share his house with us. 

5. Because I don't get a vote about moving.

This gentle and ultimately redeeming story in poems is about those secure and fulfilling friendships that happen naturally and easily when you live right next door, and the struggles of losing the comfort of a familiar place.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: I love this book. Let me say it again - I Love This Book!   A LOT of our students have attended different schools and have had to make many transitions in their lives.  These are the kids who really need us to reach out to them and be compassionate and helpful while they adjust to a new home and school. 

 I especially cared for Mrs. Clifford, Diana's teacher, who validated her feelings when she had to move.  Sometimes when I read a book, I might have a few kids not paying attention. Not with this read, even the squirliest of the squirelly had their eyes and ears 100% on me. I know Where I Live has done a lot of healing in my school. There are not enough books out there helping kids with a big life transition like moving. So I was grateful for this new find and will continue to use it as a tool to help students experiencing or facing a move.

A Link to This Book:
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