Mama and Daddy Bear's Divorce

Plot Summary

One sad day, Mama and Daddy say they are getting a divorce. Daddy won't live at home anymore. Dinah is scared and sad. She wonders if she'll ever see Daddy again.

Reviews

"Spelman, a social worker, has written a book on divorce for the very youngest children, trying to reassure them that although both parents will not be living with them, both parents will always love them....A sensitive book that should have wide use." Booklist

"This book provides reassurance that, as painful and confusing as a divorce may be, it does not mean that both parents will no longer be part of a youngster's life. In a series of short sentences, readers learn about Dinah's favorite people; her favorite activities; and her favorite things. The words used to describe the divorce and what it means are carefully chosen, and the expressions on the bear characters' faces are appropriately sad. However, the message of this book is that life goes on." School Library Journal

"Told from the perspective of Dinah, the youngest in the Bear family, this simple story captures very young children's perceptions of divorce, along with their questions, emotions, and fears. Spelman shows how divorce disrupts the sameness children depend on in their lives and their need for reassurance as they become secure with their new situation. Parkinson's watercolors effectively convey the story's message." The Horn Book Guide

Associated Keywords
divorce, families, social issues