Books are great during and after a divorce for a number of reasons. Not only do they contain troves of valuable information and knowledge, but they also provide a source of relaxation and escape during times that could otherwise be hectic and stressful. The sheer number of co-parenting and divorce books available to read can be overwhelming when trying to decide the best book for you or your child. To make things easier, we’ve provided a condensed list of some of our favorite books below.
THE BEST DIVORCE BOOKS FOR ADULTS
Parenting Apart: How Separated and Divorced Parents Can Raise Happy and Secure Kids: Parenting Apart by Christina McGhee is widely regarded as one of the best co-parenting books for brand new co-parents. The book provides actionable solutions to some of the big early issues faced by divorcing parents.
Joint Custody with a Jerk: Raising a Child with an Uncooperative Ex: In a perfect world, separated parents could behave in an amicable manner towards each other. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case and it’s something you may need to prepare for if your divorce is contentious. Joint Custody with a Jerk offers readers real solutions to tough issues that arise when your former spouse is difficult, selfish, or irrational.
Mom’s House, Dad’s House: Written by internationally renowned therapist, Isolina Ricci, Mom’s House, Dad’s House is considered by many to be “the bible” for divorcing parents. The book helps parents prepare for separation, divorce, remarriage, and living with blended families. It includes helpful guidelines, checklists, tools, and even self-tests.
The Co-Parenting Handbook: Raising Well-Adjusted and Resilient Kids from Little Ones to Young Adults through Divorce or Separation: The Co-Parenting Handbook is a good book to start with as you venture into co-parenting. Co-parenting family structures and strategies differ depending on a child’s age. The handbook addresses that and offers advice and tips for parenting children of any age.
Speaking of Divorce: How to Talk with Your Kids and Help Them Cope: Written by Roberta Beyer and Kent Winchester, Speaking of Divorce is an excellent book that gets parents to think about how to approach divorce with children and how it will affect them. Parents will learn how to speak gently and truthfully while guiding their children through the breakup and beyond.
THE BEST DIVORCE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN
Was It the Chocolate Pudding?: A Story For Little Kids About Divorce: In trying to understand divorce, it’s easy for children to blame themselves as the cause for separation. This book gently offers young children reassurance that they aren’t to blame for their parents’ divorce. It touches on some of the most pressing questions children have, including: Do my parents still love me? And: Who will take care of me?
Two Homes: Two Homes by Claire Masurel and Kady MacDonald Denton paints separation in a positive light while simply laying out all of the facts in a way that remains child-centered. For this reason, it is an excellent read for children. The reassuring content focuses more on what is gained from a divorce, rather than what is lost.
Divorce is the Worst: Divorce is the Worst is a very clever book by Anastasia Higginbotham. Parents know that divorce is ultimately for the best, but it can be hard for children to see it as anything other than the worst. The book helps children to reflect on their emotions to better understand them. The story is both funny and honest, while captivating kids with colorful mixed-media collages.
Dinosaurs Divorce: Dinosaurs divorce is widely regarded as one of the best divorce books for young children. It is written by Marc (the author behind the Arthur book series) and Laurene Brown. The book allows children to digest the concepts of divorce through the lens of a dinosaur family. It covers topics such as why parents divorce, what living in two homes is like, and what it’s like to have stepbrothers and stepsisters.
What in the World Do You Do When Your Parents Divorce? A survival Guide for Kids: This book is designed to be a companion book to Speaking of Divorce, which is on our list of recommended divorce books for adults. Unlike many of the books on the list, this book is geared towards older grade school and middle school-aged children (ages 7-12). It is written in a Q&A format and explains the important aspects of divorce with honesty and simplicity. It’s certainly a book worth considering if your children are older.