About This Book
Reach for this book when your child expresses frustration with the differences between their two households or feels like a temporary visitor in a parent's new life. This gentle story follows a young boy during a weekend visit with his father and stepmother. To cope with his feelings of displacement and the small irritations of a blended home, he keeps a secret list of things he will do differently when he is the grownup in charge. It is a deeply validating read for children ages 5 to 8 who are navigating the complexities of divorce. It moves beyond the initial shock of separation to address the long-term emotional work of belonging in two places at once. Parents will appreciate how it models a healthy way for children to reclaim a sense of agency through writing and imagination.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
The book deals with divorce and blended families in a direct, secular, and highly realistic manner. There is no magical reconciliation of the parents; instead, the resolution is found in Daniel's growing resilience and his realization that he is loved in both homes, even if they feel different.
