Families who loved The Memory String by Eve Bunting often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your child is struggling to navigate the complicated emotions of a blended family, specifically when the arrival of a step-parent feels like a threat to the memory of a deceased parent. It is an essential tool for children who are holding onto the past so tightly they have no room for a new present. Jane keeps a string of buttons, each representing a precious family memory. When the string breaks and a button is lost, Jane's grief boils over into resentment toward her stepmother, Jane. This gentle, realistic story explores the 'loyalty bind' children often feel. It is developmentally perfect for ages 4 to 8, providing a safe space to acknowledge that loving a new person doesn't mean forgetting the one who is gone.