This is a realistic book for children going through change and loss - this time the divorce of their parents. With no story line but grouped into subjects, readers can utilize as much or as little as needed each time the book is explored. Having personally experienced a divorce with children involved, I like how all aspects of divorce (why divorce, two homes, telling friends, stepparents) are part of the scope.

I strongly encourage exploration of the pages related to feelings and learning to express in healthy ways the wide range of emotions a child experiences. Opening up about/discussing one's feelings is so important for a child's development into an emotionally healthy adult.

I found a chile therapist who recommended this book to me. It was a good book, but my children were not interested in it. They would rather talk to me and as me questions, so that what we did. I read it, and it was helpful in terms of coming up with helpful language to talk to the kids about something difficult.

I am a nanny working for divorced family. I found the 8-year old reading the book, I was interested so I read the whole book and I was so impressed I got it for my kids too. Not that I am planing on divorce but the kids have so many friends coming from divorced families and this could help them understand situation they are going through. I think the book explains very sensitively whole process of divorce and life after divorce, new partners of parents and step-siblings included. I find the book very needed and helpful. There's plenty of literature for parents going through this hard part of their life and now this is finally something for the little ones. They deserved it.

My six year old son loved the book. It helps children understand better what divorce is about and what to expect. A must for children going through this.

This book is good for parents and kids living in a divorce situation. The parents part give suggestions for dealing with what the kids are going through. This is a handy reference book, in an easy read way.

My son was 3 1/2 when I first started to read this book to him, because he started to want to know why his Mommy and Daddy didn't live together, even though it's all he's really ever known since he turned a year old.

This book has a lot of scenarios and you can read the sections that apply to your current situation. I think this book would be better for a child who is 6+.

In one section, the daughter dinasour is trying to figure out her emotions and becomes frustrated. The illustration has puffs of red clouds about her head. My son refers to it as "The red puffy stuff" and is always concerned about the girl and her feelings. It bothers him that she has the "red puffy stuff" about her head.

As we were going through his toys that he wanted to donate, when he came across this book, he looked at it and said, "That puffy stuff is bad" and put it in the "to donate" box.

Even though this book was written by a man and a woman, I felt that some of the scenarios leaned on the mother, as being the "bad guy", or trying to buy-off the kids too much.

Very easy to explain from the parent point of view and a lot easier for the kids to understand what is happening and why.
Truly a great help

I ordered this book for my 9 year old daughter to help explain to her about the changes going on in our family structure. The book explains a grown-up concept in a childs eyes with colorful pictures and good descriptions. My daughters therapist asked me to get this book for her and I am so happy I did. A must for any age child that is going through changes in their household. I would highly recommend this book.

Dinosaurs Divorce is an important cornerstone of an all-too-small selection of children's books on this topic. With huge ambitions, this book addresses all kinds of topics relative to the breakup of the family and, for some families, these chapters will be appropriate and necessary. Others will find it too broad to make more than a chapter or two relevant to their own situation.

My biggest criticism of this book is that we would never leave it in my six-year-old daughter's room to let her digest it on her own. The best books, we've found, are those that we can read to her several nights at bedtime and then walk in later and find her "reading" them on her own. She spends a lot of time deciphering every detail of the illustrations and remembers the elements of the story that we read on each page. Dinosaurs Divorce is a great "tool for children", but not necessarily a great "children's book". The illustrations are far too scary on some pages and a few of the topics are too inappropriate for our situation to let her have access to the entire book. We have enough reality to discuss that does pertain to our home than to add a lot of other distressing possibilities.

I actually disagree, though, with the criticism of this book because it's "too reassuring". Yes, that's good information to have, some teachers may be looking for a book that is more realistic to situations they watch specific students go through, but every parent should want something that is reassuring. If they've forgotten to do that, the greatest impact WON'T be reminding the parents that it's necessary to do that once in a while.

Parents, teachers, and counselors looking for books on divorce may consider the following alternatives for specific needs. Please note that all of these books are story books and are written in a way that allow children to relate, enjoy the entire book, and hopefully empower them to talk about their own experiences with divorce.

For younger children (preschool) about living in two homes and making that a positive experience: Two Homes

For young children (4-8) about the initial discovery of divorce, including relieving the child's worry that they've caused the tension at home, especially during the delay between when parents have made the final decision and when they tell their children: The Most Important Thing

For younger children (2-6) about a post-divorce situation of living mostly at Dad's house and the inevitable worry that the divorce may have been the children's fault: Was It the Chocolate Pudding?: A Story For Little Kids About Divorce

This book helps a great deal in explaining to young children how divorce feels and how it changes the family. I used it in school counseling. Great resource in the elementary school setting.

I read this book as a child, some time after my parents' divorce (age 7 or so). I'm all grown up now, but I still remember it fondly. It was comforting to me to know that many other kids were in my same situation, and I remember memorizing a lot of advice from it. In hindsight I can see just how valuable the advice was, tips like not needing to take sides or deliver messages between parents. In the end, this book really helped me to be comfortable and understanding about divorce and having two families. It was easy for me to understand, and I loved the dinosaurs. Take it from somebody who's been there -- this is an excellent book!

I read this book as a child, some time after my parents' divorce (age 7 or so). I'm all grown up now, but I still remember it fondly. It was comforting to me to know that many other kids were in my same situation, and I remember memorizing a lot of advice from it. In hindsight I can see just how valuable the advice was, tips like not needing to take sides or deliver messages between parents. In the end, this book really helped me to be comfortable and understanding about divorce and having two families. It was easy for me to understand, and I loved the dinosaurs. Take it from somebody who's been there -- this is an excellent book!

As a new elementary guidance counselor, I haven't found a kids' book on divorce yet that I LOVE. Meanwhile, this is useful. It covers several aspects of divorce. It is too long to use the whole thing in one sitting with young children, and not all of it applies in every situation or is appropriate with every age group. However, it's fairly easy to select what you think is helpful and appropriate for your child(ren) because of the comic-book format and different chapters on different topics (ie. Having Two Homes, Telling Your Friends, Meeting Parents' New Friends).

I used this with a pre-1st class last week. I chose the sections I thought most applicable and paraphrased, partly for simplicity and partly to age-appropriately soften some negative aspects, like using "parents can't get along anymore" but leaving out "don't love each other". And, like other reviewers, I thought the panes on Mom taking anger at Dad out on Son, and Mom with alcohol and pills to illustrate "behaving in ways that hurt themselves and the rest of the family" were too mature and scary concepts for that age group! However, it was a great tool to start a helpful and positive conversation.

As a new elementary guidance counselor, I haven't found a kids' book on divorce yet that I LOVE. Meanwhile, this is useful. It covers several aspects of divorce. It is too long to use the whole thing in one sitting with young children, and not all of it applies in every situation or is appropriate with every age group. However, it's fairly easy to select what you think is helpful and appropriate for your child(ren) because of the comic-book format and different chapters on different topics (ie. Having Two Homes, Telling Your Friends, Meeting Parents' New Friends).

I used this with a pre-1st class last week. I chose the sections I thought most applicable and paraphrased, partly for simplicity and partly to age-appropriately soften some negative aspects, like using "parents can't get along anymore" but leaving out "don't love each other". And, like other reviewers, I thought the panes on Mom taking anger at Dad out on Son, and Mom with alcohol and pills to illustrate "behaving in ways that hurt themselves and the rest of the family" were too mature and scary concepts for that age group! However, it was a great tool to start a helpful and positive conversation.

In trying to explain divorce, I read this to my son and paraphrased what the book said because I found myself surprised at the way it was written (especially since it was written by Arthur's creator, Marc Brown.) The book is negative in tone, language and illustrations. I'm not a parent trying to candy-coat divorce, but there have to be better books out there than this!
Check it out in a bookstore first (B&N allows you to order and look at the book in store before purchasing) so see if it is something you would feel comfortable reading to your own child.
As for me, this book is going in the recycle box; too negative for my home and family.

In trying to explain divorce, I read this to my son and paraphrased what the book said because I found myself surprised at the way it was written (especially since it was written by Arthur's creator, Marc Brown.) The book is negative in tone, language and illustrations. I'm not a parent trying to candy-coat divorce, but there have to be better books out there than this!
Check it out in a bookstore first (B&N allows you to order and look at the book in store before purchasing) so see if it is something you would feel comfortable reading to your own child.
As for me, this book is going in the recycle box; too negative for my home and family.

I use this routinely in elementary school divorce adjustment groups, particularly for grades Kinder through 3rd. The pictures are engaging and the situations are realistic. Students open up with information that helps me identify needs. Some parents have used this book with their children, and kids are always pleased to find that I have it, too.

For children ages 4-8. This paperback book is presented as a children's divorce book that will help them understand the many areas of divorce. It is not meant to be a straightforward story. It is a guide and resource for children and parents. I see this as a book that can be picked up and put back on the bookshelf as various needs and/or problems occur. I like the fact that this picture guide also has simple sentences to explain the many facets of divorce. It offers insight into children's feelings for the parents to consider as well. Age will dictate how this book is used by your children. Small children can look at the pictures of the dinosaurs and talk about the many feelings and problems they are having. It is an excellent starter for the parents and children to openly express their concerns. I recommend this book not only for young children, but also for parents as well. We all can learn something from this book. Elaine Pedersen - Preschool & Kindergarten/First Grade Teacher 25+ years experience. www.fatherachildsright.org

Is a good guide to parents, teachers and also to children to undestand in a better and easier way what divorce is and how to handle it. I love the dinosaurs!

I think this is a great book for elementary aged children to read with a parent. It is simple and honest. I have used many of Marc Brown's books to explain difficult subjects to children. They like the illustrations and the dinosaurs expressions. I recommend this book to any family with school aged kids who are going through a divorce. I'm a social worker who works with families.

My ex husband and I divorced when my daugther was two (she's seven now) and everything has always been friendly, so I never thought that we'd have any problems. However, this year she was unlucky enough to sit in class next to a little girl whose parents were having a very ugly and public divorce. Evidently these parents did nothing to hide the nastiness from their daugther either, because each day my daugther came home with a new horror story. The entire ordeal left my little girl very confused about what divorces where and what it meant for a family.

A friend recommended this book and it solved everything!!! My daughter actually came into my room last night (with a HUGE smile on her face) and thanked me for buying the book. She also asked me to please thank the friend who recommended it. Her exact words about the book were that "it explained everything to me and now I understand -- its so much better now! I know everything is okay now." I can't tell you how much I missed that smile, or how much hearing these words meant.

I am not remarried and neither is my ex-spouse, so the "step" section didn't apply to us either. However, I think that children should know what that is in case it comes up in the future, or if they encounter a friend who has a step family. It is important to answer all of their little questions before they become problems.

About the parent who worried about the martini drinking mom -- my daugther saw it. No big deal. She was more impressed by the pills next to the empty glass. I just explained matter of factly that some people hurt themselves by drinking excessively or taking medication that the doctor doesn't prescribe for them because they are so sad. That led to a discussion about sadness and how to deal with it. It was time very well spent.

I strongly recommend this book (as if you hadn't figured that out already). Good luck to all the single moms out there. You are not alone and your children will be fine. It just takes some extra effort to make sure.

God Bless.

I was given this book by a friend who is a school counselor. My ex is getting re-married, so I was looking for a resource to explain marriage/stepfamilies to my son (4yrs old). That section of this book was very helpful to us.

I did read the entire book to him but skipped over the page with the mom swigging the martini! Drug use/alcohol abuse could have been addressed in a better way, or in a different book.

I think some of the information about divorce wasn't as relevant for us- we have been divorced and in two homes since my son was a baby. However, if you are going through a divorce, and your children are of an age where they understand what is going on around them in the household, this book would be a useful tool.

My son likes "Two Homes" by Claire Masurel, and "Good-bye Daddy" by Brigitte Weninger.

Detailing to children what will happen during a divorce is a difficult and scary task-even for the adults. Dinosaurs Divorce is a valiant effort to do just that. The key issue, as well, who will read this book to the children? A first of it's kind.

I was appalled when I turned the page and saw a picture of the 'mom' dinosaur drinking a martini with wine and liquor bottles on the table behind her, along with a bottle of pills spilled open! I just don't think that was appropriate for children.

In addition, I think the book should have been geared to DIVORCE and not dating and getting remarried. Those topics should have been addressed in a separate book. It is hard enough helping a child cope with divorce, let alone adding new step parents and step siblings in the mix much too prematurely.

Still searching for a good book for children on divorce. I was very dissapointed in this.

I bought this book for my 5 year old stepson. His parents divorced before he was 2, so he had a poor understanding of marriage and divorce. It really helped him understand what was going on in his life and cleared up a lot of confusion for him. I highly recommend the book for anyone going through a divorce involving young children. The only negative in the book was the sterotype of the father leaving and the children living with the mother.

I think this book can make parents more comfortable about beginning a dialogue with the children about their feelings. The book shines a light on a situation that would allow a parent to ask what the child thinks about what is going on in the story. The artwork may even encourage the child to release his or her feelings by drawing. I would have liked to see more options for children for dealing with the challenges they face. All in all I say 'Buy this book'.

I was having a very difficult time explaining to my 6 yr old. what divorce was and what was going to happen to her. This book was perfect. Just what I needed to help get through this tough time. It was difficult at times for me to read.. (got emotional) but it was just what we needed..

My divorce lawyer recommended this book to me after I expressed concern about how my kids might be handling my divorce. To be honest, it struck me as somewhat childish, but both of my sons took to it and claimed that it made them understand what was happening... and that it made them feel better to know they were not the only ones who've experienced this. And that was good enough for me!

This book may be geared toward slightly older children, contrary to the indication on the site. While the humourous and familiar illustrations help to relieve a very tense situation, parts of the book fall flat.

The image of the mother throwing back a martini with a bottle of pills at her side seems a bit gratuitous and inappropriate for smaller children. Other serious issues(spousal abuse, infidelity, child abuse)are (wisely) not addressed, and it seems that the authors are trivializing substance abuse by including it in this way.

It is difficult to use this book in the early stages of informing a small child about divorce, as it quickly introduces issues that are likely quite a ways down the road; for example "Will I love my stepmom"?

For smaller children, 4 to 6 years old, I prefer Vicki Lansky's It's Not Your Fault Koko Bear.

Although possible sources of strife are briefly mentioned (your parents may criticize each other, or may not know how to relate to you), others are glossed over. The book assures the child reader that both parents continue to love the child, which is warm and fuzzy but not (in my experience as an elementary teacher) always true. Unfortunately.

In 31 pages, children who may be just facing the bombshell news of their parents' divorce are galloped willy-nilly through the times ahead, including the possible remarriage of their parents and the advent of stepchildren. It's true this is among the range of things that may have to be faced, but other unpleasant things that sometimes have to be faced during divorce are glossed over and left out (public scenes, calls to the police, institutionalization, alcoholism...). So why drag that in at such a delicate moment?

I wonder if this book perhaps offers more comfort to the parents of the children it's intended for than to the children themselves.

This is a wonderful book for children over the age of 8 years old. The terminology, reading level, and comprehension level is too high for a younger child. However, it is presented in a straight forward manner and is a great resource for parents and counselors of children going through a divorce.

My boyfriend's 4 1/2 son really latched onto this book. Although his parents answered all the questions he asked, he was still a bit confused. We bought his book several months before actually reading it to him. We decided he was ready for it after he was confused about some things ("when mommy gets married, he will be my daddy and daddy will be my step-dad.") We read 1/2 one evening and he asked for it to be read the next day and the following day and then asked to take it back to mommy's house (which we permitted.) He said "the dinosaur book" is still being read quite often. Perfect for this age.

I bought this book just before I seperated and began reading it with my young children as soon as I told them what was happening with our family. They realized right away that it was a Marc and Laurie Brown book and were excited about reading it. It's been almost two years since we first opened the book and we still read it often. It helps me talk about our changed family in terms that they can understand. It also helps me to understand what my children are feeling, it's much easier for them to tell me when they can look at a picture and relate to what the character is feeling. I highly recommend this book to any family that is facing divorce or that has been through it. It also deals with the changes that may take place long after the divorce. GREAT BOOK!!!!!

This book plays as a comic strip filled with vital information for a child whom is experiencing the tragedy of divorce. The pages light up with the vibrant depictions of the dinosaur families. The characters are depicted with great detail to facial expressions. The cartoon drawings will help the reader understand and relate to the different emotions expressed. This great learning tool includes the topics: divorce words and what they mean; why parents divorce; what about you; after the divorce; living with one parent; visiting your parent; having two home.... It lets the child know that it is not their fault for the parents' divorce. It reassures the child that parents divorce when they are no longer able to get along no matter how hard they try. Feelings that a child may not be use to experiencing such as sadness, shame, anger, guilt, and/or worried about who will take care of you. The book instructs the child to talk about how they feel so they may feel better. Often a child may be afraid to cry but Dinosaurs Divorce lets them know that it is okay to let their feelings out through tears. What I really love is that the book is realistic and never lies to the child. A child is told the truth that although they may hope that their parents will marry each other, it is very unlikely because divorce is final and most parents do not get back together. While reading the book, the reader gains useful tips about what to do after the divorce. An example is to not listen when parents say bad things about each other. The book offers the advice to tell them that you love both of them and hearing such bad things upsets you. Every area of divorce and the repercussions that may follow are covered in this book. Being a child of divorce myself, I wish I would have a had a book like this to help me get through the bad times and to let me know that how I was feeling was normal. I bought this bought for myself and brought it how to show my mother. She too agreed on how a book like this would have been useful to her in explaining our new altered life to my brothers and I. This is an excellent book for anyone, regardless of age, to add to their bibliotherapy collection. I highly recommend this book of mental medicine!

My daughter was 6 at the time of my divorce and reading this book became an every night event. The book helped her to understand her feelings and provided great comfort. Tonight, we discussed one of her classmates whose parents are divorcing and my daughter asked if she could buy a Dinosaurs Divorce for her friend. So here we are...purchasing one to pass along to a friend. We both highly recommend this book!

I am an elementary guidance counselor that works with children whose family is going thru or has gone thru divorce. This book is fantastic in helping the children understand what is going on in their life. I love the way it is broken down into sections, so that I can use the section that will best help the child. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!!!!!!

I am a counselor who works regularly with children struggling to deal with parental divorce. I use this book regularly. I highly recommend it.

My sister inlaw reads this book with her daughters (ages 7 & 5)every time they come back from spending the weekends at their dad's. This helps to settle the confusion they get from spending time with a very angry and hostile father. They better understand how & why daddy says and does the things he does. The girls understand its not their and daddy still loves them.

the book dinosaurs divorce was a good book for me to read i think. i am 13 now but read it when I was about 8. I found (?) that by hearing it from a makebelieve character or talking animal, i would understand and listen more. If you are around that age or actually any young age up to about, say 13, its a good book to read. And don't be embaressed to read it either. It will help you!

I found this book disappointing and dated. The usual info about anger, displacement,etc was portrayed, but most of the images were biased toward the Mommy displaying the negitive aspects of what the child may incounter. It was published around 1984, and I think its time for a new, more modern vision of divorce.

Dinosaurs' Divorce is a great book to snuggle up and read with young children going through divorce. Even older siblings seem interested in reading it. It helps children understand the feelings they may have while going through the divorce, learn how to handle mistakes parents sometimes make, and deal in a positive way with their changing family and living arrangement. The most important thing children learn from this book is that their parents' love for them will never change.

I've used this book in my practice as a child custody lawyer for the past 10 years, sharing it with both adult and child clients. Unlike many other books, this one shows the full range of feelings that children experience. Children strongly identify with the dinosaurs and I find looking at the book helpful in interviewing young children. The dinosaurs live in a variety of post-separation settings ranging from two homes to little contact with one parent. Many other books show only one living arrangement and children in other situations feel abnormal.