Customer Reviews

Mama and Daddy Bear's Divorce

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

As an attorney and divorce mediator in New York and New Jersey I try to keep up on all of the children's books put out on the topic of divorce - in order to give my clients recommendations. This book is WITHOUT A DOUBT the best book for young children on the topic. It doesn't try to get too into the topic (like Dinosaur's divorce - which is better for kids a bit older) and stresses the two (2) most important themes for children experiencing divorce to learn: (1) some things are changing - but many things are staying the same; (2) you didn't do anything to cause it - and you can't do anything to stop it. This is a GREAT book and a great resource for professionals working in divorce to recommend.

I've recently purchased this book to help my three year old son understand why mommy and daddy are not living together anymore. He was only two and a half years old when our divorce happened, but as parents, we've never really explained to him about the divorce since we thought he's too young to comprehend it. However, this book, when I read it to him the first time, has helped him make sense the feelings that he's currently experiencing. He can relate his feelings to this book, and every time I read it to him, he would ask me to read it over and over again. To me this is a very good book for my toddler because, it's not very direct about the divorce issue, and it makes him feel comfortable about the book when I read it to him at bedtime. I would recommend this book to divorced parents who have little ones. This book would surely help the little ones ease the emotions that they're experiencing.

This book on divorce offers a view from a childs perspective. It is easy to read, being on a toddler level while being direct & honest, discussing only the very basics of divorce as it affects a young child: mom & dad will live apart , you will live with mom and stay at daddy's home often, and mommy & daddy still love you.

That is about all a small child can comprehend at the time of turmoil. The language is at the level of a small child,while children too young to read on their own can interpret the pictures to understand what is happening, as well as the feelings of the little bear.

As presented through the bear family, the child can relate to it as an enjoyable story and something that also is happening to him/her.It has become a requested book for reading time. While my child referrs to it as "the sad story" it was not overwhelming.

While all situations do not involve the child living with the mother, it is easily adaptable for different situations.

This book would be really wonderful for kids who are going through a divorce where their daddy is a louse. The book portrays the father as a deadbeat who doesn't bother to show up for visitations even though he only has them one night a week. What does this book say that a divorce is? "A divorce meant that Daddy would not live with Mama, Ruth, and Dinah anymore."
I know how impressionable kids are, how is this supposed to be an unbiassed view of divorce? In my mind this book is designed to taint the mind of impressionable children to make them wonder whether their daddy was going to treat them with the same carelessness as Daddy Bear. I would warn fathers who find themselves in a divorce to think carefully before allowing their children to read this book.

This is an exceptional book for young children whose family is going through a divorce. It has a nice "Note to Grownups" in the front which explains the age appropriate fears of preschooler, kindergartener ages. It helps quiet the child's main fears about loss of the people most important to the child. Routine and how the grownups handle things around this age group is so important for their needs to be met during such a stressful time. This book could be helpful at such times. I plan to use this book for some relatives, and do use it in my therapy practice. Youngsters I've worked with have asked to read this one again.

Gives a clear and very simple message for the under 4 age group that their family will always love them, and that the divorce is not their fault, while acknowledging and gently encouraging the expression of appropriate feelings. Just a lovely book.

I bought this book for my stepchildren when they were about 2 years old. The book comes highly recommended from other users on Amazon, but if you are looking for a book that portrays both parents in an equal light, this is not the book for you. I found this book to be extremely slanted towards portraying an image in which "Daddy leaves." I haven't found it applicable to our situation at all. A better recommendation would be "Two Homes" by Claire Masurel. This book is a favorite of ours and you can expect a fair representation of both parents- emphasis is given to building an environment of love and belonging at two homes. Two Homes

This book is ridiculous. It assumes that Dad is only there on weekends, except when he doesn't show up. Good grief. Inappropriate for shared custody situations, or fathers who have full custody. Disappointing that we have not evolved and that stereotypes are perpetuated.

This book is perfect for the age group stated (pre-K, K). It doesn't go into details of what divorce is, but rather it acknowledges that something sad and a little scary has happened and that things have changed. It addresses the fears that come along with divorce for little kids: anxiety, abandonment, concern for the parent who is leaving, visitation and continuity. It does a great job of explaining that even though one parent no longer lives with you, they are still your mommy/daddy and will always love you. I also liked that it stressed that even though some things have changed, some things have remained the same; the little girl still gets to sleep with her favorite bunny no matter which house she's at, she can still wear her favorite shoes and she can still do the things she loves to do with each parent. It also briefly covers the fact that sometimes when Daddy was supposed to come pick them up on the weekends he couldn't, but was sure to come see them on a different day (acknowledging that visitation isn't always on a perfect schedule so expect some bumps, but rest assure daddy still loves you and wants to see you). It's a simple book but it gets the message across. I would have liked to have seen the children as a boy and a girl though instead of two girls so it might appeal to little boys and give them someone to identify with that is in their same situation.

This book is pretty well done but a little dry and seems better for a 3-5 year old level. No 8 year old is going for this, come on. Also the dad in the book only gets visitation. As I'm a dad with custody who would never leave my child, I took a pen and swapped "mama" and "daddy" in the book. I also added a page about mommy leaving her family to shack up with tattooed biker bear (just kidding).