Two Homes [Paperback]

Claire Masurel (Author), Kady MacDonald Denton (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: July 14, 2003 | Age Range: 3 - 7 years

"Parents looking for a book about separation or divorce will find few offerings as positive, matter-of-fact, or child-centered as this one. . . . Simple, yet profoundly satisfying. - BOOKLIST (starred review)

At Mommy’s house, Alex has a soft chair. At Daddy’s house, Alex has a rocking chair. In each home, Alex also has a special bedroom and lots of friends to play with. But whether Alex is with Mommy or with Daddy, one thing always stays the same - Alex is loved. The gently reassuring text focuses on what is gained rather than what is lost when parents divorce, while the sensitive illustrations, depicting two unique homes in all their small details, firmly establish Alex’s place in both of them. TWO HOMES will help children - and parents - embrace even the most difficult of changes with an open and optimistic heart.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

reS-Gr 1-Young Alex's parents are divorced, and he spends time with each of them. He has two rooms, two favorite chairs, two sets of friends, two of everything. He loves both of them no matter where he is, and they love him, no matter where they are. The ink, watercolor, and gouache illustrations are comforting and warm. There is no sign of the child missing one parent when he is with the other or questioning his situation, and he seems quite well adjusted. This book is clearly intended to help parents tell their children that they are still loved despite their living arrangements. For a different view of how children may feel about sharing two homes, look to Judith Caseley's Priscilla Twice (Greenwillow, 1995).

Holly Belli, Bergen County Cooperative Library System, West Caldwell, NJ

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Ages 2-5. Young Alex introduces himself and his parents, then announces that he has two homes: sometimes he lives with Daddy (in a suburban house) and sometimes with Mommy (in a city apartment). The discussion of his two homes sets up the book's comfortable dual structure: "I have two rooms. My room at Daddy's. My room at Mommy's . . . I have two bathrooms. I have a toothbrush at Daddy's. I have a toothbrush at Mommy's." Each spread includes complementary pictures that show the boy engaged in similar activities at both locales. The ending affirms that his parents love Alex, no matter where he is and no matter where they are. Within the ink, watercolor, and gouache illustrations are delightful reproductions of Alex's own paintings. Other scenes, warm with luminous washes against white backgrounds, celebrate the everyday details of Alex's life. Parents looking for a book about separation or divorce will find few offerings as positive, matter-of-fact, or child-centered as this one. With a sure sense of audience, Masurel concentrates on the physical and emotional fundamentals that matter to children while deftly sidestepping the adult-oriented swamp of explanation and supposition. Enhanced by Denton's sensitively drawn portrayals of the characters within well-imagined scenes of domestic life, this picture book will validate the experience of other two-household children while intriguing those in single-home families. Simple, yet profoundly satisfying. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 3 - 7 years
  
• Paperback: 40 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick; Reprint edition (July 14, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763619841
• ISBN-13: 978-0763619848
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 0.2 x 9.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (89 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,699 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #3 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > Family Life > Marriage & Divorce
  • #53 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > Emotions & Feelings

More About the Author

Claire Masurel is the author of many books for children, including TWO HOMES, illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton. She lives in Paris.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 60 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent November 12, 2003

By A. Neubaum

Format:Hardcover

I was divorced a couple years ago and my then three year old was really having a tough time. I bought LOTS of books. This one stands out from them all. My girls could really relate to it. It is a pretty simple book, this is what my room looks like at mom's, this is what my room looks like at dad's. It also reinforces that fact that they are loved no matter where they are. I would highly recommend this for anyone going through the nightmare of divorce where kids are involved.

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Must-have for 3-5 year olds... and comes with a lasting title! February 3, 2006

By CustodyIQ

Format:Paperback

Of the several separated-parenting/divorce children's books I got, this one really stood out at least apologetic and most encouraging of stability and normalcy.

I got it in 2003 for my then preschooler, and it stuck around in her bookcase for a couple years, read a few times a year (per her desire).

Despite the less-than-ideal circumstance of splitting up a family, the book doesn't even address the negative. It rather, matter of factly (understanding that kids are pretty resilient), just shows what life is like for the child in the book... two sets of everything, and of course the same amount of love as always. It's not scary, it's not unknown. It's a life that any pre-schooler will be able to understand.

My daughter, now in kindergarten, still refers to her situation as "two homes". She even commented that some of her classmates have "two homes" too.

What a testament to a children's book on a difficult subject when the title gets incorporated into a kid's vocabulary!

35 of 38 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Good for toddlers or younger children October 8, 2002

By rtistelle

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is simple and encouraging for the very young child. Amazon has a note that this is for the child up to age 8, but a school age child, other than kindergartener, would find it disappointing. This helps dispell fears of the toddler, young child group of losing their parents somehow with divorce. It addresses that they have a place and home with each parent which helps a young child adjust to divorce in the family. For the younger child, it is worth the cost. For the older child, look for a different book like Dinosaurs Divorce which addresses more feelings and complex issues.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, comforting book! December 8, 2002

By Jamie

Format:Hardcover

This book is simple enough for a young child, who doesn't need technical details about his parents separation/divorce, but does need reassurance that he/she is still loved no matter what happens ishis/her life. It is a good tool for getting your younger child to talk about their own feelings in a safe way. My 4 1/2 year old son loves this book. The illustrations are sweet and have a certain gentleness, which matches the text nicely. Overall, I would highly recommend this to anyone who knows a child going through this difficult life change.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Review of Two Homes March 18, 2002

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

I think the is a great book. It shows how Alex has two homes, one with his Mom and one with his Dad. He has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, two favorite chairs, and friends at each house. The pictures show us how happy and comfortable Alex is at both house. The story tells us he talks to Mommy at his Dad's house and Daddy at his Mom's house. Alex knows he is loved by both his parents at all times wherever he is. This is a very comforting story. It is a great book for young children experiencing a divorce or just to teach children about divorce. It doesn't try to explain divorce, it just shows Alex's two homes in a simple, happy way!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Simple and Comforting Read For Young Children of Divorce March 16, 2005

By Alex's Mom

Format:Paperback

I recently purchased 2 copies of this book for my own Alex - 1 to keep at Mom's and the other to keep at Dad's. I bought this book especially because my 3 1/2 year old has a very difficult time leaving his home at Mom's to go visit at Dad's. It gives us a chance to personalize the text and discuss and share details about how (my) Alex has 2 of several things - favorite chairs, toothbrushes, places to hang coats, sets of friends, bedrooms and, most importantly, parents who love him. The text is very simple, and the pictures are relative to a kid's world. Alex quickly adopted this book as one of his favorite must-reads at bedtime. It brings a smile to his face each time we read it, and it gets him involved in talking about how he has 2 homes. I would suggest this book to anyone with young children (ages 3-5)in a family of divorce.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Alex has two homes, two sets of friends, two styles of life May 30, 2001

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

Alex's Mommy and Daddy don't live together anymore and so Alex shares time with them in two different homes. He has his own room in each, his own toothbrush, his own favorite chair, and his own special times with Mommy and Daddy. Through the simple illustrations of Kady MacDonald Denton and the comforting words of the author, Claire Masurel, this book reassures the young child that despite the separation in his family, he is very much loved by both parents. This book is good for the younger child for whom 'divorce' is not easy to comprehend. It can help a child understand more the impact of sharing homes as well as parents.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Perfect Book for Young Children Coping With Divorce July 24, 2005

By Sully

Format:Paperback

Thank goodness there is a book like Two Homes by Claire Masurel. It doesn't try to explain or justify divorce to young ones. It just comforts, supports and reaffirms to young children that now they have two homes where they are loved. I can't praise this book enough for its simply explained and well illustrated message.