A wonderful book for TCKs, it’s written from the perspective of Robert whose best friend, Peter, moves away. Robert is sulky and resists changes even though his friend has moved and seems to have moved on. Though at first Robert resists making a new friend, a letter from Peter helps him see he can make a new friend without forgetting the old. (Also a great book for little boys who love frogs.)
Read about when Peter returns to visit Robert in, “Best Friends, Together Again.”
Reading level: age 4 to 8 years
Though not a TCK story, The Lotus Seed illustrates the preciousness of those special mementos we carry with us to remind us of where we used to live. It’s the story of a young Vietnamese girl who saves a lotus seed and carries it with her to remember her homeland after she flees to America, and her sorrow when she believes she has lost it forever. The story of a woman who adapts to a new way of life without forgetting her past, this book has gorgeous illustrations and a beautiful, poignant story that even teens and adults can appreciate.
Reading level: age 6 to 9 years, and applicable to older children and teens as well.
“And I remember sitting on the steps in the sun and not talking at all. There is no one else I can sit with and not talk.”
In this melancholy picture book, a girl misses her best friend who moved away and remembers the fun times they had together. Janey is less a story than a lyrical description of memories of special times with a special friend, written from the perspective of a small child. This book about feeling lonesome for someone who is gone can help give voice to sad feelings young children struggle to express after being parted from a good friend. It emphasizes the feelings that go with memories of special times with a special friend.
Parents of children who, like this little girl, have said goodbye to a beloved friend, could use this book as a tool to encourage healthy grief by inviting their children to share their own feelings and name the things they miss about their departed friend.
Reading level: age 5 to 9 years.
“I live at 165 East 95th Street, and I’m going to stay here forever,” the East Coast boy announces at the start of this entertaining little book. He worries about what his new home will be like when he moves out West from New York City. Then he discovers a boy moving from the west to New York who has the similar fears. This book is funny and helps kids acknowledge fears and confront stereotypes about the place they’re moving to. Its focus is on moves within the US but could be applied to international moves as well.
Reading level: age 5 and up.
One Thing Never Changes begins with a list of suggestions for parents moving with children. Most of these apply to moves overseas, though some will need to be modified.
The story follows Jenna who is moving because her daddy got a job in a different city. Relieved at first because she can bring her toys and bed, she then realizes that she can’t bring her best friend and her feelings change. Jenna’s parents assure her that she can write to her friend and call her sometimes. Her Sunday School teacher reminds Jenna that, although moving will mean many changes, one thing never changes: Jesus will always love her, always be with her, and always hear her prayers. This is an “I Can Understand Book” – a series of small booklet-style books written to help children face difficult situations (e.g. the death of a loved one, a parent’s illness, etc.).
Reading level: age 5-8 years.
Don’t Despair on Thursdays! was not written for TCKS particularly but for late elementary kids to process all kinds of grief. It has pictures but it isn’t really a story, more of an informational book about grief. It has funny moments (like sumo wrestlers crying) alongside practical information and suggestions for dealing with loss. It covers how grief can take a long time to process, describes how it comes and goes in intensity, shows the physical symptoms of grief, and then provides tips on how to walk through the process.
This would be a good book to read with older children when a friend moves away or when they leave family or pets behind. Its advice at the end would be helpful for older kids or even adults, though the pictures might put off teenagers.
Age level: age 9-12 years.
