This is a sweet story of a little girl who loves being with her best friend Alice so much that she never says goodbye…just “Goodnight Alice.” But when Alice moves to a different country, they have to find a new way to keep their friendship alive.
Written lyrically with simple illustrations and the soothing refrain “Goodnight Alice” on each page, this lovely book will encourage young children who have been separated from a friend to find new ways to can keep the friendship going despite the distance.
Reading level: 3 to 7 years
Of all the books I’ve reviewed for kids moving internationally, this is by far my top pick! Unlike other activity books, it is not about moving to a new house but about things kids encounter when adjusting to a new culture and living abroad.
Each of the twenty-three “chapters” covers a different challenge a TCK might face living internationally – encountering “weird” things, being stared at by strangers, missing friends, missing out on activities with extended family, feeling connected to several flags & countries and many more. Each section starts with one or two stories by TCKs, followed by a brief insight or suggestion written by the parent. An activity then helps kids express themselves, problem-solve, or gain a new perspective.
The book is illustrated with colorful children’s drawings and photos of the actual children who wrote the stories (the authors’ children). The children themselves come from all over the world and live all over the world.
As a TCK Caregiver, this is the book I give to all our parents when they move overseas for the first time with children.
You can download a PDF with four sample “chapters” at the book’s website: http://www.slurpingsoup.com/book/preview-the-book/
Reading level: 3-12 years
Third Culture Kids live in world filled with goodbyes and cultural adjustments and they may not always know how to express and process the complicated thoughts and feelings that arise as they navigate those experiences. This book offers simple exercises that kids or teens can do to better connect with their inner experiences. It offers tools to help them gain insight and understanding and to learn healthy ways to handle their feelings.
The topics and types of activities vary widely. They include such things as recollecting favorite things, learning to problem solve, creating a family tree, reflecting on identity, constructing a life timeline and much more. Some activities are specifically related to TCK mobility or cross-cultural experiences while others are simply skills for building emotional health.
Worksheets are simply drawn. Some are suitable for younger children, especially if a parent could read the “instructions” to them. Older children or teens could work through the book independently or parents (or teachers or counselors) could go through the book with kids/teens, using the activities to spark reflection and discussion.
Reading level: 6 to 13 years
Augustine loves her home in the south pole, where she’s surrounded by her penguin family and south pole customs. So when she has to pack up her toys and fly all the way to the north pole, she’s not sure what to think. At least her new house is cool. When she gets to school, she realizes she’s in the only penguin in her class and the other kids whisper about her accent behind her back. Augustine uses drawings to connect to the other students, though, and soon she has new friends and gets to take part in the school art show.
Reading level: 3 to 7 years
Mariama traveled by car, train, boat and plane from her home in Western Africa to a new world in a grey city. She has to learn a new language, a new way to eat and even a new way to play with friends. But even with all the differences, Mariama learns that children everywhere are still children. She made new friends who taught her how to live in her new home while she taught them (and the readers) about Africa, too.
This could be a story of a TCK or an immigrant child, but the themes overlap and the focus is on moving and cultural adaptation.
Available in Spanish here.
Reading level: age 3-6 years
This sweet story is told from a grandmother’s perspective as she reflects on how her daily life in the United States compares to her grandson’s in Africa. While she skates on a frozen lake, her grandson is playing in the sand by a tropical pool. She sleeps under a quilt and he sleeps under a gauzy mosquito net. They both love dogs and her dogs miss him. But she knows that each night they both look at the same moon.
This would be a sweet book for children overseas who miss their grandparents and extended family. Reading it could be a great conversation starter for talking about memories of times spend with their own grandparents and thinking of ways their own lives are different or similar from their far away relatives.
Reading level: age 4 to 8 years
