Reading Materials
This reading list was taken from the afccnet.org website. CLC attorneys are members of AFCC (Association of Family and Conciliation Courts) and regularly attend AFCC trainings and conferences. This is not a list of endorsed materials but merely suggestions for books, publications, websites and organizations that may be helpful as resources. Various individuals contributed to the resource list. The specific content of the materials and web sites does not necessarily reflect the opinions of CLC.
Coming soon! Book reviews by children, parents and Hawaii professionals who work with children.
BOOKS – FOR PRESCHOOLERS
A Day with Daddy, by Nikki Grimes
Bernard, by Bernard Waber. Bernard the dog runs away while his owners argue about who will keep him when they break up.
Dinosaur’s Divorce, by Lawrence Brown. Through a dinosaur family, the writer of the Arthur children’s books explains divorce in a simple and straightforward way.
Do I Have a Daddy?: A story About a Single-Parent Child, by Jeanne Lindsay & Jami Moffett
My Family Is Changing: A First Look at Family Breakup, by Pat Thomas
On the Day His Daddy Left, by Eric Dams
Sometimes A Family Has To Split Up, by J. Watson
Tots Are Non-Divorceable: A Workbook for Divorced Parents and Their Children, Ages Birth to Five Years, by Sara Bonkowski
Two Homes, by Claire Masurel
Was It the Chocolate Pudding?: A Story For Little Kids, by Sandra Levins & Bryon Langdo
When my Parents Forgot How to be Friends, by Jennifer Moore-Mallinos & Marta Fabrega
BOOKS – FOR ELEMENTARY AGED CHILDREN
Break Up: Facing Up to Divorce, by Gianni Padoan
Divorce Happens To The Nicest Kids, by M.D. Prokop
Divorce Is A Grown Up Problem, by Janet Stinberg
Families are Forever! Kids Workbook for Sharing Feelings About Divorce, by Melissa Smith. An interactive workbook that encourages children to express their feelings (ages 4-8).
How Does It Feel When Your Parents Get Divorced, by Terry Berger
I Don’t Want to talk About It, by Jeanie Franz Ransom. When a child’s parents sit her down to tell her they are going to get divorced, she fantasizes about the different animals she will turn into to deal with it.
I Have Two Families, by D. Herering
It’s not Your Fault, Koko Bear, by Vicky Lansky. A "read-together book".
Mom and Dad Don’t Live Together Any More, by K. Stinson
Mr. Rogers Talks With Families About Divorce, by Fred Rogers and Clair O’Brien
My Parents Still Love Me Even Though They are Getting A Divorce: An InteractiveTale for Children, by Lois Nightengale
The Divorce Helpbook for Kids, by Cynthia MacGregor
Why Don’t We Live Together Anymore?: Understanding Divorce, by Carol Ackelmire. From the "Comforting Little Hearts" Series. For ages 4-8
With My Mom, With My Dad, by Maribeth Boelts & Cheri Bladholm
BOOKS – FOR PRETEENS AND ADOLESCENTS
Billie’s World, by Kim Grossman Finkel. Eleven-year-old Billie deals with sixth grade, a crush on a boy, and the news of her parents’ divorce in this novel for preteens.
The Boys And Girls Book About Divorce, by R. Gardner. Normalizing information and
advice from a child psychiatrist for children going through divorce.
Dear Mr. Henshaw, by Beverly Cleary. A sixth grader deals with going to a new school, his
parent’s divorce and his desire to be a writer.
Divorce Can Happen To The Nicest People, by Peter Mayle
The Divorce Express, by Paula Danziger. Phoebe’s life changes when her parents divorce and she spends time with her father far away from her home and boyfriend.
Don’t Fall Apart on Saturdays!: The children’s Divorce Survival Book, by Adolph Moser
Help! A Girl’s Guide to Divorce and Stepfamilies, by Nancy Holyoke
How Tia Lola Came to Stay, by Julia Alvaraz. Multicultural book that takes the reader along a boy’s new life after is parents’ divorce.
How To Get It Together When Your Parents Divorce, by Arlene Richards and Irene
Willis
It’s Not The End Of The World, by Judy Blume. Karen plans to get her father and mother back together so they can realize that divorce was a mistake.
Mom’s House, Dad’s House for Kids, by Isolina Ricci
My Parents Are Divorced, Too, by Bonnie Robson
My Parents are Divorced Too: A Book for Kids by Kids, by Melanie Ford, Annie Steven & Jann Blackstone-Ford
My Parents are Getting a Divorce; How to Keep It Together When Your Mom and Dad are Splitting Up, by Florence Cadier, Melissa Daly & Claire Gandini
Pickles and Peanuts, by Martha Ivery. Peanuts turns to her new friend Pickles to deal her feelings of abandonment, loss and being different from everyone else.
The Bright Side: Surviving Your Parent’s Divorce, by Max Sindell
The Kid’s Guide To Divorce, by Brogan, Marden & Fawcett
The Divorce Helpbook for Teens, by Cynthia MacGregor
When Divorce Hits Home, by Thea Joselow and Beth Joselow. Written by a daughter and mother about one teenager’s experience with divorce and how she dealt with it.
BOOKS – FOR ADULTS – GENERAL
Between Love and Hate: A Guide to a Civilized Divorce, by Lois Gold. Offers guidance to those going through divorce on improving communication, effective negotiation,and conflict resolution. Covers legal, financial and emotional issues.
Caught in the Middle, by C. Garrity and M. Barris
Crazy Time, by Abigail Trafford. A personal and academic account of the emotional and practical struggles of men and women going through divorce.
Complete Idiot’s Guide to Surviving Divorce, by Pamela Weintraub & Terry Hillman
Divorce: Preparing for Legal, Financial and Personal Decisions, by the Editors of Socrates
The Divorce Advisor, by Marcia Kline Pruitt.
Divorce and Money: How to Make the Best Financial Decisions During Divorce, by Violet Woodhouse & Dale Fetherling
Divorce And New Beginnings, by G. Clapp
Divorce Doesn’t Have to Be That Way, by Jane Appell
The Divorce Organizer & Planner, by Brette McWhorter Sembre
For Better or Worse: Divorce Reconsidered, by Mavis Hetherington & John Kelly
Getting Apart Together: The Couples Guide to a Fair Divorce or Separation, Martin Kranitz
Getting Divorced Without Ruining Your Life, by S. Marguilies
Going It Alone, by Robert Weiss
The Good Divorce, by Constance Ahrons. Shows couples how they can move beyond breakup and learn to deal with the transition from a nuclear family to a "binuclear" family.
How to Survive the Loss of a Love, by Melba Colgrove, Harold Bloomfield and Peter A. Williams.
Living Through Your Divorce, by Earl Grollman and Marjorie Sams
Nolo’s Essential Guide to Divorce, by Emily Doskow
Rebuilding When Your Relationship Ends, by Bruce Fisher
The Smart Divorce, by Deborah Moskovitch
Unofficial Guide to Getting a Divorce, by Russell Wild & Susan Wild
Untying The Knot, by Janine M. Bernard and Harold Hackney
You Can Keep the Damn China!, by Robert Nachshin & Jennifer Bright Reich
Your Divorce Advisor: A Lawyer and a Psychologist Guide You Through the Legal and Emotional Landscape of Divorce, by Diana Mercer (Fireside 2001)
BOOKS FOR ADULTS – PARENTING ISSUES AND PLANS
1-2-3 Magic: Effective Discipline for Children 2-12, by Thomas Phelan
Broken Hearts Healing: Young Poets Speak Out on Divorce, by Tom Worthen
But… What About Me! (How it Feels to be a Kid in Divorce), by Bonnie Doss
Child Custody: Building Parenting Agreements that Work (3rd Ed.), by Mimi E. Lyster [Nolo Press, Jan 2000].
The Children’s Book, by Marilyn S. McKnight Erickson and Stephen K. Erickson. A communication workbook for parents to use and pass back and forth as the children spend time in different homes. Includes placesto record the schedule, activities, names, addresses and birthdays of friends and families, etc.
Creating a Successful Parenting Plan, by Dr. A. Jayne Major
Cooperative Parenting and Divorce: A Parent Guide to Effective Co-parenting, by Susan Boyan & Ann Termini
Co-Parenting: Sharing Your Child Equally, by Miriam Galper
The Co-Parenting Survival Guide: Letting Go of Conflict After a Difficult Divorce, by Elizabeth Thayer
Custody Chaos, Personal Peace: Sharing Custody With an Ex Who is Driving You Crazy, by Jeffrey Wittman
The Custody Revolution: The Father Factor and the Motherhood Mystique, by Ricahrd Warshak
Does Wednesday Mean Mom’s House or Dad’s?, by Marc Ackerman
Divorce Book For Parents, by Vicki Lansky
The Divorce Decisions Workbook, by Margorie Louise Engel and Diana Delhi Gould. A planning and action guide. Contains extensive forms for information-gathering and decisionmaking.
The Divorced Parent, by Stephanie Marston
Divorce Poison: Protecting the Parent-Child Bond From a Vindictive Ex, by Richard Warshak
Everthing Parent’s Guide to Children and Divorce: Reassuring Advice to Help Your Family Adjust, by Carl Pickhardt
Ex-Etiquette For Parents: Good Behavior After a Divorce or Separation, by Jann Blackstone-Ford & Sharyl Jupe
Families Apart, by M. Blau
Growing Up Again: Parenting Ourselves, Parenting Our Children, by Jean Clark
Helping Children Cope with Divorce the Sandcastles Way, by Gary Newman
Helping Your Child Succeed After Divorce, by Florence Bienenfeld
How to Help Your Children Overcome Your Divorce, by E. Benedek and C. Brown
How to Parent With Your Ex: Working Together For Your Child’s Best Interest, by Brette McWhorter Sembre
Impasses Of Divorce, by J. Johnson and L. Campbell
Joint Custody with a Jerk, by Julie A. Ross and Judy Corcoran. Excellent suggestions for examining each parent’s role in ongoing parental disputes. Communication skills for dealing with a difficult ex-spouse. "Not just for people who have joint custody and not just for jerks."
Kids Are Worth It, by Barbara Coloroso
Love & Logic Magic for Early Childhood: Practical Parenting from Birth to Six Years, by Foster Cline and Jim Fay
Mom’s House, Dad’s House: A Complete Guide for Parents Who Are Separated, Divorced or Remarried, by Isolina Ricci. A practical guide to setting up two-home parenting arrangement. Useful for parents whether or not joint custody is chosen. Includes guiding principles for co-parenting and maps out emotional stages and milestones from the time of separation through remarriage.
Parenting After Divorce: A Guide to Resolving Conflict and Meeting Your Children’s Needs, by Philip Stahl
Parenting Teens With Love & Logic, by Foster Cline and Jim Fay
Parenting Through Divorce, by Karen J. Todd, M.C. and Nancy Barros, M.A.
The Parent’s Book About Divorce, by Richard Gardner
The Parent’s Handbook: Systematic Training for Effective Parenting (STEP), by Dinkmeyer and McKay; STEP for Parenting of Teens
Parent vs. Parent: How You and Your Child Can Survive the Custody Battle, by Stephen P. Herman
Pick Up Your Socks & Other Skills Growing Children Need, by Elizabeth Crary & Pat Casebolt
Positive Discipline, by Jane Nelson
Raising Self-Reliant Children in a Self-Indulgent World, by Stephen Glenn and Jane Nelson
Second Chances, by Judith S. Wallerstein and Sandra Blackslee
Sharing The Children: How To Resolve Custody Problems And Get On With Your Life, by Robert Adler
Shared Parenthood After Divorce, by Ciji Ware
Surviving the Break Up: How Children And Parents Cope With Divorce, by Judith S. Wallerstein and Joan B. Kelley
Taking Charge: Caring Discipline That Works at Home and at School, by Joanne Nordling
Through the Eyes of Children: Healing Stories for Children of Divorce, by Janet Johnston
The Truth About Children and Divorce: Dealing With the Emotions so You and Your Children Can Thrive, by Robert Emery
Touchpoints: Your Child’s Emotional and Behavioral Development, by T. Berry Brazelton
What About The Kids?: Raising Your Children Before, During and After Divorce, by Judith Wallerstein
Why Do You Have to Get a Divorce? And When Can I Get a Hamster?, by Anthony Wolf
Without Spanking or Spoiling, by Elizabeth Crary
Vicky Lansky’s Divorce Book for Parents, by V. Lansky
Your ___ Year Old (one book for each age), by Louise Bates Ames
BOOKS – FOR ADULTS – NONCUSTODIAL PARENTS
A Divorced Dad’s Survival Book: How to Stay Connected to Your Kids, by David Knox
Every Other Weekend, by Kenneth F. Parker and Van Jones. Written by divorced fathers to help other divorced fathers confront pain and loss, understand their children’s feelings and accept their changed role in their children’s lives.
101 Ways to be a Long Distance Super-Dad… Or Mom, Too!, by George Newman. Simple and practical tips for keeping close with a child after divorce.
Long Distance Parenting: A Guide For Divorced Parents, by Miriam Galper Cohen
BOOKS ABOUT MEDIATION & COLLABORATIVE DIVORCE
Collaborative Divorce, by Pauline Tessler & Peggy Thompson
The Collaborative Way to Divorce, by Stuart Webb
Divorce Mediation, by Jay Folberg and Ann Milne, Editors
Divorce Mediation Answer Book, by Carol Butler & Dolores Walker
Divorce Mediation: How To Cut The Costs And Stress Of Divorce, by Diane Neumann
Divorce Without Court: a Guide to Mediation & Collaborative Divorce, by Katherine Stoner
Getting Together, by Roger Fisher and Scott Brown
Getting To Yes, by Roger Fisher and William Ury. A general book about negotiation techniques, the introduction of the win-win solution concept.
A Guide To Divorce Mediation, by Gary J. Friedman, J.D.
Mediation, by Jay Folberg and Allison Taylor
No-Fight Divorce, by Brette McWharter Sembre
Renegotiating Family Relationships, Divorce, Child Custody, And Mediation, by Robert E. Emery
Using Divorce Mediation: Save Your Money & Your Sanity, by Katherine Stoner
PUBLICATIONS TO ORDER
Dealing with Loss: A Guidebook for Helping Your Children During and After Divorce, by Herman M. Frankel, M.D.; (503) 227-1860, www.divorcework.com ($5.00 per copy).
My Parents Are Getting Divorced – A Handbook for Kids, ABA Section of Family Law Family Advocate, Vol. 18, No. 4. – (312) 988-5522. ($9.00 each to $3.00 each, depending on quantity)
Oregon State University Extension Service, (503) 737-2513. Publications on Divorce and Remarriage, including: "Property Division and Spousal Support", "Child Support Decisions" and "Money Management for Stepfamilies". (free to $1.50 per copy)