Children's Books About Moving

Tim Ponisciak:  Moving out of your old house into a brand new one can be a challenging and potentially dramatic time for a child, especially a younger one. Stan and Jan Berenstain do a great job showing what it was like for the Berenstain Bear family when the family moved, even though Brother Bear had been quite happy in their first home.

Lisa R:  Bernard Waber, the author of Lyle the Crocodile, brings this story about a little boy who learns that his best friend is moving away. Kids can follow his journey as he works through different emotions before finding consolation. This is a useful book for helping kids identify the different emotions they feel at the prospect of leaving behind old friends.

Dawn R:  In this third book of The Kissing Hand series by Audrey Penn, Chester learns to how to embrace his new home while saying goodbye to his old home.

Lisa R:  Help kids feel like active participants in your upcoming move with this all encompassing workbook by Gabriel Davis. Inside, kids will find a list of tips and activities to help them prepare and record their memories. There are games to play while traveling, places to store photos, ideas for decorating a new bedroom and tips for packing and exploring new neighborhoods. Overall, the book makes moving seem exciting and keeps kids busy during a difficult time.

Lisa R:  Part of the Henry and Mudge series, this book by Cynthia Rylant introduces kids to the broad strokes of moving: packing, saying goodbye, and being nervous. Most importantly, however, it teaches kids how to be kind to one another, making it a book that you can read over and over whether you're moving or not. In this book, Henry's cousin Annie is moving in next door. Annie is nervous and worries about what will happen to her things on the moving truck. Henry comforts her and helps her feel at home, despite her fears.

Alisha O:  Moving is stressful for adults, but what about the children? A host of worries and thoughts may overcome them when they find out a move to a new house, new part of town, or new state is near. Children can learn from Little Critter's own experiences as he works through his feelings and worries about his family's own move, and ends up realizing that moving is not so bad after all!

Lisa R:  This sweet book, by Constance McGeorge, presents moving through the eyes of the beloved family pet, Boomer the dog. Boomer is ready for his morning walk, but instead of paying attention to him, his family is packing up the furniture and carrying it out the door! Large and beautifully detailed pictures follow Boomer as he tries to make sense of what is going on and works through a variety of emotions, including joy when he sees his new backyard.

Lisa R:  This simple book by Anne Civardi is part of the Usborne First Experiences Series, which is full of books that prepare preschool aged children for new experiences. Moving House presents moving in a lighthearted and factual way without discounting simple concerns that children might have. Many parents like that it makes moving seem like fun and introduces all of the steps involved with clear, cheerful pictures.

Lisa R:  If you're having trouble talking to your kids about an upcoming move, then this workbook, filled with advice and activities for before, during, and after the move, can help kids understand and communicate their feelings. Authored by Lori Attanasio Woodring Ph.D., individual chapters ask kids to record what they love about their current home, understand their feelings, say goodbye, and adjust to a new school and neighborhood. Working on the activities in the book helps kids feel more in control and, once completed, the book become a special keepsake full of memories.

Kelly R.:  Deborah Underwood uses simple text paired with beautiful illustrations to capture the complex emotions associated with moving house in a way that's meaningful and accessible for young children. It shows a child's emotions gradually transition from negative to positive as he experiences his family's move. As a parent who moved her kids across the country, I appreciate that this book shares things about the trip itself, like staying at a hotel with a pool.

Lisa R:  This very detailed book about moving by Teresa and Whitney Martin tells the story of a little boy's move through the perspective of his cat, who he must comfort. Simple language and adorable pictures have made this book a winner with listeners as young as two. A two-page section at the back gives parents some tips for how to talk to young children about moving.

Parenting Healthy:  Hannah’s life is uprooted when her family moves to another town. At first, Hannah can only feel the loss of her old room and close friends. By the end of the story, Hannah has a new playmate and has discovered she can create her own happiness along the way.