8 Children's Books to Introduce the Topic of Moving
February 23, 2018 | Posted by: Sherry Corbitt
For children, moving can be an experience full of many emotions. From fear to excitement, children will have a wide range of emotions, and it's essential to provide plenty of opportunities for children to discuss how they feel about the moving experience. Reading books with your children is the perfect opportunity because children will read about how other children handle the moving process and be encouraged to share their feelings.
1. Ruby Finds a Worry by Tom PercivalReading this story will allow children to learn about feeling worried and how to deal with their worries. Ruby is a little girl who encounters feeling concerned for the first time, and throughout the story, Ruby learns that everyone has times that they feel worried, and it's beneficial to voice their worries to others. Children will benefit from reading Ruby Finds a Worry because they will learn the importance of expressing their feelings and asking for help when they need it. Especially in the moving process, children might feel worried for many different reasons, so it's vital to help them learn how to deal with their worry.
2. Big Ernie's New Home by Teresa and Whitney Martin
In Big Ernie's New Home, children will read about Ernie and his feelings as his family moves to a new house. Reading this book will be a good chance for children to voice their opinions and express their feelings about moving. As children read about how Ernie processes the changes in his life, it will help them see the benefits of expressing their true feelings and that it's okay to feel different emotions at the same time.
3. Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away by Meg Medina
Best friends Evelyn and Daniela have to say goodbye as Evelyn and her family is moving away. Throughout the story, the girls realize that they can remain friends no matter how much distance between them and that their friendship will always be cherished. Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away is ideal for children who have to say goodbye to friends because of a long-distance move. Reading this book will help children understand that distance doesn't end a friendship but might change how you communicate with one another.
4. The Berenstain Bears' Moving Day by Stan and Jan Berenstain
The Berenstain Bears' Moving Day is a classic children's story about the Bear family as they prepare to move into their new treehouse. Brother Bear is excited to live in his new treehouse, but he is scared to leave his old house behind. Throughout the story, Brother Bear experiences sadness as he says goodbye to his old home, fear as the moving truck packs his belongings away, and enthusiasm as he explores his new treehouse. This book is fantastic for helping children learn more about the moving process as the Bear family moves to a sunny dirt road deep in Bear Country.
5. A Brave Spaceboy by Dana Kessimakis Smith
While moving brings many challenges and changes, children need to experience joy throughout the moving process too. In A Brave Spaceboy, a young boy and his brother work to make moving fun and end up flying to space. Reading this book will allow children to focus on laughing and finding joy throughout the moving process and encourage them to use moving boxes to build their rocket ship.
6. Zoey Lyndon's Big Move to the Lou by Michael Anderson
Perfect for elementary students, this short chapter book tells the story of fourth-grader Zoey, who moves with her family from Philadelphia to St. Louis. Throughout her fourth grade year, Zoey has to navigate a new school and make new friends, and thanks to her interest in science, she can make several new friends through the science club. Zoey Lyndon's Big Move to the Lou will encourage children to join activities that will help them make new friends and develop friendships over time, not overnight.
7. Bad Bye, Good Bye by Deborah Underwood
Bad Bye, Good Bye is a book that focuses on moving day and the many emotions that day. While it's sad and hard to say goodbye to your old neighbors, friends, house, and school, it can be an exciting experience to explore your new surroundings and meet new people. This book is an excellent opportunity for children to learn about the different emotional challenges moving day brings and discuss how to handle them with their parents.
8. Build Me a Home by Kane Miller
This children's book is a beautiful way for parents to discuss their new living space and what it will be like. Whether it's an apartment, condo, or house, children need to understand where they will be living before they arrive there. In Build Me a Home, children will get to use their creativity as the book talks about the different places you could live like rockets, castles, or treehouses, and at the end of the story, children will learn that it's not important where they live but that their family is with them.
Introducing the topic of moving and allowing children to express their feelings might seem daunting at first, but reading books together, will open the door and begin the discussion.
Valerie Cox is a contributing writer for North American Van Lines. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, baking, and volunteering in her local community.
Sherry Corbitt, Mortgage Broker
