Critique of Text Set, Summary of Thoughts

Summary:
Overall, looking at the four texts and the scholarly article on the effect of divorce on children has made me realize what a great job my own parents did when helping me, as an only child, get through their divorce. The text set I reviewed had one common theme: No matter what both parents will always love you. I think that this is important because it is something that a child needs to hear repetitively throughout their journey to recovery. Children often feel that they are to blame for their parent’s separation and divorce which is also a theme in the books I read and reviewed. The text set I reviewed seemed to be a great representation of books that can be used as tools in aiding children’s recovery after family changes. One of things that differed amongst the books was the fact that they were aimed for different ages.
The books, “When My Parents Forgot How to Be Friends” and “Mama and Daddy Bear’s Divorce” are meant for young children. These books really emphasized the fact that although they may live with one parent at a time, they can still do everything they used to and they still have the love, support, and care of both parents. These books are an age appropriate, “sugar-coated” portrayal of divorce and all its effects. On the other hand, “Dinosaur’s Divorce” and “Mom and Dad Separate” are two books that are for the more fluent reader. These books work well with children around the ages of eight to twelve because they allow the child to ask questions about their own situations and feelings. They allow the older child to see a more realistic portrayal of what divorce entails, what can happen, and how it effects the people in the situation in a way the normalizes the events an outcomes of divorce.
My favorite book that I reviewed was “Mom and Dad Separate” because I think it proves to be the most useful by the fact that it not only provides an inspirational and normalizing look at divorce, but also allows the reader to illustrate the answers to the questions posed. This allows the reader to personalize their story which can be viewed by parents, teachers, and counselors, as a tool to open discussion about the child’s emotions about the divorce which they have been a part.