Transitions! They happen all the time. One of the best ways to prepare kids for transitions to is read books about the situation, before it happens. Below is a list of books for specific types of transitions. They are geared towards kids ages 2-5. Thanks to Cara Aloisio, LCSW for compiling this list!
Moving
- Big Ernie’s New Home: A Story for Young Children Who Are Moving (2006) by Teresa Martin & Whitney Martin
Discusses the feelings that young children face when moving and offers suggestions for smoothing their adjustment.
- Moving Day! (2011) by Jess Stockham
Walks children through the process of moving
- The Berenstain Bears’ Moving Day (1981) by Stan & Jan Berenstain
The Bear family moves from the mountains to a tree house.
New School
- The Kissing Hand (1993) by Audrey Penn
School is starting in the forest, but Chester Raccoon does not want to go. To help ease Chester’s fears, Mrs. Raccoon shares a family secret called the Kissing Hand to give him the reassurance of her love any time his world feels a little scary.
- Llama Llama Miss Mama (2009) by Anna Dewdney
It’s Llama Llama’s first day of preschool!
Kindergarten
- Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten (2001) by Joseph Slate
It’s the first day of kindergarten and Miss Bindergarten is hard at work getting the classroom ready for her new students
- Look out Kindergarten, Here I Come (Also available in Spanish) (2001) by Nancy Carlson
Henry the Mouse gets ready for kindergarten.
New Sibling
- I’m a Big Brother /I’m a Big Sister (2010) by Joanna Cole.
These simple stories lay out all the good things about becoming an older sibling, and just how exciting welcoming a new member to the family can be.
- Big Sisters Are the Best (2012) by Fran Manushkin
Highlights the differences between babies & older siblings, while focusing on the fun things they can do together!
- Waiting for Baby (2009) by Rachel Fuller
Helps prepare children for the ups and downs of having a younger brother or sister.
- Big Brother Daniel (2015) by Angela C. Santomero
Daniel Tiger is learning how to become a big brother!
Worrying
- Don’t Worry Bear (2008), by Greg Foley
When Caterpillar tells Bear that he is making a cocoon, Bear is worried. Will Caterpillar be safe? Will he be warm? Will he stay dry?
- Wemberly Worried (2010) by Kevin Henkes
Wemberly worried morning, noon, and night. ” And Wemberly worried about one thing most of all: her first day of school. But when she meets a fellow worrywart in her class, Wemberly realizes that school is too much fun to waste time worrying!
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