Cover Image: Two Houses

Two Houses

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Member Reviews

With marriages not lasting like they used to, it is not uncommon to know children who travel between two homes. In this book a young rabbit spends time at her mother's house and her father's. She knows they both love her and she loves them. She also loves spending time at their houses, but has trouble with the transition. This is not unusual for children, and care must be taken to help them adjust. Mother rabbit acknowledges that her daughter is having problems and explains to her all about different families and that they are all okay. Dealing with mental health issues can be as simple as letting children know their feelings are okay. With all that has happened over the last two years, anxiety issues are more prevalent today and this is one way to help alleviate the stress that comes with families that no longer live together. A great addition to a family library dealing with this issue.

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This is a delightful tale that tackles a tough subject in a clever way to help children learn and understand with ease. The author's skillful use of bunnies in place of human children keeps the book relatable enough for young readers to connect with but also lighthearted enough to not make the topic feel so heavy. Changes in the family can be a difficult time for children. Divorce can be a challenge for little minds to navigate, especially when they are dealing with big feelings about it.

This story was both entertaining and educational, which can be a tricky balance to maintain in a children’s book, and I will be suggesting it to teachers whenever possible. Mental health is such a critical part of childhood that often gets overlooked. Incorporating social and emotional education into children's picture books is a tried and true way to teach an important life skill in a way that is fun. This would be an amazing addition for classroom libraries, counselling offices and more.

The pictures were cute. The prose was simple, making it an easy read for a budding young reader, but the simplicity of the words did not undermine or detract from the power and importance of the message behind them.

Learning to adjust to these changes and realize that no matter how many houses you have, your parents will always love you is a valuable lesson. This book is absolutely worth sharing with families preparing for big changes to help little minds adapt and adjust. Absolutely, a must read.

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Those rabbits – they breed like, well, like rabbits. But after that sometimes mummy and daddy don't live together, and so child rabbits get the best of both worlds – not one but two places to call home, and two family groups. This book manages to cover a lot of social education, bringing in homosexual parent couples and suchlike, and does it with clearly-presented text on one page and bright and colourful bunnies on the other. It's cute and simple, but I dare say it does what was intended.

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Often stories that are about a difficult childhood experience feature animals. This distance can make the story easier for a young child to hear. That is the approach taken in this book about a bunny whose parents are divorced. The bunny often finds it hard to make transitions. This is acknowledged along with the author offering reassurance to the young rabbit. Young bunnies are assured that they are loved and that all families are different.

This book is very British in terms of some of the words as, for example, “jelly tots.” Still, the book will not only appeal to them.

A shout out to the illustrations in this title. They are gorgeous and delightful.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.

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Little bunny has two houses--Mum's and Daddy's. And even though sometimes bunny has a rough time with transitions, their feelings are always validated and they're reassured that they are completely loved by both parents and their family is just one of many types of families out there.

I love how sensitively the subject was handled. Bunny's parents are reasonable, responsible co-parents who put their child's well-being above all. This makes for a very reassuring message to children reading along--their parents love them and are dedicated to their health and happiness. The story doesn't shy away from occasional mixed feelings or messy emotions. Instead they are affirmed and addressed in a healthy way.

This would be a great classroom read to reinforce the concept that families come in all shapes and sizes and that the only thing that truly matters is the love the family shares.

A note for US readers: this is written in Commonwealth English, so some words/expressions may need to be explained.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

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