Anne Fine's award winning story.

Kitty Killin is not just a brilliant story-teller, but also the World's Great Expert when it comes to mothers having new and unwelcome boyfriends. So it's no surprise that she's the one chosen to sort out classmate Helly, who's gone into meltdown. Kitty decides to share her story about old Goggle-eyes - possibly one of the worst episodes in her life...

Mia's life feels split in two after her parents get divorced - even her cat and dog now live in two separate places. When she's at her dad's house, Mia misses her mom's jokes and singing. And when she's at her mom's house, she misses her dad's laugh and cooking. Mia just can't quite shake that missing feeling. Sometimes that missing feeling makes her angry. And sometimes it makes her sad. One day when Mia visits her Grandpa, he gives her a little blue notebook saying, "When I write about Grandma, I am sad but I am happy too. She is gone, but you are here. Life changes, and writing helps me think about these changes. My notebook is a home for my heart." Mia keeps her notebook wherever she goes, writing about happy and sad memories. And soon her notebook becomes a way to balance that missing feeling. And also a home for her heart.

Ages 4 to 8 years. This book is part of the "Cory Series" to help children cope with challenging issues. This version presents engaging activities to help very young clients cope with divorce. Cory, the central character in the story, helps children gradually confront and process their feelings and reactions related to the divorce. Therapeutic games, art, and other playful activities are incorporated to lower the threat level of therapy and engage children in treatment. Questions and re-enforcers are woven throughout the story to captivate and sustain the childs interest in the story, and to evaluate and encourage the childs integration of the material. Includes a reproducible story, activities, and detailed parent handouts.