I will never forget when my mom came into my room and told me that dad was moving out. I knew they had not been getting along but I never thought he would actually leave. What do I say to my friends?" "Every day I come home from school and get reminded that my parents are split up I become sick to my stomach. Sometimes I purposely plan things after school just so I don't have to come home and be reminded of it." Do you know teens with these questions? Are you left wondering how you can help them? Divorce changes families but it does not have to destroy them. The Big D offers hope and help to teens and their families. Their parents divorce does not have to define their future. Teens can learn how to process their feelings and hurts and find themselves emotionally healthier. The Big D is designed to lead teens through the journey of recovery and find hope in the midst of this tragedy. It is filled with many practical high energy activities and hands on tools to help teens process their feelings. The curriculum includes a Biblically based Leaders Guide and an interactive Student Workbook for each attendee. There is also an Activity Guide filled with additional topic related activities to keep your teens engaged. Whether they are currently in the chaos of their situation or it has been years and are living in a blended family, this program is guaranteed to change their lives. We need to reach teens now before they carry these hurts and confusion into their future relationships. It is time to STOP the cycle NOW. We pray you join us in this journey. This Activity Guide can be used alongside the Leaders Guide or as a additional tool when working with teens of divorce.

"What does it take to build a home that will last?
"Harper's dad is getting a divorce from her beloved stepmother, Jane. Even worse, Harper has lost her stepsister, Tess. The divorce divides them just when her best friend, Gabriel, betrays her. Harper decides to get away for the summer and joins a volunteer program to build a house for a family in Tennesee who lost their home in a tornado. Not that she knows a thing about building houses. Soon she's living in a funky motel and working long days in blazing heat with a quirky, terrific group of kids from all over the country. At the site she works alongside Teddy, the son of the family for whom they are building the house. Their partnership turns into a summer romance, complete with power tools. Learning to trust and love Teddy isn't easy for Harper, but it's the first step toward finding her way back home.
* "A thoughtful treatment of what it means to rebuild, not just physical structures, but also lives and families.""--School Library Journal, "Starred

Child Protection Services have been involved with Billy and his mother for some time now. He has been happily settled in a kinship placement with his grandmother and enjoys his pet cat, interacting with neighbors and even taking piano lessons. As the story unfolds, Billy's grandmother has unexpectedly passed away and so the story of "Billy Had To Move" begins.
Unfortunately, Billy's mother cannot be located. Mr. Murphy, Billy's social worker, places him in the foster home of Amy, Tim, and their baby "Colly." Billy experiences great loss resulting not only from his grandmother's death, but also the loss of the life he knew. Billy's inner journey therefore has also begun and with the help of Ms. Woods, a Play Therapist, there is hope.
Therapists' Acclaim for "Billy Had To Move"
"This gem of a book gently frames the stages of a child's natural quest to make sense of his story. Fraser has created more than a teaching story: she generously offers a sacred space that compassionately holds and supports the multidimensional realities of our foster children and their birth families, our social workers and foster families, our teachers and child psychotherapists."
--Gisela Schubach De Domenico, PhD, MFT, R-PTS
"Billy Had To Move is a profound story about the complex issues children in foster care often face. Fraser provides important lessons for caregivers. The book gracefully introduces the sandtray and provides insight into how powerful the experience can be when the child has an opportunity to explore their trauma in the sandtray."
--Mark E. Hulbert, MA, LLP
"A wonderful addition to the bibliotherapy field. This is a much-needed book for foster care children to help them in adjusting to a new caregiver and placement. It offers a welcoming view of how children's worries and losses can be understood by a caring Play Therapist, in a warm and inviting setting."
--Athena A. Drewes, PsyD, RPT-S; Director of Clinical Training, The Astor Home for Children, Poughkeepsie, NY
"In this engaging, warm-hearted story, Billy grieving the loss of his grandmother, finds a way to heal by expressing his thoughts and feelings in Play Therapy. Highly recommended "
--Charles E. Schaefer, PhD, RPT-S Director Emeritus, The Association for Play Therapy
Learn More About This Book at www.TheresaFraser.com
From the Growing With Love series at Loving Healing Press www.LovingHealing.com
Juvenile Fiction: Family - Orphans & Foster Homes

"My name is Bunko...and I am a black Labrador retriever. That's right, I'm a dog, but what's cool is, I am the only one who can really tell you this story." Bunko's Journey, a great story for everyone!

""We'll have fun," Mom pleaded. "You've always wanted a brother--" "A younger brother," said Parker. "I wanted a younger brother." "But Eric is great. He'll-" "You don't get it, Mom. I've always been the youngest. Now I'm going to be even younger!""

Before her mom remarried, Lily was the eldest; now she has dropped to second from the bottom. Her 13-year-old stepsister, V, is brilliant, popular, and seriously beautiful, but "lately she's been toxic waste." That, however, is only Lily's viewpoint. Hicks tells her uproarious story in fast, alternating narratives from the four stepsiblings, who suddenly find themselves together in a blended family. Along with all the jealousy and hurt, they still have fun, as when they hold a rock-paper-scissors competition for a neighborhood fund-raiser. There's also a little puzzle. Who has destroyed the tomatoes that V has been growing to raise money to send soccer balls to kids in Iraq? Without heavy message, the switching viewpoints make readers privy to the family secrets and the lies, as the combination of farce and tenderness in daily life brings home both the struggle and the fun.--"Booklist"

Is there really such a thing as a "good divorce"? Determined to uncover the truth, Elizabeth Marquardt--herself a child of divorce--conducted, with Professor Norval Glenn, a pioneering national study of children of divorce, surveying 1,500 young adults from both divorced and intact families between 2001 and 2003. In "Between Two Worlds," she weaves the findings of that study together with powerful, unsentimental stories of the childhoods of young people from divorced families.
The hard truth, she says, is that while divorce is sometimes necessary, even amicable divorces sow lasting inner conflict in the lives of children. When a family breaks in two, children who stay in touch with both parents must travel between two worlds, trying alone to reconcile their parents' often strikingly different beliefs, values, and ways of living. Authoritative, beautifully written, and alive with the voices of men and women whose lives were changed by divorce, Marquardt's book is essential reading for anyone who grew up "between two worlds."
"Makes a persuasive case against the culture of casual divorce."""--"Washington Post
"
"A poignant narrative of her own experience . . . Marquardt says she and other young adults who grew up in the divorce explosion of the 1970s and 1980s are still dealing with wounds that they could never talk about with their parents."--"Chicago Tribune
"

In a tale that mirrors "Snow White," eighteen-year-old Bella is leading a carefree bohemian lifestyle the summer before college, living and singing with a band in London and Paris. But over the course of a few weeks, she finds herself in danger more than once--and she can't help but suspect the two mysterious women who remind her of her jealous stepmother, Marjorie.

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.

Discusses the causes and results of divorce with emphasis on the needs of children who must understand their parents' feelings as well as their own and adjust to the changes that divorce brings about in their lives.

Change and transitions are hard, but Goodbye, Friend! Hello, Friend! demonstrates how, when one experience ends, it opens the door for another to begin. It follows two best friends as they say goodbye to snowmen, and hello to stomping in puddles. They say goodbye to long walks, butterflies, and the sun...and hello to long evening talks, fireflies, and the stars. But the hardest goodbye of all comes when one of the friends has to move away. Feeling alone isn't easy, and sometimes new beginnings take time. But even the hardest days come to an end, and you never know what tomorrow will bring.

Katie's life is falling apart: her mum's controlling, her dad's run off, she's in love with someone whose identity she can't reveal and now her estranged grandmother's turned up on the doorstep and Katie's expected to take care of her. Soon Katie discovers she's not the only one in her family hiding the truth. If she's going to get her life back together, she's going to have to expose everyone's deepest secrets - including her own.

Becca's parents are getting a divorce. She's sad and confused, but more importantly, what will happen to Neko, their family dog? Neko doesn't understand what divorce is and Neko isn't allowed in Dad's new flat. How will they ever make this work? In the end, Becca's parents decide to do pick ups at the dog park so Neko can see Dad. It's a step in the right direction. What About Neko? explores the issue of divorce through a sensitive story that children can relate to. Providing a picture book approach to the PSHE topics of bullying, bereavement, divorce and adoption, A Helping Hand aims to help young children understand and cope with upsetting situations that they might face.

'We are moving to a new home, where the lakes freeze in winter. I am visiting my Grandma to say goodbye.' The little girl in this story loves visiting her Grandma's sewing studio and watching her make things, and is worried about leaving Grandma behind and not being able to see her. Grandma re-assures her and is making her a warm coat which will envelop her like a big hug. The message of love despite separation is comforting for all those grandchildren and grandparents who are now in self-isolation or social distancing due to the corona virus. Soothes anxiety caused by lock down and school closure and shows ways communication can still take place. Free resources are on publisher website. NOMINATED FOR THE 2021 KATE GREENAWAY AWARD.

A heart-warming, funny and fast-moving story set in 1930s America - past winner of the highly prestigious Newbery Medal.

Bud is on a journey. He has hit the road with one idea in mind - he wants to discover his father. He's not got a lot to go on - just a flyer for a jazz band and his very own Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself. Despite encounters with a car-driving vampire, a monster-infested woodshed and even a real live girl, Bud presses on towards a surprising discovery ...

Perfect for Halloween! From the New York Times bestselling author of Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library and coauthor of I Funny and Treasure Hunters, comes a series of spine-tingling mysteries to keep you up long after the lights go out.

Zack, his dad, and new stepmother have just moved back to his father's hometown, not knowing that their new house has a dark history. Fifty years ago, a crazed killer caused an accident at the nearby crossroads that took 40 innocent lives. He died when his car hit a tree in a fiery crash, and his malevolent spirit has inhabited the tree ever since. During a huge storm, lightning hits the tree, releasing the spirit, who decides his evil spree isn't over . . . and Zack is directly in his sights.

Award-winning thriller author Chris Grabenstein fills his first book for younger readers with the same humorous and spine-tingling storytelling that has made him a fast favorite with adults.

Jason's lucky to be alive, but life in a wheelchair was not in his plans. Even when he was protecting his mom and siblings from his drunken father or escaping from home to be with his friends, he never imagined his future in a wheelchair.
When reading a text message while driving, he is in a car accident that leaves him with a paralyzed leg. Jason sees himself only as a kid who will always be paralyzed, but when he becomes part of the Raven Canoe Family and learns to "pull" a canoe, his outlook on life begins to change.
After completing a two-week tribal canoe journey with his Duwamish tribal members, Jason is proud to be a Coast Salish Indian. From the hardships and camaraderie of the journey, he gains a new sense of courage and determination to someday swim and walk again.

Tracy is back on TV in My Mum Tracy Beaker! Watch the major TV series on CBBC and iPlayer. A fabulous new cover look for this brilliant story starring Tracy Beaker, Jacqueline Wilson's most enduring and popular character. I'm Tracy Beaker, the Great Inventor of Extremely Outrageous Dares - and I dare YOU not to say this is the most brilliant story ever! I've bought a big fat purple notebook for writing down all my mega-manic ultra-scary stories in. But especially for my own story. Of how my foster-mum, Cam, has turned out to be a real meanie. No designer clothes, when I really need them. A pokey flat, and a horrible new school. No wonder I keep bunking off . . . Still, it will have to do until my real mum comes and gets me. And until then, no-one is going to be better at the Dare Game than me!

Perfect for fans of Patrick Ness's A Monster Calls, and with beautiful colour illustrations throughout, Cappy and The Whale is a unique and wonderful Ukrainian story which Puffin are proud to publish in English for the very first time. One morning I glanced out the window and saw a whale floating in the sky. The whale was blue and grey, large and clumsy, yet he was just rolling along and gliding on the warm sunny breeze with surprising grace. When eight-year-old Cappy discovers a whale swimming outside of his bedroom window, it's fair to say he's quite surprised. Given how long he's spent in hospital, Cappy has had plenty of time to read a LOT of books on animals, and he's never heard of a whale that can fly. What with his leukaemia, Cappy's used to not being allowed to do things he wants - like eating sweets, playing with dogs, or roaming too far from his protective family - so he's delighted when the amazing whale not only speaks to him, but asks him to join him for a ride in the sky. Soon, Cappy and the whale are the best of friends, and together they will go on an amazing journey of imagination, hope and curiosity. To mark the publication of this book in hardback, Puffin is donating GBP5000 to the National Literacy Trust's campaign to support Ukrainian child refugees. Puffin does not expect to make a profit from this title, but any publisher profits driven by sales of the hardback book will additionally be donated. More information on the scheme can be found at: www.literacytrust.org.uk/ukraineappeal

Ten-year-old Lexie used to love going to the shore. For as long as she can remember, she's spent every summer there with her parents, eating hamburgers, swimming in the ocean, and combing the beach for treasure. This summer is going to be different though. Lexie's mom and daddy are divorced, and for the first time Mom won't be there. To make matters worse, Daddy has a surprise--his new girlfriend, Vicky, and her two sons are coming to stay with them for a week Now Lexie has to share her house with perky Vicky, Vicky's moody teenage son Ben, and messy three-year-old Harris. The little beach house just doesn't seem big enough for so many people. Is there still room for Lexie?
In a voice that's sharp, funny, and sincere, Newbery Honor-winning author Audrey Couloumbis tells the story of a girl discovering that if you pay attention, sometimes you can find treasure in the most unlikely places.

“IT'S GOING TO BE WOOF-ONDERFUL!”

There is nothing Nicky wants more in the world than a dog to play with. But Mum and Dad don’t want a dog. Then Granddad has an idea – he and Nicky can make a dog: a snow-dome dog. Even better, he has some special clay, found at the end of a rainbow, so that the dog will be extra-special. Maybe even magic…

A beautifully warm tale from an award-winning author.