Customer Reviews

Don'T Want to Talk About It: A Story About Divorce For Young Children

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The text covers the issue of divorce excellently. The "Note to Parents" at the end of the book is a wonderful tool for parents considering divorce or at at any stage of the process. This book is a "must have" for helping children sort through divorce issues AND it is SO MUCH MORE! Less abstract than 'My Many Colored Days' by Dr. Suess, this book is very effective! Through the use of animal imagery 'I Don't Want to Talk About It' covers the range of emotion a child might feel during ANY transitional time. As Director of Children's Ministry, I have used it to open discussion with assorted ages of children dealing with various issues. The kids compare their feelings or situation with the girl in the book. In my book 'I Don't Want to Talk About It' transcends the ages, the issues, and is a lot to talk about.

Children have a hard enough time dealing with their parents' divorce without getting patronizing advice from grownups who think they know better. This book speaks to children on their level, and gives them a chance to realize that although their lives will change, their parents' love for them will not. Children need to know that the things they count on the most will always be there, and this book helps reassure them that they will be OK despite what's going on with mom and dad.

Though I was initially put off by the stark whiteness of the characters, I highly recommend this book to anyone going through divorce with young children. This book reads like poetry, is beautifully illustrated, and gets to the point quickly. All this allowed my active 4 year old son to be taken in on the first read, ask for it a second time, and actually start TALKING about his feelings!

Some books get to the heart of things. "I Don't Want to Talk about It" is one of them. I could say that it's a skillful psychological examination of the feelings a girl experiences when her parents announce that they plan to divorce. That would be true. But this girl expresses real emotions in ways a kid can completely understand with gobbling crocodiles and prickly porcupines. The animal metaphors make room for energetic pictures by Kathryn Kunz Finney. The lively text and illustrations raise this book head and shoulders above the standard divorce books.

This book is a great way to help children deal with the losses associated with divorce. Through the use of animal characters, children are able to explore the feelings and experiences encountered in a divorce. The characters give children an avenue to begin discussing what they are experiencing and an opportunity to talk about what is happening to them. This book is a kind, gentle way for a parent to help and support their child through a difficult situation.