OS LAW OFFICE OF
OPFER & STOWELL P.C. ATTORNEY AT LAW
Teach Your Child
ABOUT DIVORCE TOP TEN BOOKS TO READ WITH YOUR CHILD
ASHLEY OPFER, ESQ. O P F E R & S TO W E L L P.C .
H A V E A Q U E S T I O N ? V I S I T A S H L E Y A N S W E R S . O R G | PG 1
OS LAW OFFICE OF
OPFER & STOWELL P.C. ATTORNEY AT LAW
FRED STAYS WITH ME Written by Nancy Coffelt, Illustrated by Tricia Tusa Fred Stays with Me is a great book for young children. It is simple and beautifully illustrated. It is about a little girl whose parents are divorced and when she goes back and forth between both parents houses the dog, Fred, goes with her. It is a great book about how children can find happiness and consistency in the midst of change and transition.
PG 2 | H A V E A Q U E S T I O N ? V I S I T A S H L E Y A N S W E R S . O R G
OS LAW OFFICE OF
OPFER & STOWELL P.C. ATTORNEY AT LAW
TWO HOMES Written by Claire Masurel, Illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton Two Homes is another great book for young children. The book is primarily about establishing normalcy when living in two different places. The main Character is Alex, a little boy, who spends time with both his mom and his dad. The books centers on showing children that no matter where they are after a divorce they are loved by both parents.
WHEN MY PARENTS FORGOT HOW TO BE FRIENDS Written by Jennifer Moore-Mallinos, Illustrated by Marta Fabrega When My Parents Forgot How to Be Friends is for young to school aged children and covers the time leading up to a divorce through the period after a divorce is finalized. It introduces the idea that parents are often better mommies and daddies when they do not live together. It does portray a somewhat idyllic post-divorce co-parenting relationship but overall it is a great book that shows children that their family will remain their family after a divorce.
Divorce in your family means many things will change, but one thing that never changes is your parents’ love for you. - DINOSAURS DIVORCE H A V E A Q U E S T I O N ? V I S I T A S H L E Y A N S W E R S . O R G | PG 3
OS LAW OFFICE OF
OPFER & STOWELL P.C. ATTORNEY AT LAW
“I love Daddy. And I love Mommy. No matter where I am. We love you, Alex. We love you wherever we are. And we love you wherever you are.” - TWO HOMES PG 4 | H A V E A Q U E S T I O N ? V I S I T A S H L E Y A N S W E R S . O R G
OS LAW OFFICE OF
OPFER & STOWELL P.C. ATTORNEY AT LAW
I DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT Written by Jeanie Franz Ransom, Illustrated by Kathryn Kunz Finney I Don’t Want To Talk About It is a book for young children about a little girl whose parents have told her that they are getting a divorce and all the emotions and fears that revelation raises for the little girl. I love this book because the illustrations are beautiful and it captures the concerns children have about divorce in a way that most children will relate to very well.
DINOSAURS DIVORCE Written and Illustrated by Laurie Krasny and Marc Brown Dinosaurs Divorce is a school age appropriate but thorough look at a divorce from a child’s perspective. It does a very nice job of covering some of the more difficult aspects of the breakup of a marital relationship as it relates to children but is, at the same time, very empowering for children. The book is very appropriately subtitled a “guide” for changing families. It gives children very constructive suggestions for how to deal with problems unique to them in dealing with their parents divorce.
H A V E A Q U E S T I O N ? V I S I T A S H L E Y A N S W E R S . O R G | PG 5
OS LAW OFFICE OF
OPFER & STOWELL P.C. ATTORNEY AT LAW
THE INVISIBLE STRING Written by Patrice Karst, Illustrated by Geoff Stevenson The Invisible String is a book for young children. It is not specifically about divorce but rather about being connected to the people we love no matter where or how far they are. This is a great book for children who struggle with transitions and anxiety because they miss one parent while staying with the other because it reassures children that even when they are not with someone their love connects them to each other like and invisible string.
DIVORCE IS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD Written by Zoe and Evan Stern Divorce is Not The End of the World is one of my favorite books. It is most appropriate for middle to early high school aged children as it was written by a 13 and 15 year old. It is the ultimate divorce guide for children because it is written from the child’s perspective and addresses the issues that children are going to be most affected by and concerned with.
“So I guess I’ll be kind of like a robin, with two places to live.” “Kind of,” my mom said. “And you’ll be loved wherever you are.” - I DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT
PG 6 | H A V E A Q U E S T I O N ? V I S I T A S H L E Y A N S W E R S . O R G
OS LAW OFFICE OF
OPFER & STOWELL P.C. ATTORNEY AT LAW
DEAR MR. HENSHAW Written by Beverly Cleary, Illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky Dear Mr. Henshaw is a fiction chapter book appropriate for late elementary to middle school aged children. While the book is not specifically about divorce the main character, Leigh, deals with many issues that children of divorce deal with on a daily basis. It is both a fun read and a book that will help children address many of the emotions they have when one parent is no longer a daily presence in their lives.
H A V E A Q U E S T I O N ? V I S I T A S H L E Y A N S W E R S . O R G | PG 7
OS LAW OFFICE OF
OPFER & STOWELL P.C. ATTORNEY AT LAW
HORSE DREAMS Written by Mary Vivian Johnson Horse Dreams is a fiction chapter book about a young girl, Becky, whose parents have announced that they will be getting a divorce. It is most appropriate for late elementary to middle school aged children. While the book is not exclusively about divorce it does discuss the emotions children feel when their parent’s marriage breaks down and it provides relatable strategies for how to work through those feelings.
MOM’S HOUSE, DAD’S HOUSE FOR KIDS Written by Isolina Ricci, Ph.D. Mom’s House, Dad’s House for Kids is intended for children 10 or older. It is a non-fiction guide for children of divorce. It is full of resources that help older children identify and deal with emotions and concerns that arise during and after their parents’ divorce. While it is a great resource it is a large book and would be appropriate for the child who enjoys reading, is analytical, and is self-motivated.
PG 8 | H A V E A Q U E S T I O N ? V I S I T A S H L E Y A N S W E R S . O R G
OS LAW OFFICE OF
OPFER & STOWELL P.C. ATTORNEY AT LAW
Now I understand that even though my parents forgot how to be friends, it doesn’t mean they don’t love me or that they stop being my parents. ...We’re not all together, but we all seem happier. - WHEN MY PARENTS FORGOT HOW TO BE FRIENDS. H A V E A Q U E S T I O N ? V I S I T A S H L E Y A N S W E R S . O R G | PG 9
MEET ASHLEY M. OPFER, ESQ. Ashley Mae Opfer graduated cum laude from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa in 2008 receiving her B.A. in theatre, dance and education. While completing her student teaching experience in Minneapolis, Minnesota she witnessed many of her students and their parents struggling with legal issues. She determined that she could not help her students or their families with the significant issues they faced each and every day as a teacher and, so, she made the decision to attend law school in order to be an attorney to advocate for children and families. Ashley received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Denver, Sturm College of Law in May of 2012 and was admitted to practice law in Colorado the same year. Ashley believes that family law and domestic issues should be handled in such a way that allows children to thrive, parents to work together in the best interest of their children, and lives to be divided with understanding, empathy and fairness. Outside of the practice of law, Ashley is married, has a son and a sheltie. Ashley is a Colorado native and enjoys snowboarding, camping, hiking, bike riding and otherwise taking advantage of the beautiful landscape and exciting adventures Colorado has to offer. Opfer & Stowell P.C. | Parker Station | 19751 E Mainstreet, Suite 357 Parker, CO 80138 | Telephone: (303) 791-0995