Critical Issues Books

Two Homes

Citation : Masurel . C ( 2001 ). Two Homes . Massachusetts : Candlewick Press.,

ISBN # : ISBN # : 0 – 7636 – 0511 – 5

About The Book : This is great book for children whose parents are getting separated, are separated, getting divorced or are divorced. It portrays that it is okay for some children to have “two homes”, and possibly an extended family. It leaves one with the image that no matter where they live they will always be loved. Children who are in this situation can relate to it, as it is simple to read and easy enough to understand. It lets children see that they can be loved by both parents, even if those two parents do not live together anymore.

Why I would choose this book for 3 - 5 years old :  Because the book was written in a very simple language, the pictures are interesting and easy to look at . It helps children, who are going through a separation/divorce that there are other children out there going through the same thing, and that it's ok. It helps children to understand that no matter how much or little they see each parent, their parents still love them dearly. It also helps them to see that they can enjoy themselves at both houses (their moms’ or their dads’ house). It is good to read this book during circle time as all the children seeing and understanding what types of situations other children in the class might be in, and that it’s ok because both their parents still love them.

Comment on illustration : The cover of the book is interesting , as it clearly represents that there are two homes. The smile of Alex's face on each page, whether he in with his mommy’s house or daddy’s house , portrays that no matter where he is, he is happy and loved . The different look of his rooms , bathrooms , brushes , chairs , etc., is well presented and clearly displays what his favourite things are and are not in each home. The sizes of the pages are large and easy for children to see.

Background Knowledge: Print picture of a boy , a man , and a woman ( from the book ) . Print pictures of two different homes ( from the book ) . Enlarge the pictures . Place them in the middle of a circle at circle time . The boy is holding the man’s hand and standing next to one home , and the boy is holding the woman’s hand ; standing next to another home. Then I will start reading the story , while children can look at these pictures on the floor and relate them to the little boy’s life in the book ( the pictures that I print are from the book, in this case it’s much easier for children to relate to stories when I use the actual pictures from the book, especially with provocations) I will ask the children “why this boy is in one house and in the other?”

Three ways to present the book :

• Felt Story - felt pieces are : the little boy ( Alex ) , Mommy and daddy , two homes , chairs , tooth brushes , coats , boots , other little boys and girls ( Alex’s friends) , and a bed . These pieces can be handmade ( materials can be found in the Dollar store, Wal-Mart , or ready - made at 3H craftworks) .
• Story Basket : Inside the basket we have : the little toys of a little boy , a woman and a man , two small ( different looking chairs ) , two different toys for mommy and daddy's homes, some plastic food , and 2 little tooth brushes . ( these items can be found at the Dollar store , Michaels , Wal-Mart , Gift shop stores, Toy R Us , etc ) . Children can use the basket and play the story on their own and in their own unique ways, as well as role playing. 
•  Reading the book : The teacher can read the book , while stopping at different pages and asking questions. This way children are more involved and will usually remain focused and interested in what’s going to happen next. For example, the teacher can stop on page 14 and ask, “ I wonder what else Alex does at daddy house?” and "what else does he do at mommy's house?". Or you can stop on page 18 and ask, “ I wonder what Alex might keep at daddy's house?, and "I wonder what else he might keep at mommy's house?”.

Three Possible  Extensions for Learning :

•  Prepare supplies for making a house , different shapes of blocks for children to build two different homes for the little boy in the book (Alex). Then they can bring some toys or use the accessories from the story basket mentioned earlier, to play within each home. They can use the accessories any way they want or they can add new ones and create a whole other adventure that Alex could go on at mommy's house and then at daddy's house.
• Children can draw the different rooms they might have, and different things they might use, at the different houses they may have stayed at (this can include other parent, grandparents', friends' house, etc). If they have only stayed at one house, then they can create their very own dream bedroom; what would they want it to look like and what would they want it to contain.
•  Children can also take turns being Alex and role playing with the other children what it is like or would be like living at one home and then the other. Children can grow on this and the family does not have to consist of only a dad and then only a mom; Alex can suddenly have siblings, pets, new moms and dads, wherever the children want to take it.