Two Homes

by Claire Masurel

Alex has two homes - a home where Daddy lives and a home where Mummy lives. Alex has two front doors, two bedrooms and two different chairs, but whether Alex is with Mummy or Daddy, one thing stays the same, Alex is loved by them both - always.

Genres: Family, Divorce, Picture Books, Childrens, Love, Emotion, Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

#22 in my 365 Kids Books challenge and request to GoodReads that the Top Readers, etc. lists be fixed. For a full explanation see my review for 101 Amazing Facts about Australia You can see all the books on their own shelf.

So if you're following along you noticed that I was crazy for the art of Kady MacDonald Denton combined with the text of Bonnie Becker. So I got more of their work together in additional Bear books, as well as work each of them produced in collaboration with others. It's just this random sort of deep dive per whim that makes reading for fun actually fun. September and October I mostly read Halloweeny books: crime, monsters, horror, suspense. November and December are usually a plethora of Solstice, Christmas, snow, good cheer, comfort and joy. January is whatever books came in over the holidays. Those are the only specifics I've noted, but I often find when I am entering a book's newest Read date that the only previous read was in the same month some years ago, so that the reads that seem perfectly random aren't. But I also go on spontaneous binges. Books by and about Edward Gorey. Memoir in graphic novel format. All this to say there will be more Bear and Bear-creator works coming soon.

This book is very clearly written to comfort a young child who is anxious about their parents splitting up. Even more clearly, I am not the target audience. Also I tend to be vaguely unapproving of books for children which are so obviously meant to be about this particular situation you the child are also in. I tend to think the books which comfort a child are the books they choose without some adult walking up with a book they want to read to the child. And probably my reluctance won't go away entirely.

But in this case, I totally get it. When informed of the impending split a child will likely have a tremendous fear of the unknown, and a book like this one can address that fear and diminish it, without the parent or child ever having to expressly acknowledge what the fear might be. This particular book makes it a point to show that while the two new homes might be very different from one another and from the shared home, certain important things will not change. There will be the same types of things at both places and the child will do the same sorts of things at both places and the two parents will both still love the child very much. Now that I stop to think it does seem unlikely that a young child would care very much about the relationship the parents have to one another; of course they would only worry about what was going to change for them.

Further, I can see where this book might lead very naturally to not only a discussion of the fears a specific child in the specific situation might have, but also to a broader discussion of change and fears and how things turn out in the end. People are pretty crap at predicting the future. While we know, intellectually but fully, that circumstances and people change, it's very hard for us to feel otherwise than that this situation now will just continue forever. It's amazing really how quickly the new becomes the normal for us.

Finally and at long last, lovely book message delivered simply and well. Denton's art highlights the differences, but shows child Alex enjoying both just as much. Indeed, the art is so charming a child would be forgiven for hoping their parents would split up.

Library copy

[Ellie Abrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two Homes tells the story of a boy, Alex, who has two homes because his parents are no longer in a relationship. This is told in a positive way which reinforces that Alex is very much loved by both parents, regardless of which home is currently residing.
This would be a useful text for children experiencing a similar situation, that may be feeling somewhat nervous about the prospect of a very new family setup. Also, the text could be useful in a whole class setting for illustrating the diverse family types present within society and almost certainly present within the class itself.

[Becca Holcomb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a perfect book for teachers to have when they know a student's parents may be going through a divorce. It can be a special independent read for a student.

[Miranda Pleshek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two Homes by Claire Masurel is a story written from the perspective of a child who has two homes due to his parents being separated. The child shows that he has everything he needs at both his moms and dads house and does so in a positive manner. This book would be great for students who may be going through a parent separation or used to educate all students about it. It could be a good independent reading book or a book used to teach about the concept of divorce and separation if children are curious about it, which children are usually curious about everything. This might be a large concept for students ages 3-7, the intended audience of the book, to grasp, so I think the author does a wonderful job in positively addressing the situation and making it understandable for young children.
As a prospective teacher I would use this book in the classroom for a way to educate students about what their peers may be going through and that although it may be different from their own experience it’s nothing to shame/be ashamed of. It will also let students reflect on it and open up to me or peers if they feel like it which allows us to build greater connections.

[Mitchell Friedman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet children's picture book about a child living after divorce. This is also the 2nd to last of my popsugar 2023 challenges (with 4 days more to go). The art has kind of a messy cartoony feel to it that I don't love, but works very well for the story and feels quite intentional. The text is pretty good as well. This seems a quite topic specific, though there are enough divorced households out there that it seems like it is a helpful book.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

fine but the child's face with the art style was so scary

[Jena Costin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two Homes by Claire Masurel is a story written from the perspective of a child of divorced or separated parents. It depicts a child-centered and positive outlook of a family split between two homes. Alex, the main character, is a young child who travels between two homes, one where he lives with his mother and the other with his father. The book provides a realistic, yet positive view on divorce and separation. It can also be helpful for children who are transitioning into a life of two homes, by giving them a young character with whom they can connect and relate to. It can be a special independent read for specific children, while also appropriate to bring about awareness for a whole group read-aloud. The central theme of the story is that the love for one’s child sustains its strength regardless of changes that occur within families, while demonstrating what is gained through divorce rather than what is lost.

[Shila Iris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great for children whose parents are split, foster children, and just children who spend time between homes. I read it to a 2 and 4 year old. The 2 year old was even ok with it. You cannot always change situations, and this book provides a simple and great explanation to help children understand why they don't live with Mom and Dad together in 1 home. I would love to see an African American version of it.

[Miley Smiley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Subgroup: Family; divorce

Genre: non-fiction

Synopsis: Alex explains to readers that he has two homes and how because of these two home he has two of everything. With these two homes he now also has twice the love.

5.) Masurel, C. (2001). Two Homes. Cambridge, Massachusettes: Candlewick Press.

[Daryle Tibbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clients often come to me before they have told anyone what they are going through, and that includes their children. Clients often ask me how to have the divorce discussion with their children. My answer is that it depends how old their children are and what the maturity level of their children is. One option is to begin introducing the idea of divorce through books. Two Homes is one such book that could be used to introduce the idea of divorce to young children. The book states that it is for children ages 3-7 (on the back) but I would argue that it is actually for the younger end of that age spectrum. Maybe 3-5 year olds. The book revolves around Alex, presumably an only child, and uses basic one line sentences to show how things are different at each of Alex's parent's homes. The book puts a positive spin on the fact that Alex has two of everything because he has two homes but is otherwise very neutral about each of the homes. At the end, it emphasizes that Alex loves both of his/her parents and both of Alex's parents love him/her. If both parents are committed to having an amicable separation and divorce, this could be a great book to introduce the changes the child will experience. My only hesitation would be that this book paints an ideal picture of what it could look like, which, if both parents aren't committed to making it a smooth transition, this book could set the child's expectations too high. With this age group, I am not sure you have many alternatives because you definitely want to make every child feel comfortable and safe.

[Nick So'oto · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book Two Homes, gives a realistic point of view of a young boy named Alex that basically has two of everything! Amazing right? The book takes you through the mind of Alex while he switches home from home since his parents are divorced. It is a beautiful written story although each page only has about four to five words on it. The book gives children who have divorced parents something to relate to, and something to be positive about.

I definitely loved this book! It's such a beautiful book, and it shows how pure and heartfelt a child's mind really is. Instead of thinking about divorce, and how his parents are separated, Alex thinks on the bright side of things and it simply warms my heart. The illustrations were also quite interesting. through the illustrations you can see the personality of his parents. Alex's dad was more focused on sports, and outdoor types of activities, while Alex's mother was more of a cook, and dress up type of activities. I think the illustrations tell more about Alex, and his parents than the actual book does.

If I were to use this in the classroom it would probably be just for fun. Or, I could use this book to maybe get to know a student on a close level, maybe we had never connected before, but now that I read this book he or she now related to something, and now they can share about it in class. That's the beauty of books, you don't have to open up to read a book, but a book could definitely open you to experiences you never dreamed of.

[Haley Carlisle]

Two Homes is a realistic fiction book about a little boy named Alex who explains his two homes. Alex talks about how sometimes he stays with his mom and sometimes with his dad.
Alex explains he loves both of his parents, and how he has fun at both houses. Each page shows illustrations of the different houses he lives at. One page is his moms house and one page is his dads house. Alex talks about his two favorite chairs, one is at daddy’s and one is at mommy’s. Alex talks about how he has a lot of different friends at both houses. Alex’s parents explain to him that they will always love him wherever he is. This book provides realistic characters, and a positive look on divorce. I think this book is perfect for a read aloud because it can connect to children who might be living in two different homes. The message of this story is that no matter what happens to his family, Alex’s parents will always love him. There were no specific cultural backgrounds and I thought the author used appropriate language for younger children. I really liked the illustrations and how it shows the differences of his mom and dads house. They flowed very well with the story and would keep children interested and maybe even present questions about certain things in the story. This story relates to my text set because it's a type of family that represents divorce and how to cope with it.

[Audrey Spiller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a little boy who has divorced parents and has two homes. The little boy named Alex talks about how he has two homes and what life is like at his mom’s house and his dad's house. He notices that each of his homes has a lot of similar things like the door, the bedrooms, the kitchen, ect. Most importantly, he realizes he is loved at both homes

This book is about family dynamics. Specifically, it is about a child with divorced parents who has two homes he moves between.

4 Star Rating

I thought this book was super cute. It also was extremely simple and it accurately what it is like for a small child to move between parents' houses. It shows how a child can keep a positive perspective on all of it, and how no matter what, that child is extremely loved by both of their parents.

I would recommend this book because it is a fabulous window to what its like for a child to have separated parents. It can also be a stellar window for kids who do have separated parents and does have to move between houses. It can show that specific child that it can be a positive experience and their parents love him or her so much. I just think this book can be extremely helpful for a child going though a divorce or already has separated parents.

[Ben Truong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two Homes is a children's picture book written by Claire Masurel and illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton and depicts a boy, Alex, whose parents are separated or divorced and the two homes that he lives in.

Masurel's text is simplistic and flows really well. It tackles a situation that more and more children going to experience – having two homes. Denton's illustrations were beautiful and demonstrate the difference in each home very well. The illustrations bring the text to life and greatly complement the text rather well.

The premise of the story is about a boy named Alex and how he lives in two different homes, because his parents are separated. While these two homes are very different on the surface, in reality and fundamentally, it's not all that different, save the authority figure. Alex is really happy wherever he is, whether he's with his mother or father, and in return, and most importantly, so are his parents.

All in all, Two Homes is a wonderful children's book that deals with separation or divorce and a child living in two homes and through his perspective we learned that separation or divorce needn’t be a sad prospect or most importantly stay that way.

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claire Masurel takes on the difficult topic of divorced homes, but she does it in such an elegant way that you can't help to become intrigued and continue to read. Alex, who is the main character of our book describes the many different things that he has at his mommy's house and daddy's house. Mommy has a soft chair while daddy has a rocking chair, but overall each home has lots of friends for him to play. This fictional story uses text that makes light of this situation and how regardless of it that mommy and daddy love you the same no matter what. The illustrator did a great job of showing the difference between the homes because in a classroom or talking to your child in this situation they will be able to tell you some of the differences they see in each of their houses. This story will have you not only embracing the differences but embracing how the parents also want to show equality in each home. Open your mind and hearts to this heartfelt tale of divorce and separation and how children are affected also.

[Garielle Hawes]

In this book, a little boy named Alex talks about how he has two homes. In this story he takes the readers through a little journey as to what life is like at his mum's house and his dad's house. He notices that in each of his homes that there are a lot of things that are similar like the door, the bedrooms, and the fact that he has chairs there too. The biggest similarity that he recognized was that no matter what home he was in, his parents love for him never changed and remained the same. This story is so perfect for children who have divorced parents, because it can help them look at in a more positive way. This book uses language that is appropriate for the readers and the story is relatable. The characters in the story do seem to be very realistic and convincing, however, it is not very diverse. So I think that most students will be able to relate to the premise of the story, but maybe not all of the illustrations. The illustrations are accurate in terms of where the story is taking place and simply the text of the book. I think that the characters do use language that is appropriate for their family dynamic and culture, for example, the way he says Mummy, not mommy.

[Amber Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two Homes is a realistic fiction book about Alex who has two homes. This book explores so many great elements. Alex parent's are divorced, but this book shows a realistic and positive perspective of a child of divorced or separated parents. I enjoyed that the book shows that even through this sad moment in life, having two homes does not have to be a bad thing. I also admired that at the end of the book, they stated that no matter where Alex is both parents still and will always love him. I believe this book would relevant in teaching to elementary aged children because divorce and the separation of parents are real life situations and this book would be a helpful independent tool especially if the teacher knows the students family dynamic. Even though the characters in the book do not represent different cultural groups; however, everyone can relate to separation and divorce.

[Kathleen O'Dell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a Children’s Fiction book that portrays a small child whose parents do not live together. The child talks about how they have two of everything because of this. The book highlights how things are different, but they are also the same, and both parents love them very much. The book looks like it would be good for children who are kindergarten up to second or third grade. The wording makes it very easy for children to understand the point of the story. The pictures are really soft and pretty and look like they may be made with watercolors. They follow along with the story, and really show the differences between the homes of the mother and father. The book does not represent diverse cultures, with the characters being all fair-skinned. I did not see any negative stereotyping, and I liked how the child remained gender-neutral.

[Jomal Childers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two homes does a great job representing what life is like for a child who is a product of divorced household. After reading the book My family’s Changing, I realizes the book offer many thought provoking questions to young readers, I believe this book would be great to show children that divorce isn’t always a bad thing. Two Homes shows Alex the main character having two of everything. He has two homes, two kitchens, two bed rooms, etc. The books gives children hope to see that they could very well have the best of both worlds event though their parents are not together anymore. The book allows room for characters of different races as Alex talks about having lots of friends. I don’t think the book is problematic.

[Jackie Devaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Two Homes" by Claire Masurel is a touching children's book that explores the topic of divorce and the concept of divorce. This book is at a kindergarten level and discusses divorce in a very kid-friendly way. Our protagonist, Alex, talks about how he has two homes. Sometimes he lives with his mom and sometimes he lives with his dad. This book is written at a level for emergent readers who might not understand what a divorce is. It discusses some things that might take place when a child's parents get divorced. They can see the character, Alex, talking about it and know they are going to be alright. This also teaches students whose parents are not divorced that some people's households are different. They will be ore empathetic towards others' situations.

[Dayona Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two homes is a realistic fiction book, it has a very clear message and I believe in this day it is a very relatable message. Not all the time children get to live with both mommy and daddy. And having this book discuss something that could possibly make children feel like they don't "fit in" is very important. The plot was great and the deliverance of this message was also great. The illustrations in this book were very clear and you could easily understand what the author's message was. I thoroughly enjoyed this book because it talks about family differences but it still results back to love in the end!

[Ana Pedraza · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book Two Homes is about a little boy named Alex whose parents are divorced. This book shows the more positive side of divorce in the perspective of the child maybe. In the book Alex is saying how he has two of everything, such as a room, door, and more friends. This book may be able to help children who are going through living in two homes. It can give them something to relate to and know that many people are going through the same thing. I think Two Homes is a simple read and most young children will be able to understand what is going on in the story. The book flows and the illustration correlate to everything being said.

[Mariah Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two Homes is a great cultural story. I also believe that it can be considerate a social emotional book for a child who may be dealing with this. Preferably for children who may live in a home with separated parents. In this story it is about a little boy named Alex. His parents are separated and each have their own house so Alex goes back and forth and whichever one he is with he states how has two of everything. However even if he has two of the same things the one thing that stays the same consistently is that he is loved. This is good but there may be a child reading this and does not have it that well.

[Jewel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very well thought out book. Clearly from an adult perspective, the parents are either divorced or never married. There is no mention of why the parents are not together which is good because this is a children's book and that reason does not matter to children. There is also no negativity directed to either parent and no favoritism by the child for either parent. This book feels like it could be a child's introduction about themselves to classmates about how they have two of many things. I think this would be a good book about diverse families for pre-k and kindergarten children.

[Keturah Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this little picture book. It was too cute! It's about a child named Alex who's parents are divorced. It talks about the different things Alex has at his mom's house and at his dad's house. It makes a point to know that even though Alex lives in two different homes he still lives a good life with two loving parents. This is a family that is dealing with divorce which applies to my text set on families.

This story is very age appropriate and easy for children to understand. It utilizes a style that is appropriate for children at any age and it also includes convincing characters. The pictures are realistic and pertain to the plot. I definitely think the vivid illustrations add to the story. The lifestyles of the characters in this book are genuine and complex. There are absolutely no negative stereotypes of this type of family. I really enjoyed this story!

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Two Homes" is about a young child who lives between his mother and father's homes. It is a simple book about Alex who loves both parents and both houses, and his parents love him very much. I like the positive message that this story sends about families who are separated, but who are still friendly and cordial to each other for the child's sake. I would say this is a good book for pre-k and kindergarten.

[Sinthia Burgos · Rating 4 out of 5]

alex has two homes, two chairs, two toothbrushes, and two different rooms. Alex likes having two homes, one with daddy and one with mommy. This book could help a child going through a divorce or a separation between their parents. It could help them realize the good things about their parents. Give them some comfort that everything will be different but it will be okay. Book is simple with many great pictures for children to look at and ask about.

[Jada · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy how the story is told in the child's perspective because it's a different perspective than normal books. This book brings up the topic of split parenting which is very prevalent in today's society. I would use this book to talk about how not everyone's family is the same and that's okay. I like this book because it is different and can relate to many children in my classroom on a personal level.

[Lauren Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and how simple it was. I think a big thing that some children have to go through is having divorced parents and I think this book did a good job at showing the joy of having two sets of things at each house. At the end of the book it also emphasizes the point that this little boy still loves his parents and they still love him which I think can be a hard thing to figure out when your parents aren't together.

[Tami Speakman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book that I wish was around when I was young, being a child of divorce. The book explains that it is ok to explain that they have 2 homes and everything they have at one house they have at the other house. The book shows that the parents love their child no matter where the child lives. This is a great story to read to a child that has their parents going through a divorce to understand that both their parents will love them no matter where they live.