Everything Changes

by Clare Helen Welsh, Asa Gilland (Illustrator)

A lyrical and tender story about the difficult emotions a child can feel when their parents break up. While playing together as a family on the beach, it seems the happy, warm days of summer will never end. But then Mom and Dad say they can’t live together anymore, and everything changes … Sensitive treatment of divorce; told with understanding and care. Optimistic message of hope and resilience. Gently explores complicated emotions. Fresh, child-friendly artwork

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

32 pages, Hardcover

Published March 1, 2023

Reviews

[Lian · Rating 2 out of 5]

A great concept but the narrative fails on so many levels. The voice is not ‘young’ enough for the readership and therefore feels inauthentic and disjointed. The narrative is far too esoteric—forcing adults to have to explain things as they go along. I love subtlety in picture books, but this isn’t subtlety, it’s addled storytelling. Gilland’s exquisite illustrations help impart clarity and meaning but even they’re not enough.

[Tova · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a bookseller, I see a lot of books that interest me, across many genres, and this was one that I randomly was flipping through because I liked the art, and one of the passages really spoke to me: "We can't stop the feeling, or the sea from swirling...but we can watch the waves as they roll...We love you like the sea loves the shore." I bought the book then and there as I had a feeling like it might be healing for my inner child of divorce. My parents split up after I was out of the house, but it still hurts almost 6 years later, because of how messy it was and to some degree still is, and even though it's taken me over a year to actually read this book, I stand by that feeling, and this book was healing to read. The art is beautiful, even if the dog's feet are a little strange-looking. If you are looking for a book to help a child through a divorce, I'd highly recommend this book, and not just for little kids. Stories are healing, and we do not entirely outgrow picture books.

[Harmony · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book given its relevant premise for many children and stunning illustrations. The use of weather to reflect emotions was a clever touch, adding some depth to the story. However, I found the overall message to be muddled and unclear. If I were a child reading this, I would likely struggle to grasp the intended meaning. While the visuals are beautiful done and have a range of diversity, the story itself didn't turn out as strong as I had hoped.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am very happy that there are now books that help children going through a divorce and this is a way to open up dialogue about how a family is changing. I read this and thought about how it felt when my parents decided to separate.

[Annie MacPherson · Rating 2 out of 5]

nice detail in the illustrations