Hearts in My Pocket

by Nancy Tupper Ling, Shirley Ng-Benitez (illustrator)

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

40 pages, Hardcover

Published December 10, 2024

About the author

Nancy Tupper Ling is a children's author, poet, librarian, and domestic engineer, not necessarily in that order. An award-winning author, Ling has numerous publications in poetry journals. Her next picture book, One Perfect Plan: The Bible's Big Stories in Tiny Poems (WaterBrook). Her other titles include: For Every Little Thing (Eerdmans); The Yin-Yang Sisters and the Dragon Frightful (Putnam Young Readers 2018); Family Celebrations (Andrews McMeel 2018); TOASTS: The Perfect Words to Celebrate Every Occasion (Viva Editions, 2014); Double Happiness (Chronicle Books, Oct 2015), and The Story I'll Tell (Lee & Low Books, Nov 2015). In 2005 she became the recipient of the Writer's Digest Grand Prize. In 2009 her first picture book, My Sister, Alicia May was published by Pleasant St. Press. This story is about a little girl with Down syndrome, and is written from the older sister's perspective.

Ling is repped by Ammi-Joan Paquette with the Erin Murphy Literary Agency.

Reviews

[Charlotte Offsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully done and heartwarmingly illustrated, this book is sure to open up important conversations around feelings and transition to a new family normal.

[Charlotte Sheer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happy images of a frolicking puppy and an adorable little girl welcome young readers into Leilah’s world in Hearts in My Pocket. Nancy Tupper Ling’s lyrical text softly sings the story of a child who misses so much of the way things used to be, before her parents got a divorce. As Leilah adjusts to spending time with Mommy and Daddy in separate homes, she feels her heart healing with a new kind of love. Tender illustrations by Shirley Ng-Benitez reveal Leilah’s full range of emotions and celebrate the child’s discovery that “Love glows. Heart grows.”

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple, vivid language of a divorce story from kid’s POV with a hopeful heart

A kids point of view of a mom and dad separating and the frustration she feels, but the gratefulness she feels in the things that stayed the same, and finally the love she still feels for the love she sees all around, especially that love her mom and dad have for her and she has for them.

[Marg Corjay · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is uplifting for children who are going through the confusion of parental separation. The illustrations convey her feelings in detail and are bright and cheerful.

[Heather Stigall · Rating 5 out of 5]

HEARTS IN MY POCKET tells the story of a girl who is trying to adjust to her parents’ recent divorce. When staying with her mom, she misses her dad. When she’s with her dad, she misses her mom. Her heart sometimes feels like it’s torn in two. But, in time, the girl learns she can carry the hearts of both of her parents in her pocket, no matter where she is. Nancy Tupper Ling doesn’t shy away from addressing the sometimes-difficult realities of divorce, but does so with a heartwarming, lyrical story that has a hopeful resolution. Shirley Ng-Benitez’s watercolor illustrations add just the right touch to this beautiful book. I highly recommend this book for anyone experiencing a divorce in the family.

[Annelouise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hearts In My Pocket is a tender and thoughtful book exploring the challenging subject of divorce through Ling's compassionate text and Shirley Ng-Benitez's uplifting illustrations. The book is crafted with care and evokes feelings of warmth and love. Nancy Tupper Ling's message to children struggling with their parents' separation shows the complex feelings of the young main character, Leilah, and gently weaves elements of love and hope to show that, although things have changed, love is constant and all around her. Shirley Ng-Benitez's illustrations from the jacket, the cover beneath, the expressive characters, and illuminating mixed media art are stunning. Holding this book and feeling the care that went into it is precious and something I will share with others.

[George Kulz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hearts in my Pocket is a wonderfully-told story about a very difficult topic for a child – divorce. I’m not sure how many books like this are out there for young children, but Nancy Tupper Ling does a fantastic job tackling this subject with a lot of grace and heart. I can feel the child character’s frustration at her situation, and at the same time, there is also hope for her that everything is going to be OK as long as she remembers to carry the love of – and from – both her parents in her pocket. The beautiful soft-colored illustrations by Shirley Ng-Benitez are also a perfect companion for this book, as they radiate the warmth that comes from the words of the story.

[Morgan the Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Topic: Divorce
I liked this one quite a lot and think it's a great addition to books about divorce and splitting families. It shows our main character as she struggles with feelings about missing her parents together as she travels between their two different homes after a divorce, and it shows how she finds that there is still just as much love as there was before the split, just shown a little differently. The illustrations were beautiful and the storytelling was done in a very nice and calm way, not getting overly wordy as sometimes these hard topic picture books might do. I'll be saving this one in my back pocket as a recommendation for sure!

[Valerie Fentress · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet look at the confusing emotions a little girl faces in her parents' divorce.

I love what Nancy Tupper Ling has done with this book. In lyrical rhyme, she addresses the confusion and questions children have when divorce becomes a part of their own story. It is a reminder that love can change how it looks, but it doesn't change how loved and precious we are.


This is a sweet book for kids navigating the confusion of divorce. The illustrations are darling, and the message of love that goes with us everywhere is a message for us all.


It has similar ideas to The Invisible String but does not have a focus on a spiritual or faith-based message.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Hearts in my Pocket! This book realistically portrays the pain and mixed feelings that go along with parents separating or divorcing. The main character misses Mom when she's at Dad's, and misses Dad when she's with Mom. She also must deal with change at school, with a new teacher. She longs for things to be the way they were before. But the book shows how she learns to be happy in this new life--she begins finding hearts, wherever she goes, on windows and in the shapes of leaves. She realizes she's loved wherever she goes. Such a beautiful message! I highly recommend this book.

[Kathleen Gauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartwarming, relatable story about a sweet little girl who is tired of having to go back and forth between her mommy's house and her dad's apartment. Although some things have stayed the same since her parents split up, she has had many other changes to adjust to in her life. She wonders why things can't be the way they were before. This is the perfect book for families going through separation and divorce. The soft pastel illustrations are realistic and pleasing and the text is engaging, inspiring and educational. Highly recommend!

[Linda Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kids hurting from their parents’ divorce will learn to look for the love that still surrounds them—even as so much is changing in their lives—with the help of this sensitively written story about loss. Author Nancy Tupper Ling gently guides a child with a broken heart through what it takes to accept the new and begin to heal: friends, pets, old routines, new adventures, time spent in nature, and their parents’ steady love. Rereads will further reward kids with the delights of Shirley Ng-Benitez’s mixed-media illustrations, where abundant hearts are hidden on every page.

[Keri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hearts in my Pocket is a relatable and heartwarming story exploring a child’s point of a view as she navigates the changes that come from having divorced parents. She explains her feelings, how sharing time with each parent in two different homes is not always easy, and new challenges may come with the adjustment period. However, the love around her is evident, as she’ll soon discover. Author, Nancy Tupper Ling, brings a relevant and hopeful message to children and shows them how, although some things change, there is still much love to experience.

[Mia Wenjen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A comforting story about divorce that feels like a warm hug!

For fans of The Invisible String, here is an uplifting and lyrical story about a young girl who learns to navigate her family’s divorce.” While Leilah learns to move back and forth between two worlds after her parents’ separation, she wonders if her heart will ever feel whole again. Then one day she finds a heart etched on a train window, and then another that fits inside her pocket. When she stops to really look, it turns out love is still surrounding her.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a tender and encouraging book for children experiencing Two Houses and wishing so much to have things back the way they were. The girl in the story begins to see love in the world in all kinds of places and accepts the reality of the new normal. Warm illustrations accompany the heartfelt emotions and ultimate satisfactory resolution. Important for every church or library where parents ask for help in these trying times.

[Caroline Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful, moving picture book about divorce. I wish this book had been around for my kids when I got divorced. It shows the ups and downs in an age-appropriate and moving way. The perfect book for both divorced parents to read to their children -- even if in separate homes. It raises and answers so many questions a child might have and also seems a wonderful springboard for discussions about love. It's a wonderful affirmation of love.

[Berrie Torgan-Randall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a compassionate and heart felt story of a girl who is mourning the loss of her routine after her parent's divorce. She misses the other parent when she is at one house and then the other. She comes to discover after finding hearts in hidden places that not everything is different, the color of the school cafeteria, her friends, and most especially how much her parent's love and support her.

[Li · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main character's parents divorce and she cannot understand why things can't be the way they were. Slowly her thinking and feelings shift when she discovers there are hearts all around her. This resonated with me because I struggled as a child and I also noticed hearts in nature and milk spills, etc. They felt like messages from the universe not to sink into despair. And this little girl discovers the same. She learns to appreciate the love all around her even if things can't be the same.

[Reading For Sanity · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life can feel uncertain at times, especially for children who can't always control the changes that come into their lives. ‘Hearts in My Pocket’ acknowledges the rollercoaster of emotions that children might feel when their family situation changes, and is a beautiful reminder that hope and happiness can be found on the other side of divorce. I'd recommend this book to any parent or child who might benefit from that message.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet book about a child working through their parents getting a divorce. Through the book they get used to splitting up their time, first finding joy and safety in old routines, and with time seeing more love everywhere they look.

I like that the character is allowed to grieve and have bad days, struggling with things not being like they were before. It did not minimize or gloss over how that transition can be hard on kids and take time.

[Rachel Britton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contains a beautiful, tender message for the child struggling to live in two different homes with parents who have separated. Nancy Tupper Ling doesn't rush to heal the heart of a child that is broken or has "the hole inside," but gently introduces the idea that love and hearts can be found everywhere. A story with lovely illustrations that can be read over and over again.

[Kerry Aradhya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the gentle lyricism and gorgeous handmade art in this picture book. Although it centers around a young girl navigating the separation of her parents, it is filled with love and a sense of togetherness. A heartfelt book to remind children going through any type of loss and/or change that love is a constant and that loved ones are always with us. Beautiful!

[J Bates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hearts in My Pocket is a beautifully illustrated picture book which shows that even when many things change, in this case due to divorce, some things stay the same. The lyrical text depicts the sadness of separation, but also the heartening realization that the love that was present before, is still there.

[Moni Ritchie Hadley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love the hopeful message of this book! Separation or divorce can be tough for kids, and this book does a wonderful job of acknowledging their feelings. The soft watercolor illustrations are just right for such a sensitive topic, and the hidden hearts throughout the book offer a sweet healing touch.

[Cindy Schrauben · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sweet story features a child navigating changes. Though the main character is dealing with the struggles of living in two homes, the universal message can easily be applied to children facing changes of all kinds. The heartfelt text and illustrations are amazing.

[Natasha Tripplett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely story about the complex feelings of missing the other parent while going back and forth between them. Divorce is difficult for children and this story does a great job of NOT glossing over the pain, but still offers the reader hope.

[Kelly Crull · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hearts in My Pocket is a powerful tribute to the power of love in the midst of big life changes. There are no easy answers here, but an honest picture of a child's choice to choose love as the best way forward.

[Songju Daemicke · Rating 5 out of 5]

A touching story for children experiencing their parent's divorcing. The main character eventually accepts her new life situation, begins to see love in the world around her, and realizes she's loved wherever she goes. A hopeful message. Highly recommended

[Erica Lyons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lyrical and beautiful book about the power of love. A young girl learns to navigate her parent's divorce by discovering that love is still all around her. It is an important book about weathering changes in life.

[mandy]

Good picture book for children going through a parental separation