El divorcio de mama y papa oso / The bear mom and dad divorce

by Cornelia Maude, Kathy Parkinson (Illustrator), Cristina Puerta (Translator)

Dinah Bear feels sad and scared when her parents say they are going to divorce.

Genres: Divorce, Childrens, Picture Books

24 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Karen Hurtado · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tqm mi Dina, te mando un abrazo

[Diana Borja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Te quiero mucho Dina.
Hubiera querido leer este librito en mi infancia. Seguro me habría hecho entender muchas cosas.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

2023 Popsugar Reading Challenge: A book about divorce.

[Lin Lin]

Kids always feel sad and scared when parents are divorced. This easy reader shows children both parents still love Dinnah after their divorce. The sensitivity, emotion, and fear of the children are masterfully addressed.

[Rosario · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dina es una osita que enfrenta un gran cambio en su vida, el divorcio de sus padres. Este libro está escrito de manera clara, lo que permite comprender y evidenciar rápidamente cómo es el proceso del divorcio de estos padres, con lo que muchos lectores se pueden identificar. Las ilustraciones son adecuadas para comprender el libro, porque muestran la vida cotidiana de una familia de osos, como por ejemplo los objetos favoritos de Dina, que le gusta hacer, etc. Por otro lado, las expresiones faciales son fáciles de interpretar, por ejemplo cuando los padres les dicen a sus hijas que se van a divorciar. Algo que mejoraría, sería que en la historia las hermanas nunca ven venir la separación de sus padres, por lo que añadiría ilustraciones previas al divorcio para así hacerlo más cercano a la realidad. Se recomienda a partir de los 3 años.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this book 4 stars because it does a nice job of walking the young reader through a very difficult topic. The little bear in the story is very sad because her parent's are getting a divorce. The book discusses some common fears that children have when told that their parents are not going to live together anymore, and it is told from this young characters perspective. I believe that this is a good book to read to a child who is experiencing such a challenge. It is a great conversation starter about such a difficult situation.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet and simple one for the 3-6 set. It's got cute art (I feel like animals are more comforting when talking about serious topics- might just be me, though). The mom and dad don't fight; but it does still reflect some of the negative aspects for a young child in a divorce ("sometimes on Saturdays Daddy was busy... one time he couldn't pick them up when he said," and missing the other parent) But it definitely emphasizes that the child is still loved- which I think is the most important message for the very young.

[Paulina ෂ · Rating 4 out of 5]

¡Qué bonito libro! Mis papás no son divorciados pero aún así me agarró un sentimiento muy fuerte al leerlo.

La brevedad no es siempre una excusa para dejar de transmitir el mensaje y en compañía de Dina vemos la tristeza y miedo de vivir la separación de los padres, pero también el camino -no tan fácil- a la aceptación y que no por estar separados, se quiere menos a aquellos que habitan en el corazón.

[Naomi Ledesma · Rating 5 out of 5]

El divorcio puede ser un proceso duro, en especial cuando se tienen hijxs. No solo implica que los adultos pasen un duelo, sino las y los niños también.

Este cuento es ideal para explicar o poner sobre la mesa lo que sucederá durante y después de un divorcio sin dejar de lado que Mamá y Papá siempre serán Mamá y Papá, que este suceso no cambiará el amor que sienten hacia sus crías.

[Veronica Molina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Preciso, sencillo, bajado a tierra. Un tema muy difícil puesto en palabras cotidianas y situaciones de rutina para empatizar con la osita protagonista.
Ilustraciones perfectas, que acompañan y complementan con detalles la narración.
Clave para familias que pasan por un divorcio.

[Lucía Nina · Rating 5 out of 5]

El tema del divorcio es introducido de una manera en la que se contrasta la vida antes y después del divorcio permitiendo comprender que los cambios no son tan graves y que todo continúa igual pese a ese nuevo cambio.
Una historia muy conmovedora, me hizo llorar.

[Fatima Seraj Alam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recently read another book on a child going through parent’s separation and this book had the same vibe. Sad that all parties go through the wringer when something like this happens but reading such books will make confused children understand and not feel alone.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, I like the story better in this one, even if there is one sentence at the end that is worded a little confusingly to me. I do wish it had a bit more of a parents guide to it.

[Her van Dav · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un ameno cuento para ayudar a los niños cuyas familias a traviesan por el divorcio.

[alexa 🎧]

Justo en mis daddy issues

[Cata Repetto]

Lpm lo que llore

[Timothy Morrison]

This is so emotionally awkward

[Ixchel Cardoso · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh claro que marcaré esta lectura 🤣

[Erika HerO✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple y en pocas paginas se entiende el proceso de divorcio cuando tus padres son civilizados y brindan el apoyo a los hijos.

[Kassandra]

After reading this book out-loud to my sister, I realized that this can be a tougher book for young adults who have experienced divorce in their own family. It tries to make the hardships of divorce into easier concepts for younger children to understand such as why dad is longer around all the time or having to be separated from one parents on some nights. Divorce rates are high and it's important to teach young children that are experiencing this what they might encounter. I am not sure how I feel about this being taught in a school, I don't want to make children cry but I do recommend this book to parents who want to teach their kids about different topics. It would help any child process their emotions and feelings towards these new changes and a parents would be able to comfort the child reading it and be able to provide them with the correct resources to help them overcome this tragic event in their lives.

[Lucy Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very sweet reading. It is very hard for a little one to understand why daddy or mommy has to live in different houses. This situation should be explained to them in very easy words. Reassure them that they are not losing a parent. The message is that no matter where the parents live, they will always love their children and be very important of his or her life.

Extension:
Right now I am having that situation in one of my families. The child looks very sad, he does not want to participate in any of the activities. However, I have to be comforting him very often and make him feel really important, not only in my facility, but also, with his family. I talk to him all the time and let him know that he is priority for their parents.

[Gina Diloreto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spelman, C. "Mama and daddy bear's divorce". (1998). Chicago: Albert Whitman & Company.

This book helped my children deal with my divorce from their father. They were so young, that I felt a book could help them understand their emotions and feelings. This book accomplished that well.

[Nicoeduca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edad recomendada: 3 a 6 años
Tema: Divorcio
Me ha gustado, trata de una manera muy simple y sencilla este tema, dejando muy claro y por encima de todo que, aunque las familias se separen, no tienen por qué significar que deje de haber amor sobre todo por los hijos.

[Renzo Limon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hermoso libro infantil. Las ilustraciones junto con las moralejas hacen de este libro algo genial.

[Lupita Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un cuento súper tierno que puede ayudar a los niños a comprender que el amor de sus padres no se evapora después de un divorcio. ¡Recomendable!

[Tina Cerami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sadly, divorces are very common in this day and age, and for many children this needs to be explained to as easy as possible. This book tells the story of Dinah and her three favorite people-her mama, her daddy, and her big sister Ruth. One day, Dinah's parents tell her that they are getting divorced meaning that they will not be living together anymore. No matter what, her mama is always her mama, and her daddy is always her daddy. As the story continues, readers get to see Dinah's experience with spending the week days with her mom and the weekends with her papa. Though sometimes her papa cannot take her and her sister on the weekends, but they will see each other on the next one.
This is relatable to any child that has to deal with divorce. While this is a hard topic to discuss with children and teach them about, this book makes it an easy way to do so. The illustrations on this I thought were very creative and the idea of using bears instead of people made it fun. I gave this a four star rating because I do like the way that they interpret divorce and the experience of a child having to go through it.

[Jacqueline Materna]

Title: Mama and Daddy Bear’s Divorce
Author: Cornelia Spelman
Genre: Nontraditional Picture Book
Theme(s): divorce, bears, coping,

Opening line/sentence: “Dinah had three favorite people--her mama, her daddy, and her big sister, Ruth.”

Brief Book Summary:
Dinah’s life is perfect and filled with all of her favorite things, until the day her parents sit her and sister down and explain the meaning of a divorce. Now Dinah is left to accept the change that is come but sees that even though things are occurring at different times and in different places, they are still happening with her family and both her mama and daddy love her no matter what.

Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Kathy Broderick (Booklist, December 1, 1998 (Vol. 95, No. 7))
Spelman, a social worker, has written a book on divorce for the very youngest children, trying to reassure them that although both parents will not be living with them, both parents will always love them. As she states in her opening note to grown-ups, "As children grow they can understand more complex reasons for the divorce." Parkinson's colored-pencil-and-watercolor illustrations show Mama, Daddy, Ruth, and Dinah together in the beginning, and then after the divorce, Ruth and Dinah visiting Daddy in his own home. Dinah, the younger sibling, doesn't like the changes, but her feelings are acknowledged and respected. And eventually she comes to understand that "Ruth would always be her sister, her daddy would always be her daddy, and her mama would always be her mama. And they all loved her very much." A sensitive book that should have wide use.

Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Mary Hamilton (Children's Literature)
Dinah has three favorite people--her mama, daddy, and big sister Ruth. The four enjoyed many family activities together, such as going to the beach, taking walks and making bread. Then one day Mama and Daddy said they were going to get a divorce. This made Dinah very sad until she realized that, although her life will be different in many ways, both mama and daddy still love her very much. This story of divorce, as seen through Dinah's eyes, is written for young children in simple language. The colorful illustrations add to the appeal of the book. The book begins with a note to grown-ups on how best to explain divorce to the very young. A good book for anyone facing divorce with young children.


Response to Two Professional Reviews:
Broderick and Hamilton both do a great job and conveying the powerful message that this book seeks and accomplishes to address and relay. As divorce has become a bigger issue in today’s society, I think it’s a great idea to have this book for children who are the ones going through this divorce along with their parents. I agree with the fact that it does a great job in wording and phrasing it in a way that is appropriate for a child to hear and explains the situation, as well as how while things might be different, they’re all still a family. Hamilton states, “This made Dinah very sad until she realized that, although her life will be different in many ways, both mama and daddy still love her very much”, a very compelling aspect of the story and something that the children who read or are read this story to will hopefully pick up on and understand more clearly.

Evaluation of Literary Elements:
For a picture book, I think Spelman does an incredible job in incorporating and carrying out different aspects of literary elements to include within the story. She lays the foundation in explaining Dinah’s loves for her family and favorite things, as well as how happy she is to do these different activities with her mother, her father, and her sister. The best part is the way she addresses the problem of divorce and admits the feelings of the character. The initial sad reaction and worrisome for the change that is to come is something expected of children and the fact that it is written in allows the children to identify with this book, but also hopefully benefit from the resolution and seeing that even though they’re not all always there together, they’re still a family and still love one another.

Consideration of Instructional Application:
As this story deals with divorce and the fact that not all, or even not most, of your students, will be coming from a family with divorced parents, a way to incorporate this would be to have children write down their three favorite people and their three favorite things, similar to what Dinah did in the beginning of the story. With this, children can show their individuality and how different each one’s family, or favorite people, are from one another. This activity can be completed with a drawing of their favorite people and things to be hung around the room for everyone to see the uniqueness. It serves to show that even though we are all different, whether we have divorced parents, married parents, two moms, two dads, or what not, we all have things that we adore and know that we are adored back by these things as well.