Once Upon My Dads' Divorce by Seamus Kirst is a great story to inspire conversation with a child experiencing the heartbreak of a family split up. It is very much a story with a purpose and not a hint of whimsy or fun. I wouldn't choose it for a storytime, but it could be very helpful for children who are in the situation of divorce or who are friends of kids in a family that is experiencing divorce. The characters in the story came from diverse backgrounds. The illustrations by Noemie Gionet Landry are very nice, in moderate tones and a solid style.

The parents in the story happen to be Daddy and Papa who are of different colors, but the anguish of the child is the same as for any child who is suddenly (catastrophically) faced with "shared custody". The illustrations by Noemie Gionet Landry (Canadian Illustrator) 🎨 are relatively simple yet dramatically emphasize the child's angst. There are facing pages of tips at the end of the story from Dr. Julia Martin Burch to help parents ease the transition.
Well suited for reading WITH someone of any age including ESL, and great for gifting to anyone, but especially to a school or your local public library!
I requested and received a free temporary e-book on Adobe Digital Editions from American Psychological Association/Magination Press via NetGalley. Thank you!

"Once Upon My Dads' Divorce" by Seamus Kirst is a heartfelt and much-needed addition to the realm of children's literature dealing with such a difficult family topic. This beautifully written and illustrated book presents the experience of divorce from a refreshing and important LGBTQ perspective. The inclusion of realistic and captivating illustrations by Noemie Gionet Landry only adds to the book’s charm and depth.

Representation matters! It's wonderful to see a book that shines a light on the day-to-day joys, triumphs, and even heartache that LGBTQ families go through – just like everyone else. In a political climate that often subjects these families to scrutiny and attempts to cast them in a negative light, this book stands as a beacon of positivity and understanding.

While the ending is a little too neatly tied up in a bow, and the final words of the story seem to come from a more mature viewpoint rather than that of a child, the book does an outstanding job of connecting with young readers, regardless of their family background. The relatable portrayal of the emotions and uncertainty that accompany the change that divorce brings will resonate deeply with any child going through a similar situation.

Seamus Kirst skillfully navigates the challenges of divorce, offering a tale that speaks to the hearts of children grappling with the breakup of their family. By showing that things will be different, but that different is also okay, the book achieves its main goal of providing reassurance to young readers during a tumultuous time. The narrative gently reminds us all that life goes on, and healing is possible. The important information for families at the end of the book by clinical psychologist Julia Martin Burch, PhD is a fantastic bonus to “Once Upon My Dads’ Divorce.”

This picture book is a great addition to any collection. It made me tear up and feel the love through the pages. It would probably get more love in a parenting collection, but just having it available will be a great help to children going through a divorce.

This is a gorgeously written, yet simple, picture book that deals with the topic of relationship breakdown in the context of a family with two fathers. Children could use the story as a fictional context to discuss issues and emotions related to separation and divorce, regardless of the gender of the parents. The illustrations pair beautifully with the text to create a special story that would be especially useful in a younger classroom where pupils might be experiencing similar changes at home.

I think this is a great book for any divorced parents of young kids. I like how it targeted two dads as many households there are same sex marriages now. The only thing is this book is for a bit older child audience which probably was intended for

Divorce is heart-wrenching for all children, whether they’re biological or adopted, parented by straight parents or gay. Papa and Daddy are divorcing, and Grayson feels overwhelmed by all the changes: selling the joint house, and visiting Papa at his new apartment and Daddy at his new (and smaller) house. “And neither place felt like my real home!” Grayson laments. At one point, Grayson — as so many children do — fears he may be the cause of the divorce.

Seamus Kirst’s story would be reassuring to any child whose parents are splitting up, regardless of the parents’ race, gender or orientation. Parents and children alike will love Noémie Gionet Landry’s fitting illustrations.

Adults will really, really appreciate Dr. Julia Martin Burch’s Reader’s Note, which walks parents through the divorce process with great advice and a warning about pitfalls. So highly recommended not just to divorcing parents but to libraries for children to read for themselves and for parents who aren’t divorcing to explain divorce to their own children, since divorce is pretty commonplace at every age level.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley, Magination Press and the American Psychiatric Association in exchange for an honest review.

I appreciate how unusual it is to have a divorce story with a multiracial, gay family but this book lacked the nuance that would support a reader also dealing with divorce. While the issues the protagonist brings up are undoubtedly real, they weren’t handled with enough care to ensure that the reader wouldn’t leave the book feeling more upset or hopeless about their family’s divorce. I am hopeful that there will be more books that deal with divorce more carefully that also have great representation in them.