10 Children’s Books about Moving
10 Books for Children about Moving
The transition of moving to a new home can be a scary time, especially for your child. It can be hard to understand what is happening, or how things are going to change. Having to say goodbye to your friends and make new ones can be really challenging. While it’s important to have these talks with your children before moving, books can be a great supplement to these conversations. These 10 books about moving follow themes of moving, relocating, saying goodbye to friends, and finding happiness in a new home.
We’ve also written an in-depth guide on how to move with kids, with tips for preparing them before, during, and after the move. If you are nervous about how your child will handle the move, we recommend you check it out!
1. The Berenstain Bears’ Moving Day
This book is an absolute classic. It follows the Berenstain Bears as they move from their old home to a new home in a new place. Through Brother Bear, the story explores the feelings of being sad and scared of moving to a new home but resolves with excitement for the adventures that await the family.
2. Alexander Who’s Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move
This book follows Alexander, who is not ready to leave his home and friends just yet. Alexander shows us that even though change is hard and we might not want to do it, we have to keep an open mind. If your child is struggling with the idea of change or leaving friends behind, this would be a good read.
3. A House for Hermit Crab
This book, written by Eric Carle, follows Hermit Crab as he leaves the shell he has outgrown to find a larger one. This is a great story about accepting change and saying goodbye to friends without addressing the topic of moving as head-on as some other moving books.
4. Moving House
This book is a more simple, straightforward way of explaining the moving process to your children. Unlike some other children’s books about moving that explore the character’s conflicting feelings about moving, this book focuses on the positive aspects of moving.
5. Moving Day! (Helping Hands Series)
Moving Day! is aimed toward teaching younger children about the process of moving and getting them excited to help with the move. Through simple, understandable text, the story makes packing fun and helps explain packing and moving to young children.
6. The Good-Pie Party
The Good-Pie Party follows friends Posy, Megan, and Mae as they navigate the hardships of saying goodbye to a best friend. This book is a good read for kids, particularly girls, who are having a hard time saying goodbye to their friends. It acknowledges the importance of good friends, good memories, and the perfect goodbye.
7. I Like Where I Am
This is a good book for kids who are having a hard time with the idea of moving to a new place. I Like Where I Am follows a 6-year-old boy as he navigates the way he feels about his family moving to Little Rock.
8. Ben Says Goodbye
We’ve included this book for children who have a best friend moving away. While there are many children’s books about moving, few acknowledge the difficult feelings of the friend that is left behind. In this book, Ben’s friend Peter moves away. Ben escapes to a cave (under his kitchen table) and works through his feelings, finally emerging the cave ready to make new friendships.
9. Moving by Fred Rogers
Fred Rogers from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood has delicately handled teaching children about many topics over the years. In Moving, Mister Rogers thoroughly describes the process of moving. In true Mister Rogers fashion, he also makes sure to take the time to acknowledge the uncertainty, sorrow, and excitement of moving your child may be experiencing.
10. Two Nests
Two Nests tackles the difficult topic of moving because of divorce. The story reassures children that they can go between two loving homes and still have happy, loving relationships with both parents. The story is told through a bird going between the two nests of his parents.
While the process of moving is never easy for a young child, having a character they can relate to can help them navigate their own feelings. Take the time to sit down with your child and read them one of these children’s books about moving. Answer any questions they have, and explain how the character in the book is similar to your child. It may be difficult at first, but eventually, they will settle into their new life, and their book will be there for them to remind them of the memories of moving. For more tips on moving, check out our other blog posts.
