What shines through this endearingly illustrated picturebook, is Phil Earle’s authentic representation of a familiar experience for many children going through a parental separation and divorce.
Florrie, our heroine, has no doubt that she is well loved by both parents, but what she is trying to adjust to is having two separate homes. It captures perfectly the joy in each relationships and then the difficulty in adjusting to change from one home to another. It powerfully and successfully leaves us in no doubt about the love and security each parent provides and gives a positive portrayal of how separated parents can work together to preserve the security and happiness of their child.
I am sure the idea of ‘magical’ keepsakes will be universally adopted by families going through exactly this transitional phase. This is an incredibly useful and engaging story to have in any Early Years setting. Florrie’s wise summation “If I don’t leave then I cannot come back, can I?" is a lesson to us all in changing negative thoughts to adjust and thrive.
Florrie has two of everything. Two lovely brothers . . . Two smashing parents . . . Two very cuddled pets. But two isn't always a magic number, as Florrie now has to live in TWO different houses: one with her mum . . . and one with her dad.
An uplifting picture book that helps young readers discuss their feelings around divorce and embrace change.
Phil Earle was born and raised in Hull and kick-started his love of books with a job as a children's bookseller. Phil now works in children’s publishing and is the award-winning author of several books for young readers including Get Me Out of Here, a recent collaboration with Andy McNab, and the young adult novels Being Billy, and Mind the Gap. Phil's When the Sky Falls was Waterstones Children's Book of the Month for June 2021.
