MY TWO CHRISTMAS TREES

A child navigates Yuletide amid Mom and Dad’s impending divorce.

The young narrator’s parents will soon be living in two separate homes, which means two different Christmas trees. Mom and Dad are reassuring, reminding the little one that “We love you very much!” and “We’ll always be your family.” But change is hard for the child, who longs for the old tree with its special family photo ornament. Eventually tears ensue as the little one confides, “I hate new traditions,” but the family faces the ups and downs together, and the child ultimately enjoys the day, surrounded by loving family and filled with hope. Ciccio, a children’s mental health practitioner, never glosses over the protagonist’s complicated, uncomfortable feelings, nor does he depict characters returning to traditions of Christmases past. A note addressed to caregivers explains the importance of creating new memories during a divorce. The first-person narration centers the youngster’s perspective, fears, and anxieties; children and parents looking for a reflection of their own experiences will find this tale valuable. Van Lindenhuizen’s illustrations are simple and soft, capturing the action described in the text. The family is pale-skinned.

Honest and reassuring, undoubtedly helpful and meaningful to families.