Preparing your child for a move can be challenging because children often have a hard time finding the right words to express their feelings. Reading books on moving is an ideal way to prepare your child for a move because the characters are also experiencing many of the same emotions your child is feeling and can easily relate to. To help make the moving process easier on your children, read books with them to open up a conversation on moving.

1.Geraldine by Elizabeth Lilly

Geraldine is upset about moving, and she becomes even more upset after she attends her new school where she discovers she’s the only giraffe. After struggling to fit in with her schoolmates, Geraldine is befriended by Cassie who also doesn’t have any friends, and together they form a new friendship built on their differences. This story is ideal for children struggling with making new friends or who are scared about changing schools.

2.Henry and Mudge and Annie’s Good Move by Cynthia Rylant

In this story, Henry and his dog Mudge welcome their new neighbor Annie by offering friendship and helping her settle in at her new house. Henry and Mudge learn about being kind to new neighbors and classmates, and Annie learns about making new friends and calming her nerves when starting a new school. Children will be delighted to read this book in the Henry and Mudge series and learn about the importance of friendship.

3.Little Home Bird by Jo Empson

Little Bird loves everything about his current home and doesn’t understand why everything has to change by moving to a new home. This book is excellent for talking about the reason behind a move and those good things can come because of a move. Your family might be moving for a new job, a better house, or to be closer to family, but children need to understand that it can be hard to say goodbye and make changes, moves can be a positive event in your family’s journey too.

4.The Berenstain Bears’ Moving Day by Stan and Jan Berenstain

In this classic children’s book, Brother Bear is anxious yet excited to leave his mountain cave home behind as the Bear family moves into their new treehouse. While Brother Bear is sad to leave his old house behind, he’s also happy to see what features his new house has. This book will help children understand that it’s okay to feel different emotions throughout the moving process, and it’s okay to have bittersweet feelings as you leave the old behind but are excited about the new changes ahead.

5.Big Ernie’s New Home: A Story for Children Who Are Moving by Teresa and Whitney Martin

From anger to anxiety, Big Ernie experiences a range of emotions when he is told that he is moving and must pack his belongings. Will he like his new room? Will he make friends at his new school? This children’s book is helpful because it talks about the different emotions associated with moving and how to make the adjustment easier.

6.A Piece of Home by Jeri Watts

In this children’s book, Hee Jun’s family moves from Korea to West Virginia, and he struggles with adjusting to a new language and culture while missing his home country. After playing at a friend’s house, Hee Jun spots a flower that he had at his Korean house, and he brings some back to his grandmother so they can have a piece of their old home in their new home. This book is perfect for children moving to a new country or even a different geographical region so they will understand that it’s okay to miss their home and mix their old home with their new home.

7.Yard Sale by Eva Bunting

For children struggling with letting go of their possessions, this children’s story is perfect and will reiterate that home is who you’re with, not what you have with you. Callie’s family is moving from her beautiful house to a small apartment, and her parents have organized a yard sale to sell the items they don’t have room for. As Callie struggles to let go of her belongings, she realizes that being with her family is more important than keeping all of her toys and books.

During the moving process, you should encourage your children to share their feelings with you, and reading books together is a wonderful opportunity to start the conversation.