The Step-Tween Survival Guide: How to Deal With Life in a Stepfamily

Author: Lisa Cohn

Type or emotional/crisis issue addressed: relationship with parents

Year of Publication: 2008
Publisher and Location: Free Spirit Publishing, Minneapolis, MN
# ISBN-10: 1575422972
# ISBN-13: 978-1575422978
Target Age Level: 9-12
# of Pages: 121
Quality of Illustrations: very good

Brief Summary:
This book lets teens know they are not alone, helps them identify and express their feelings, and teaches them how to effectively communicate their wants and needs. The format includes illustrations, quizzes, advice from other stepkids, "survival tools" to use when the going gets rough, and suggestions for what to do when nothing else seems to be working.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children:
With The Step-Tween Survival Guide, tweens will gain the skills and inspiration to both survive and thrive in a stepfamily.

Activity:
. complete the quizzes on the book
. Mini-dramas – present a conflictive situation and allow students to prepare a quick play showing a solution to the conflict.
Posted by Nalu de Araujo Nunes

Hunting Grandma's Treasures

Author: Gina Willner-Pardo

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Death, Grandparent, Family Relationship

Year of Publication: 1996

Publisher & Location: Clarion Books: New York

ISBN#: 0-395-68190-1

Target Age Level: Upper Elementary

# of Pages: 35

Quality of Illustrations: Colorful, but do not show a lot of detail.

Brief Summary: Kevin's grandmother is dying, but before she dies, she leaves a secret with him. After her death, Kevin reveals that the secret is a treasure hunt that all the grandchildren will go on during the summer at Wrigley Lake. During their time at the lake, Kevin and his family talk about what things are different and are the same after Grandma's death.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children: This is a short chapter book that does a good job at describing how the different family members respond to their grandmother's death in different ways.

Activities:

1. Have the students write down things they remember doing with person that passed away, or things they learned from that person. Discuss how although some things may be different because of their death, other things stay the same.
   
2. If your loved one sent you on a treasure hunt, what would your treasure be? Have the students create their own treasure hunt.

Now One Foot, Now the Other

Author: Tomie dePaola

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: illness in family

Year of Publication: 2005

Publisher & Location: Putnam Juvenile

ISBN#: 0399242597

Target Age Level: preschool, lower elementary

# of Pages: 48

Quality of Illustrations: Excellent

Brief Summary: Bobby's grandfather, Bob, teaches him to walk and play as he is growing up. When Bob suffers a stroke, Bobby learns to return the favor, even though it is awkward and different at first.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children: This one hit close to home for me, but is a simple and beautiful book for anyone who has/had a parent or grandparent with a sudden or debilitating illness.