As a military family, we move on average every three years. We do our best to be optimistic and have a positive attitude towards it. Moving represents new adventures and experiences, but it also means saying goodbye to everything that is familiar. Moving can take its toll physically, mentally, and emotionally on the whole family.
I spent my whole childhood in the same house. I have no idea what it is like to move from a child's perspective. Fast forward to now, and my children have already moved four times in nine years. It's easier when they are babies, as they can't really process what is happening. But the older they get, the more difficult it is to move when the time comes.
When moving time rolls around the corner, we talk to our children a lot. We ask them how they feel, and we hype them up for the move telling them all the amazing things that await us.
Books related to moving are a good way to help children maneuver all the feelings that come up with relocating. In this post, I have made a list of several books that may help parents and caregivers in guiding their children through the process of moving and saying goodbye to beloved neighbors and friends. *This post may contain affiliate links and I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases*
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by Stan Berenstain
Reading age: 2 - 4 years
Includes over 50 bonus stickers!
The Berenstain Bears are moving from the mountains to a tree house. Join them as they pack up and say their goodbyes to their beloved friends.
by Stephanie Ledyard
Reading age: 4 - 8 years old
Discover the true meaning of "home" with this heartfelt picture book beautifully illustrated by former Pixar animator Chris Sasaki. As a family moves from their familiar house, they learn they can bring everything they love about their old home to the new one. They might be leaving behind a house, but they still have each other.
by Booke Mahaffey
Welcome to The Dandelion Club! A club that is exclusive to military children. Did you know that the dandelion is the flower of the military child? That is because it is able to put down roots nearly anywhere and it is practically indestructible. In I'm A Dandelion: A PCS Story for Military Children, the author validates the feelings and emotions that military children may experience in the face of a PCS move. Throughout the story, the characters discover the excitement and benefits (the positive side) of moving.
by Brenda Li
Moving can make your child sad, scared, worried, and/ or nervous. This book hilariously makes moving fun by introducing your child to coping strategies to help with the big move. Brian, a pig in jeans, is hesitant about moving into a new neighborhood. Naturally, he does not want to leave his familiar home, change schools, and lose his friends. As the story unfolds, he discovers that there is room in his life for old and new friends. He can, in fact, maintain a connection to his old friends while making new friends.
by Meg Medina
Reading age: 5 -7 years old
Evelyn Del Rey and Daniela are best friends. They do everything together. They live close to each other, but not after today, today Evelyn is moving away. As her family packs up, the girls play until it's time to say their goodbyes. They promise each other they will always keep in touch.
by Pat Zietlow Miller
Reading age: 4 - 8 years
Moving can be an uncertain, and maybe even scary time for kids. They will be saying goodbye to neighbors and worrying about making new friends. This picture book inspires young readers to be brave no matter what they are facing.
by Natalie Lee Martin
Reading age: 5 - 8 years
Bella and Anna are navigating all the things that come with relocating, such as anxieties about starting in a new school, and the difficult task of saying goodbye to old friends.
Do We Have to Move is a multicultural children's book filled with vibrant and bold illustrations, and makes a wonderful gift for military kids or kids of families who relocate frequently.
by Alessandra Cassel
Reading age: 1 - 5 years old
Somebody is moving into Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. Moving into a neighborhood and starting in a new school can be scary. Luckily, Daniel Tiger is there to make his new neighbor feel at home. It is a wonderful story for kids who are moving, and for kids who are welcoming a new neighbor or a new student.
by M A Heusdens
Reading age: 0 - 7 years
When Petie the chicken discovers that he will be moving to a new home, he begins to feel nervous about the upcoming change. Throughout the story, he learns that change is nothing to be scared of. In fact, in Petie's case, change turned out to be a very good thing.
by Sally Hopgood
Reading age: 2 - 5 years
Tortoise has his bags packed and is almost ready to set out on his adventure, but he can't leave until he says goodbye to each and every one of his animal friends. See You Later Alligator is a silly, bright and engaging story with rhyming texts that children will want to read over and over again.