Change Is Okay with Kacie Shay: A Story About a Family

by Jolie Carpenter Berry

Growing up in a nice family that does fun things together, Kacie is sad and confused when confronted with the announcement of her parents’ separation and divorce. She discovers, with the help of her mother, that she is not the only child who is faced with this situation and learns that talking about her feelings and keeping a positive attitude can make her feel better. The lighthearted tone of this narrative makes an otherwise harsh subject more approachable and can help guide a child through the process of change from an age-appropriate point of view. Painting a picture of a loving union and an amicable ending, this tale demonstrates that a sad situation can still yield a happy ending.

Genres: Realistic Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published July 9, 2010

Reviews

[Shelby Shimono]

This book is a good book for children to process and understand how parent's relationship changes sometimes. I am grateful for books like this because it normalizes and expands on how parents' separation affects their kid but this situation doesn't mean they are bound to be sad, everything can turn out, all right.

[Alexandria Mizell]

This is SUCH a cute book!! The illustrations are cute and look like watercolor. I think that this book is great for kids who are in the middle of their parents divorce. I love that the book rhymes while walking you through a story of divorce. It brings a positive feeling to the story.

[Katherine Johnson]

"Change Is Okay with Kacie Shay: A Story About a Family" by Jolie Carpenter Berry was about a girl whose parents got a divorce. It's an excellent open book about divorce and the outcome and how it is about the parents, not the kid(s).

[Alex Gonzalez]

I really liked hearing about this book because it can show the care freeness of a child and it is to be a child. This Book talks about why it is important for a family to stay together and take care of eachother.

[Jerod]

This is a very good book to explain different feelings that students may be going through in your classroom, allowing other students to feel empathy towards students in the class. Through the story, the main character finds out that talking about your feelings to your parents is ok.

[Myla Kaleta]

This book was very good. It was differently targeted to a certain audience but I think all kids could read it.

[Ana Fogg]

I really enjoyed reading this story and I think it does a beautiful job of talking about divorce/separation between parents to young kids. This would be a great way to introduce the topic to children either in the classroom or before telling your own children that you are separating or getting a divorce. The illustrations are very beautiful and sweet. Highly recommend!

[Kelly Woodward]

I think this book was a good way to explain hard topics to young kids who struggle with family issues at home. It can help make them not feel alone when they are going through tough family problems.

[Elizabeth Kysa Sedivy]

This book is about how Kacie Shay’s parents are going through a divorce, and how it seemed strange at first but in the end the change made everyone happier. It can relate to a lot of people and families out there that are going through a similar thing. It can be a good starter book to open up the discussion with children if families are going through a divorce where it shows an example of a happy lively family where it worked out in the end. The pages are illustrated in a cartoon like manner where it is not exactly realistic, but very child friendly and the color palate choice was good. It lightens up what could be a very emotional trying experience for children and how there are benefits to going through such an ordeal. This is great for a lesson on families for a classroom as well, and can help to sensitive students to what others may be going through.

Carpenter, J., & Safar, L. (2010). Change Is okay with Kacie Shay. Plano, Tex: Signature Pub. Group.

[Jannell Johnson]

I really liked this book because it gave a positive light to parents separating. I wish this was read to me as a kid because I would have had a more positive outlook on my parents separating as well. Instead of hiding parental separation I feel that this is a good way to inform the child without placing too much pressure on them.