My Parents Are Divorced, My Elbows Have Nicknames, and Other Facts about Me Book

Ted's parents are divorced, but that's just one fact about him. The fact that he has named his elbows Clyde and Carl? Or that Ted walks around with soap in his hair and likes to squawk like a chicken on the phone? Now, that's definitely weird.

As shown in this lighthearted yet heartfelt account, life with divorced parents isn't always easy, but above all Ted knows he's loved and there's nothing weird about that at all.

School Library Journal

Gr 1-4

This story uses humor to help children cope with the issue of divorce. Ted, the quirky narrator, shares many facts about himself that he concedes others might consider "weird"-he has nicknames for his elbows, he sleeps with one sock on, and he likes to answer the phone by pretending to be a chicken. The one thing that he knows is not weird is that it will take time to accept his parents' divorce. He is sad when he thinks of them not being together and, while he enjoys spending time with them individually, he wishes that they were still a family. The story ends with Ted realizing that no matter how weird he may be, he knows that his parents love him. Ted has a believable voice that children will recognize, either personally or as they observe friends in similar situations. The colorful cartoons add to the upbeat nature of the story and make a serious subject a little easier to swallow. Many adults will appreciate this book's message and will want to use it as a springboard for discussion in both home and school settings.-Maura Bresnahan, High Plain Elementary School, Andover, MA