Hannah's Two Homes

Hannah’s Two Homes: Life in a "blended" family; a 5 year old's perspective is a work of fiction geared to a pre-K to second grade level.  ​It is an "easy reader" picture book that can be read to a child or, due to its simple sentence structure and vocabulary, might be read by the child who is at a beginning independent reading level.

​The story represents the thoughts of five-year- old Hannah, who splits her life between her Mom’s and Dad’s residences and her two sets of step-parents, half brothers and half sisters. In the book, Hannah is sharing what she might be thinking if her emotions were “given a voice.” It can be the springboard from which the reader—parent, grandparent, teacher, therapist, or social worker - can begin a discussion and show their compassion for the child’s unique situation while gaining some valuable insights into their child’s feelings. It is unique in its genre because the word "divorce" is never mentioned in the book.  This makes it more inclusive of, and relevant to, BOTH the 20% of married couples who are now divorced, and the 50% of never married couples, who are still co-parenting children under 9 years old.   It is a story of hope, coping, and ultimately, the healing power of love.

Review by Minty Kidz
Hannah's Two Homes Read Aloud (Youtube)
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​Hannah's Two Homes was a Finalist in the Chanticleer International Book Awards contest in the Little Peeps Early Learner Division.
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Melodie Tegay, Author

 Melodie Tegay was born in New York City. She is the mother of two adult children and a grandmother of six.  She is a retired primary school teacher with thirty three years in public education.  She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in the fields of social work, psychology and education.

Not finding any easy reader children's books that reflected the often dissolved, informal, reconfigured, culturally diverse and interfaith families in which a majority of her students lived, Melodie decided to write a book which addressed their reality.​ She is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

Melodie currently lives with her husband on Long Island, New York. 
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Reviews:
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"Hannah is a 5-year-old girl whose parents are divorced and remarried.  In simple, easy-to-understand sentences, Hannah describes her life with her parents and her 'extra daddy' and 'extra mommy,' her younger siblings, pets and family holidays. Her Christian mother and Jewish father celebrate holidays like Passover and Easter, Christmas and Hanukkah in their homes with Hannah; the whole family comes together to celebrate Hannah's birthday.  Hannah knows that she's always loved, no matter whose house she's living in.  A good beginning for younger readers to understand what it means when parents divorce:  that there's always a place for them, that sometimes parents will marry other people and have other children, but that they are always loved.  Addressing fears and concerns with a comforting 'I've been there' voice in Hannah, Hannah's Two Homes is a good additional purchase for collections." - Rosemary Kiladitis, Mom Read It Review
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"In this small but charming story, Hannah divides her time between her divorced parent's homes. Each family has other children and Hannah feels loved by all her family members.  This is a reassuring book for children who may be in the same situation and it may also be a spark for discussion for children who face similar circumstances.  The simple language and colorful pictures make this a very appealing book." - Amazon Review
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"This beautifully crafted book is perfect for the classroom or as an addition to your home library. The story is honest and one that any child who has experienced a divorce or separation can connect to.  The story would make a great starting point for conversations with children about how their home life can change but the love their parents feel for them remains unchanged." - Amazon Review 

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