20 Children's Books for Coping with a Parent Who Travels for Work
20 Children's Books for Coping with a Parent Who Travels for Work
Parenting is hard. When you become a parent you quickly realize it's a lot harder than you thought. Add on the stress of having one (or both) parents traveling regularly, or even occasionally, for work and you have a recipe for BIG EMOTIONS! The kids are probably having big feelings too. 😉
Books are a wonderful way for your kid(s) to learn to talk about their feelings. When kids see a character in a similar situation as their own, it helps them to feel less alone, and as a parent it can gently open the door to a deeper conversation. I've compiled a list of 20 books to help you and your kiddo navigate the hard emotions that come up when one parent has to be away over night or for multiple nights for work. {Be sure to read all the way to the end for a couple bonus books!} In my experience of searching out books for my own kids, I've found many are geared toward Military families. I've found those to be less relatable for my own kids, since their Dad is not in the military, but still often absent from our every day routine, and coming and going from our every day life way more often. I hope you find this list helpful as you help your kids navigate the ups and downs of a traveling parent.
The books in this list will help your child learn about their emotions and how their body feels when big feelings make their way to the surface. Some books shed light on the separation caused by a traveling parent, but highlight that their love abounds no matter what! I've included specific books focused on Mom traveling and others about Dad traveling.
I've broken the children's books down into several categories.
Handling Emotions
Separation from Loved Ones
Mom Traveling for Work
Dad Traveling for Work
Children's Books about Handling Emotions
1. The Color Monster
In this colorful story by Anna Llenas, the Color Monster wakes up feeling very confused. His emotions are all over the place; he feels angry, happy, calm, sad, and scared all at once! To help him, a little girl shows him what each feeling means through color. As this adorable monster learns to sort and define his mixed up emotions, he gains self-awareness and peace as a result, and your child can learn to describe their own emotions too! Your child will enjoy learning colors in a simple, friendly way and tap into both social-emotional growth along the way.
2. A Little SPOT of Emotion (box set)
A parent & teacher favorite way to teach emotional regulation and coping skills! Your kids will love them, too! Diane Alber has created a tool you will love for teaching your child to talk about their emotions using colorful and interactive "Spots". Kid friendly for a variety of ages starting as young as age 3. This is the first in a series of many SPOT books for teaching about emotions, feelings, and taking action.
Children's Books about Separation from Loved Ones
3. The Invisible String
With over 1.5 millions copies sold, "The Invisible String" by Patrice Karst is at the top of the list for helping children understand and cope with separation. This is a heart-warming story about love and the invisible connection among us all. It's a story of a Mother telling her children about the invisible string that connects us in a heartwarming picture book that explores the intangible connections we have with our loved ones and provides an opportunity for a deeper conversation about love.
4. When I Miss You
This book is great for the little ones in your family, recommended for ages 2-5, who might experience a bit of anxiety when they are separated from their mothers or fathers. In this cute book by Cornelia Maude Spelman, a young guinea pig expresses her distress when her mom and dad go away. Eventually, the young guinea pig realizes that sometimes she and her parents can't be together. When that happens, she discovers that others can help. "They can snuggle with me or we can play. It helps me to be warm and close to someone. They remind me that you'll be back."
5. You Go Away
Best for toddlers aged 2-4, this timeless children's classic from 1976 by Dorothy Corey, is a repetitive book with a simple story pattern that reinforces that while parents go away, they also come back again.
This is a great book for your littlest one to open up the conversation about mom or dad having to be gone for work, and reassuring your child that they will come home when they're done. Bonus: a board book version is available so you don't even have to worry it will get destroyed.
6. I Love You Near and Far
I Love You Near and Far is part of a 10 book "Snuggle Time" series by Marjorie Blaine Parker. Not only is this book great for a family with a traveling parent, it especially hits home if you live hundreds or thousands of miles away from your family and friends and your child doesn't get to see their Grandma & Grandpa or other loved ones regularly.
In this sweet rhyming story, written from a child's point of view, we see that even when family are not geographically near, they remain close to our heart.
7. Night Catch
Brenda Ehrmantraut has written a heart-warming story that will comfort any child who has a parent working overseas. Although this book is written with a Military deployment perspective, it's a wonderful story that can easily be adapted to fit a parent who works internationally.
Playing night catch with the stars will become a favorite bedtime ritual for you and your kids.
Children's Books about Mom Traveling for Work
8. When Mom Travels for Work
In this companion book to "When Dad Travels for Work", we experience a Mother traveling for work. While a mom is away on business, the rest of the family must work as a team to tackle chores. They might not all be fun, but being kind, supportive, and helpful is important. The story helps to explain to children that some parents must go away so they can provide for things like the food they eat. The author, Kristopher Goeden, highlights that just because mom is away on business, it doesn't mean she isn't thinking of you or missing you.
9. Mama's Business Trip Bunny's Staycation
A fun book for your littles ages 3-5, this colorful book takes Bunny on a series of adventures with Papa right at home - in the living room, the kitchen, and even the bathtub.
Bunny's Staycation is the perfect book for every family with travel-for-work Mamas or Papas. Kids and parents will laugh, cheer, and celebrate the wonders -- and happy challenges -- faced by families who are juggling the joys of stay-at-home fun and business trips.
10. Mama Travels for Work (Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood)
If you were a fan of Mister Roger's Neighborhood as a child, you and your own children will adore this story. In this adaptation of a cartoon episode, Daniel Tiger's friend Jodi is sad because her Mom has to go away on a business trip. Jodi's mom explains that parents always come back.
The book also includes a paper chain activity to help your little one count down the days until their own parent comes home from a work trip.
11. When Mommy Travels
This children's book is best suited for preschoolers and up. Your child will love the interactive flaps and you can use the activities in your own family to open up the conversation about Mommy (or Dad) traveling for work. It introduces concepts like email and video chat and counting days on a calendar and highlights special activities with Dad.
12. My Mommy's on a Business Trip
A top pick by Working Mother's Magazine, Phaedra Cucina has written a story any traveling mother can relate to as they navigate the experience with their own child. This book will help your child recognize that while Mom has to go away sometimes, she will come back.
If you are a business professional by day and a mom by night, this is the book for you!
Children's Books about Dad Traveling for Work
13. When Daddy Travels
Author Harriet Ziefert not only wrote When Mommy Travels, but has also written a version for Daddy traveling for work. Your preschooler will love this flap book. The story features regular activities kids do and how the other parent can certainly help with them, even if Daddy usually does the job. Your child will love learning how they can stay connected with their Dad while he's away on business and begin to count down the days until he comes home.
14. When Dad Travels for Work
"When Dad Travels for Work" by Kristopher James Goeden explains why parents work, what they do while they are gone, and how important their children are to them even when they're away. This is a delightful story for younger ones to understand that Dads miss their children, too. For older children, the book introduces concepts like why parents need to work and opens up the conversation to teach them to be helpful around the house. The companion book, "When Mom Travels for Work" is written by the same author and features a Mom traveling.
15. Countdown 'til Daddy Comes Home
Inspired by her experiences, author Kristin Ayyar shares how her family copes with the separations that are part of everyday life. Countdown 'til Daddy Comes Home is the story of a young boy waiting for his daddy to come home from a trip. To make their separation easier, his family creates rituals to stay connected and make the countdown fly by. After reading this warmly illustrated story you will find ideas on various ways to countdown 'til your daddy comes home. Discussion questions are provided to set expectations and alleviate any fears your child may have because of their parent's deployment or trip.
Get it here
16. Daddy, Will You Miss Me?
Written for children ages 2-4, but probably best for older children up to grade 3, this book is told from the perspective of a boy whose father travels to Africa for 4 weeks. The boy explores what he thinks his father is up to, while vowing to collect a special item each day that he's gone.
This story will open the conversation for you to explore specials ways your child can stay connected with their Dad during a temporary separation.
17. Zoe Bug's Traveling Dad
This fun story explores the imagination of Zoe Bug as she dreams about the wild adventures she thinks her Dad goes on while he's away for work. Her Dad sends postcards from all of his travels so Zoe can see where he's been and off to next.
Perhaps this book will help your child get creative and think of silly stories about their Dad's travels while he's way.
18. The Magic Box: When Parents Can't Be There to Tuck You In
In this cute story, best suited for ages 4 and older, Casey's dad has to go away for a couple of days...AGAIN! Casey hates it when his father has to travel. But this time Dad leaves behind a special gift that will help Casey cope with the absence, and with future trips as well.
This upbeat and charmingly illustrated book offers a handful of tips for families in which a parent is often away from home. I hope the story will inspire you and your kiddo to make your own Magic Box.
19. When Daddy Travels
A quick read for you and your kiddo, this is a story about a loving relationship between a father and his son was written by Cheryl Sherman. It shows how he handles missing his Father and what he does to pass the time until his Father returns.
20. Papa Brings Me the World
This beautifully illustrated book about a father who travels the world taking photographs will quickly become a family favorite! With each trip away, Lulu's father returns with a treasure and tales of his adventures for her.
Your child will quickly resonate with this story and it can help you explore the opportunity for your traveling parent to tell tales of their own and take those mundane travel days to the next level. A true way to connect with your kids.
No matter what your Sometimes Solo Parent situation is, I hope at least one book on this list helps you and your family to feel connected during the long days or weeks apart.
If you have found a favorite book about having a traveling parent, please drop me a message so I can share it with others, too!
Check out these bonus books, too!
Bonus Books:
Disney Frozen: Ready for Change from the Everyday Lessons Book Series
We love this book! My kindergartner picked it up at the book fair because... Frozen! I was pleasantly surprised by the message about handling separation and how we have to continue to live our lives even when we are apart. It's recommended for kids ages 3-7, but would definitely be a great read for older kids, too.
The Everyday Lessons series uses familiar and beloved Disney characters to teach social-emotional topics to kids, such as accepting differences, being polite, and trying new things.
Patrick Picklebottom and the Longest Wait
I came across this book recently and had to add it to this list. The illustrations are endearing and the colors are so vibrant! I think any child with a traveling parent can relate to "the longest wait". Before kids can truly grasp time, I imagine 5 days can seem like an eternity, but so can 2 days or 12 days, unless of course your days are filled with fun, then the time flies. I hope Patrick Picklebottom allows you and your family to find creative ways to pass the time while you await the return of your traveling parent!
Whew! We made it! That was a lot, I know.
I hope this list was helpful to you and your family as you navigate the unique lifestyle of having one or both parents traveling for work.
If you have a favorite here, or one that's not on this list that has become a go-to book for your family, I'd love to hear from you! Send me an email!
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