This list is a collection of book recommendations on blended families. There are picture books for younger children, as well as some bigger reads and novels for an older audience. The topics covered vary but are books about families that are somehow different from the norm - a complicated family, books about divorce, and successful stepfamily stories. The books cover the positive aspects of being part of a family that may look different than others.
1. Florence and Her Fantastic Family Tree by Judy Gilliam
Florence is asked to do a family tree for a class project. However, she does not have a typical family. You see her family is big, with 6 parents and children. A lovely book for children that explores stepfamilies and how wonderful having a big family can be!
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2. A Handful of Buttons by Carmen Parets Luque
A wonderful book for young children that uses buttons as ways to introduce family diversity. The book discusses types of families such as blended, divorced, and adopted families.
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3. My Blended Family by Sharon Kelly
A nice book for blended black families, the main character is Carter, a young black boy. He walks you through his family and his relations with his new family helps. Will help children better understand different family structures.
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4. A Crocodile in the Family by Kitts Black
An adorable book with colorful illustrations that keep the reader engaged. Two birds find a lone egg and take it in. When it hatches, they find that it was not a bird, but a croc! A nice book to use when talking about adoption because young children can access the message.
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5. Remixed by Arree Chung
This is the second book in a series by an Asian author, Arree Chung. His first book Mixed focuses on how when colors (families) mix, they make different, yet wonderful colors. In Remixed it focuses on celebrating blended families.
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6. My Mommy is MY Mommy by Brandi Myers Dornon
This is an insightful book for when children have to "share a parent". When your parent gets into another relationship where there are other children, it can be a difficult time for kids. They often don't want to share their parent.
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7. Madelie by Ludwig Bemelmans
A classic book that has been around for decades! Madeline teaches children that families come in different packages - even orphans have a family!
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8. Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery
By bestselling author, this popular book tells of the quirky Anne (with an E), who is adopted by a family. Except, they didn't want a girl. A compelling story about a young girl who takes attainable steps to make them realize, she belongs in their family!
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9. The Do-over by Jennifer Torres
A great upper-elementary or middle-grade book on trying to get divorced parents back together, Tow sisters, who are children of divorce, are stuck living with their father during the pandemic. They see this as the perfect chance to get mom and dad back together...but turns out dad has a new girlfriend already living there...
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10. Me and Ms. Too by Laura Ruby
Ms. Too is a librarian. Molly loves Ms. too and she is her favorite librarian ever! That is until she starts dating her dad. Molly was always used to it being just her and dad. A story about adding a new parent and building relationships.
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11. My Rotten Stepbrother Ruined Cinderella by Jerry Mahoney
There are many disappointments of stepfamily life, like having a rotten stepbrother who ruins your report. The two step-siblings get stuck in the fairytale and will need to learn to work together to escape!
Learn More: Good Reads
12. Love Like Sky by Leslie C. Youngblood
This debut author tackles the subject of a new blended family and moving to a new home. Two sisters are unsure about this new blended family thing. But then the youngest sister, Peaches, gets really sick. Mom and dad start fighting again and it is up to G-Baby to make things right so Peaches can get better!
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13. Like Jake and Me by Mavis Jukes
A bestselling book that tells about a common stepfamily challenge - trying to relate to a stepparent. Alex feels like he has nothing in common with his step dad and they just can't seem to build a relationship. But then there is a spider and they both take some basic steps toward understanding one another.
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14. Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
Great for any middle-grade age book list. A widowed father puts an ad out for a new wife and mother. A basically anonymous person, only known as "Sarah" answers the ad. The children wonder what she will be like and if she will love them and stay.
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15. Closer to Nowhere by Ellen Hopkins
Another great middle school novel that tells of a different type of blended family. Hannah loves her life and her two fantastic parents, but things change when her cousin Cal joins the household. Cal. He lies and she is jealous of the attention he gets, but there is more to Cal than it seems.
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16. Family is by Katya Longhi
Not only is this a book about blended families, but it is also a counting book. Children will work on counting to ten as they learn about all the different types of family members - step-siblings, foster parents, and friends!
Learn More: Good Reads
17. Switcharound by Lois Lowry
From a best-selling author, this is a story of a new large blended family. JP and Caroline go to visit their father and their stepmom. When they arrive they are in for a big surprise and lots of responsibility!
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18. Two Naomis by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich
The two Naomis are not friends - they have their own separate lives that they love. However, things change when their divorced parents date and start getting serious. They are forced to be together...can they make things work?
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19. Apple Pie Promises by Hillary Homzie
Lily lived with her mom, but she gets an amazing job opportunity and needs to leave for a year. Lily will have to go live with her dad, stepmom, and stepsister Hannah. She thinks things should be easy, but turns out she and Hannah are just not going to get along.
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20. The Ring Bearer by Floyd Cooper
A cute story for younger children about Jackson, whose mom is getting married, and about his serious duty as a ring bearer. A positive book that looks at the making of a new blended family through a relatable story.
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21. Our Blended Family by Courtney Ottrix
The picture book tells about a happy blended black family. They have different interests and strengths, but they love all being part of the same family!
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22. Blended by Sharon M. Draper
A wonderful novel about the hardships of divorce on kids. Isabella's parents are no longer together and she splits time between each. Not only is she half black and half white and her parents are divorced, but they both have partners too. Follow Isabella as she navigates the two very different worlds and families on a mission to feel whole.
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23. Growing Into a Family by Cynthia Geisen
A sort of self-help book for blended families, the author helps to guide you through the different feelings you will face. Written in a positive way to help both parents and children better adapt to their new family situation.
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24. The Luckiest Child by Zoie Seay
Little Bear is having a lot of worries about being part of a blended family. However, with some help of a magic four-leafed clover, he finds a way to accept change.
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25. Why Do Families Change by Dr. Jillian Roberts
Kids have lots of questions when parents decide to separate or get a divorce. This book helps parents to navigate the discussion with their children.
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26. Just Sayin' by Dandi Daley Mackall
A novel about an almost family. Both mom and her fiance have kids and were going to become a blended family. One day something happens and they break up. The children are trying to figure out what happened so they can fix it.
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27. Tuxedo Baby by Victoria Smith
A truly cute book with bright and colorful illustrations, this book represents adoption. Two parrots adopt a penguin. When learning to fly, he knows he can't and is different.
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