Changes Changes

Here and There by Tamara Ellis Smith ill Evelyn Daviddi

Ivan loves music, all kinds of music. He is especially drawn to the melodic chirps, calls, and trills of birds in his backyard. Up in the branches of the pear tree, he coaxes the winged creatures with bird seed, identifying various neighborhood birds by the sounds that each species makes.

Then something happens which disrupts his childhood and causes Ivan’s life to undergo a radical change. Dad moves out and into a new place. Ivan distinguishes the two dwellings by referring to the familiar home with mom as here. Dad’s new residence is there. Smith emphasizes the distinction Ivan makes between the two homes with the words here and there in bold face type.

Over there at his father’s house, things are not the same. No pear tree. No customary surroundings. No mother. Ivan remains sullen and silent. He can't seem to successfully transition from the home of his early childhood to a different living arrangement with his father.

His relationship with dad remains at an impasse until his father begins to strum his guitar. Ivan is drawn to the welcome sound this music. When he responds to the tune, dad invites Ivan to create lyrics for his composition. Ivan thinks about it. Inspiration strikes. He knows what to do: fit the sounds of his winged friends into his father’s melody. Working together, a new song is born.

Combining his love for music and for birds, Ivan and his parents forge a connection that will help Ivan bridge the two distinct worlds of mom and dad. Climbing the pear tree in mom’s spacious backyard is different from a swing attached to a tree limb in dad’s small fenced-in outdoor space. Ivan can belong in each space. While it isn't always so easy in real life, Here and There offers youngsters and their caregivers an exploration of ways to help children cope with parental separation.

Italian artist Daviddi captures the contrast between the two homes of this biracial child. Mom in her fashionable attire serving milk and cookies contracts with dad sporting facial stubble ordering take-out pizza. Birds flit in both environments, creating a unifying theme of music and nature in two separate homes.

Additional Resources

Looking for additional picture books to help youngsters cope with family separation and divorce? Try these books.

Bird Song

A small chart listing a few familiar bird calls can be found at the back of the book.
​Listen to the recorded bird calls.  How many can you identify?

Electronic copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: March 31, 2019  Publisher: Barefoot Books  ISBN: 978-1782857419