The Leaving Morning

The Leaving Morning follows a young child and family as they prepare to move from their apartment to a new home. The process of packing up and saying goodbye to their familiar neighborhood unfolds through the child's perspective. The story captures the routines and rituals of moving day, from boxing up possessions to final interactions with neighbors and local shopkeepers. The morning of departure brings a mix of emotions as the family faces this transition. The narrative touches on themes of change, memory, and the meaning of home through a child's eyes. Through simple observations and small moments, the book explores how children process and cope with major life transitions.

Readers appreciate how this book helps children process the emotions of moving to a new home. Parents and teachers report it connects with kids experiencing relocation anxiety, with one reviewer noting "it captured exactly how my 5-year-old was feeling." The simple, realistic portrayal of moving day details - like leaving marks on walls and saying goodbye to neighbors - resonates with young readers. Multiple reviews mention the effectiveness of the fog imagery and how it reflects the uncertainty children feel. Some readers found the story too subtle or abstract for very young children. A few noted the book moves slowly and may not hold attention of active toddlers. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (127 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (21 ratings) Common comments praise: - Gentle, honest approach to change - Realistic family dynamics - Evocative illustrations Critical comments mention: - Text somewhat sparse - Better for older picture book readers (4-8) vs toddlers - Some children wanted more resolution at the end

Alexander, Who's Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move by Judith Viorst A young boy processes his feelings about moving away from his home and devises plans to stay behind.

A New Room for William by Sally Grindley A child finds ways to cope with moving to a new house while missing his old home and neighborhood.

Moving Day by Ralph Fletcher Through poems and memories, a twelve-year-old boy reflects on leaving his childhood home behind.

Big Ernie's New Home by Teresa Martin A cat experiences the transition of moving to a new home alongside his young owner.

We're Moving by Heather Maisner A family works through the practical and emotional aspects of relocating to a different house.

🌅 Author Angela Johnson wrote The Leaving Morning based on her own childhood experience of moving from one home to another, bringing personal authenticity to the story's emotional core. 📦 The book's misty, watercolor illustrations by David Soman help capture the melancholy mood of moving day, especially through the use of gray and blue tones. 🏠 Published in 1992, the book was one of the first children's picture books to specifically address the emotional impact of moving from a child's perspective. 👥 The story particularly resonates with urban children, as it depicts moving from an apartment building where the protagonists have close relationships with their neighbors. 🎨 The illustrator, David Soman, is also known for creating the popular Ladybug Girl series, bringing his signature style of capturing children's emotions through subtle facial expressions to The Leaving Morning.