Two Homes - Tapa dura

A reassuring portrayal of the "double life" of a child of divorced parents. Alex has two homes - a home where Daddy lives and a home where Mummy lives. Alex has two front doors, two bedrooms and two very different favourite chairs. He has a toothbrush at Mummy's and a toothbrush at Daddy's. But whether Alex is with Mummy or Daddy, one thing stays the same: Alex is loved by them both - always. This portrayal of the life of a child whose parents are divorced is full of warmth, comfort and affection.

Claire Masurel is the author of numerous books for children although this is her first for Walker Books. She wrote Two Homes after talking to a child who was upset after her parents' recent divorce. In order to comfort the girl, "I talked about her two homes, and all the many things she could do in them. It was a positive way of helping her accept the changes in her life, focusing not on what was missed, but on the abundance of good times - and love - that she would continue to share with her Mum and Dad." Kady MacDonald Denton is one of Canada's foremost illustrators and has won the General Governor Award. She lives with her family in Manitoba, Canada. About Two Homes, she says, "Alex talks about simple things like toothbrushes, bedrooms, and friends - and they are all special because they are part of the love Alex feels in both homes. I tried to show that love in the illustrations."