First Night at Dad's: A Reassuring Book about Divorce, Separation, and Family Changes

By Elizabeth Rudnick

A heartfelt picture book about one of the big milestones for kids in the midst of a divorce or separation--spending their first night at the other parent's house--and the love that can be found everywhere.

Henry feels a little nervous. It still seems strange that Dad doesn't live with him and his mom anymore ... that they're getting a divorce. But now he's going to spend the night away from his mom, and that's even stranger. Mom says it will be an adventure, but Henry isn't sure.

Then Dad picks him up and drives him to the new house--a beautiful place with a tree swing and a field full of flowers. Inside, some things are familiar, like Dad's pasta sauce and rules about bedtime. And some things are different, especially when Henry misses his mom. As Henry works through his big feelings about change, he comes to understand that no matter where he is, the most important thing is always the same: how much both of his parents love him. An author's note from New York Times bestselling writer Elizabeth Rudnick reflects on her own experiences with parenting her child through a separation and this unexpected milestone.

This touching and much-needed book will reassure any parents and children going through their own family shifts that change can be managed, and they are not alone.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1523529202
• ISBN13: 9781523529209
• Release Date: April 2026
• Publisher: Workman Kids
• Length: 40 Pages
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.8" x 11.3"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3