10 Books That Will Help Military Kids With Their Next PCS Move

Inside this post: Help military kids cope with their next PCS move through books and storytelling. This list of moving books for military kids can help them prepare, process and understand.

Moving is hard. It’s as simple as that.

It seems that no matter how many PCS seasons I’ve been through, I still encounter the same overwhelming feelings on both ends.

This time as we prepare for another move, I’m keenly aware of two things:

1. This move will have an impact on my kids.

2. Kids are resilient.

So, while I know that the kids will bounce back and moving in the military provides invaluable skills at such a young age, I also know they will need help through this transition.

Books About Moving for Military Kids.

Here are some of the resources we are using in our home right now to help our kids prepare for our next military PCS move. They could easily be used with any kids going through a big move too (not just military kids).

1. The Berenstain Bears’ Moving Day

We love the Berenstain Bears’ books in our home! It’s great to throw this one in the mix. As one of the many Berenstain Bears’ books we read, it seems to help my son feel like someone “he knows” is going through the same transition.

2. Boomer’s Big Day

This sweet book, focuses on moving day from a dog’s perspective. Since my son loves any book about dogs, he wants to read this over and over. It has been such a natural way to introduce the ideas of moving anxieties into our conversation.

3. Moving House

I really love the positive nature of this one! It puts such a positive light on moving that reinforces our attitude in our home of the “big, fun move” we have coming up.

Books on Making New Friends and Going to a New School.

4. Bird, Balloon, Bear

Even for a three year old, my son takes a while to warm up to new things. I know this may present additional challenges with the upcoming move. We love reading this book together and I am thankful it tackles overcoming the shyness we all experience when trying to make new friends.

5. Join In and Play

Social skills are learned. We help our kids practice them every day as they play at the park around other kids, engage at school and get together with other families for play dates. This book is a great addition to that, especially as we preparing to head into a new environment.

The book teaches the appropriate way to join in and play with other kids and even has suggestions of games we can play at home to reinforce the skills. I love being able to tackle some of these harder to learn social skills in the safety of our home first.

6. Augustine

I had a hard time finding books that combine the feelings of moving and entering a new school for my son. This one is the perfect combination of both.

The book’s main character is experiencing the feelings of missing her old home and the fears of making new friends at a new school.

This is a great resources for talking about new environments and the changes we will see in our new home and school.

7. Will I have a Friend

Even though this book is written for any child starting school for the first time, the reassuring nature of the book’s description of a little boy’s fear that he won’t have a friend at school definitely applies to the first day at any new school.

This book is a gem for young military kids moving to new schools and making new friends in their neighborhoods.

8. Sesame Street for Military Families: Relocation

Seasame Street has teamed up with the military to provide this excellent resource for helping families through PCSing. My favorite part is that it includes an awesome app for kids to play that allows them to prepare for the move in a playful way.

Definitely check this out!

Kids Books on Learning to Express Feelings

9. The Way I Feel

One important addition to our library on moving, new schools and new friends was learning how to express feelings. Just like all other kids, my children act out when they don’t know how to explain and cope with how they are feeling.

I see the writing on the wall…just like adding a new sibling (that was a rough transition!), this move has the potential to bring out some very challenging behavior in my oldest.

We have started to talk about how to identify and express in a helpful way how my son is feeling. This book is a great resource for helping him understand more.

And…a few Bonus Book for Parents

10. The Essential Moving Guide For Families

Although this book isn’t specifically designed for military families on the move, it’s one of the best I’ve found to help families with kids of all ages through the transition.

It helped ease my fears about relocating my kids so much and better equip me to help them through the transition.

11. Nonni’s Moon

As a parent, you will love this sweet bedtime story because it can help kids feel empowered to stay connected to loved ones far away. It helps to explain bereavement or absence of a loved one to children learning how to make sense of an adult world.

12. Moving Again Mom

Inside this book, the family is moving across the country to live on a new base. They youngest child, Lil’M will miss her best friend, and worried it will be hard to make new friends when she arrives at her new home. The book addresses themes like: When do we get there and how will I make new friends? What will we see along the way? Mom & Dad will make it an adventure! We can still keep our friends while we discover new people. Home is where my family lives!

I hope you find these resources as helpful as we have.

I know that all of this preparation doesn’t guarantee a smooth and easy transition for our entire family this PCS season, but I love my kids and I want to give them all the tools they need for success.

Want more on Military Life?

Are you new to this community? Start here, friend.

10 Books That Will Help Military Kids Prepare for Their Next PCS Move