Charlie Anderson is a wonderful book that should be in every elementary school library and in the home of every child who has parents who don't live together. Charlie Anderson is a cat, who like the little girls in the story has two homes, two beds, and two families who love him.

I thought this book was about cats and friendship with cats, until I read further and realized this book had an underlying message. The message is that Charlie is a lucky cat just like Elizabeth and Sarah. Elizabeth and Sarah are children of divorced parents and have to spend half of their time with each divorced parent. I understand that this is a fact for many children and they must make the best of it, but I wouldn't exactly say they were "lucky"! I quickly made up my own words when I was reading this story to my own child , so that she wouldn't be subject to the underlying theme of the book. How sad, that the author feels that she must tell children they are lucky if their parents get divorced. Children of divorce know it's not true and this book is very patronizing in my mind. Skip it.

This book was recommended to me by a teacher friend. I like this story to teach predictions while teaching comprehension strategies.

Although the story should be a great read for children having difficulties with split families. The page where Elizabeth ask "Who do you love the best," could plant in a childs mind that one must make a choice as to which parent do you love the best, or even cause the child to wonder if he/she is loved the "best". The book would have been excellent had it not been for this one page. I suggest it be re-written.

Having to trudge back and forth between parents into different worlds can be very upsetting to a child of a divorce. The transition is emotionally charged and sometimes bringing the child to depression - especially if the child cannot identify their life with any other children. The mix of personalities and a happy life that Charlie Anderson leads transitioning between two families is something any young child can identify with and derive comfort from. I know my child did.