Kids are told, "it's for the best"--and one day, it may be. But right now, divorce is the worst. With honesty and humor, Anastasia Higginbotham beautifully conveys the challenge of staying whole when your entire world, and the people in it, split apart. Exceptional in its child-centered portrayal, Divorce Is the Worst is an invaluable tool for families, therapeutic professionals, and divorce mediators struggling to address this common and complex experience. The Ordinary Terrible Things Series shows children who navigate trouble with their senses on alert and their souls intact. In these stories of common childhood crises, help may come from family, counselors, teachers, or dreams—but crucially, it's the children themselves who find their way to cope and grow.

Divorce Is the Worst (Ordinary Terrible Things)

Health, Fitness & Dieting

Higginbotham, Anastasia

Psychology & Counseling

The Feminist Press at CUNY

**A WHITE RAVEN 2019 SELECTION** NAMED ONE OF SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL'S BEST BOOKS OF 2018
Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness is a a picture book that invites white children and parents to become curious about racism, accept that it's real, and cultivate justice. Quite frankly, the first book I’ve seen that provides an honest explanation for kids about the state of race in America today. —ELIZABETH BIRD, librarian “It’s that exact mix of true-to-life humor and unflinching honesty that makes Higginbotham’s book work so well…”―PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (*Starred Review)A much-needed title that provides a strong foundation for critical discussions of white people and racism, particularly for young audiences. Recommended for all collections. —SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (*Starred Review) A necessary children's book about whiteness, white supremacy, and resistance… Important, accessible, needed. —KIRKUS REVIEWS A timely story that addresses racism, civic responsibility, and the concept of whiteness. —FOREWORD REVIEWS For white folks who aren’t sure how to talk to their kids about race, this book is the perfect beginning. —O MAGAZINE

Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness (Ordinary Terrible Things)

Teen & Young Adult

Literature & Fiction

Dottir Press

Part of the Ordinary Terrible Things series, Divorce Is the Worst is a funny but frank picture book for kids whose parents are going through a divorce. In her iconic straightforward-but-sensitive way, author Anastasia Higginbotham sheds light on how hard it is for children to stay whole when their whole world, and the people in it, split apart. As a child of divorce, I can tell you that the worst part is feeling alone, and feeling like no one could ever understand how awful it is. This book counters those terrible feelings in a beautiful, heartfelt, funny, and digestible way. So incredibly important.—PETER PAIGE, executive producer and co-creator of ABC Family's "The Fosters" Anastasia Higginbotham...doesn’t sugarcoat the words or the charmingly rumpled illustrations in her new book about parents spitting up...With real humor and no pretension, Ms. Higginbotham offers kids empathy necessary to gain hope and perspective on any traumatic event.—JULIE BOWEN, actress, "Modern Family"

Children's Books

Growing Up & Facts of Life

FEATURED INMS. MAGAZINE'S "15 BOOKS FOR KIDS THAT PROVE YOU CAN BE A FEMINIST AT ANY AGE" Anastasia Higginbotham'sWhat You Don't Know: A Story of Liberated Childhood delves into queerness, Blackness, and the love that dismantles whiteness. It's a book about knowing deeply that you matter--always did, always will. It's a book about what schools get wrong and churches don't say; but institutions are made by people and the people are evolving. It's a book about being known and cherished by family, and living in communion with your own personal Jesus, Buddha, Spirit, Source, Father, Mother, God, breath, inner space, outer space, nothingness, and however else we name and relate to our divinity and humility in the presence of all we don't know. Most children, gay or not, in or out, are sure to find themselves within these pages. The message that "all you need is to be you" will stay with readers long after the last page, in a book for LGBTQIA+ collections and beyond. --SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL Higginbotham manages to acknowledge the bias that Demetrius faces, put the emphasis on the love he receives,and make him an empowered and confident protagonist who is grateful for help but not a passive victim. --MOMBIAN I think the days ofHeather Has Two Mommies are long past. We're ready for GLBTQIA+ stories for kids that are a little bit complicated and a little bit interesting and a whole lotta fantastic. For all this, the person you turn to is Anastasia Higginbotham. --BETSY BIRD, Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library

What You Don't Know: A Story of Liberated Childhood

Review\nUnlike many other books dealing with difficult, traumatic subjects, Higginbotham’s work offers no advice, punishment, or easy answers. Instead, You Ruined It is a book about care—and the way that care may invite healing rather than demand it. —BITCH magazine 
[A] searing, sensitive portrayal of sexual assault...The focus on the aftermath allows Higginbotham to examine the complicated feelings Dawn has toward her abuser, as well as the layers of trauma for both her and her family members. The collage artwork...brings a sense of believable messiness and compassionate intimacy to Dawn’s first-person narration. A wealth of additional front and back matter guides readers with questions, resources, and support; while obviously useful in a therapeutic setting, this could also offer insight to kids with friends who have been assaulted.—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 
I wish I had this magical brave book when I was young and being abused. So beautifully rendered and carefully told. May it inspire anyone caught in childhood sexual abuse to tell their story and get free. —V (formerly EVE ENSLER), award-winning playwright and author of bestsellers The Vagina Monologues and The Apology 
You Ruined It is a springboard for so many conversations that can add to the primary as well as the secondary prevention perspective as these children work hard to pick up the pieces. Kudos for tackling this. —INGRID WALKER-DESCARTES, child abuse pediatrician 
You Ruined It left me speechless. Written from the inside out, it perfectly addresses one of the most complex (and all too common) issues in childhood trauma with bravery and exquisite sensitivity. As a therapist, I bow to Higginbotham's artistry and her deep understanding of incest and the confusion that ensues when a beloved family member violates your body and your trust. I know this book will help children feel understood and less alone—and adults who have had this kind of trauma will experience profound healing from reading it as well. —LISA SPIEGEL, co-founder of Soho Parenting 
As a writer, a teacher and a mother, I’m grateful to Anastasia for taking the lives of kids seriously. As with all her extraordinary books, Anastasia creates a rare, invaluable space for the complex experiences and feelings of childhood. Dawn’s pain and sadness are balanced so tenderly with love and belief; she is both broken and brave; an unlikely superhero and also an intensely confused kid. A gift to caregivers and children alike to know her story and hear her voice....Unlike anything I have ever read. —KATIE CAPPIELLO, author of Slut: The Play and Now That We're Men\nIn You Ruined It, Anastasia Higginbotham, acclaimed author of Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness, sheds light on the confusion and pain that many children feel in the aftermath of incest and sexual assault. 
When 11-year-old Dawn discloses that a favorite cousin sexually assaulted her, it's hard to tell what hurts more: the betrayal or the fall-out. After all, everyone always says to tell someone, but does this mean she'll never get to hang out with him again? What if he goes to jail? 
And the biggest question of all: How will she know if she can trust someone again? 
You Ruined It is a testament to a child's experience of a confusing betrayal, her broken heart, and the loved ones who help her piece it back together. 
I wish I had this magical brave book when I was young and being abused. So beautifully rendered and carefully told. May it inspire anyone caught in childhood sexual abuse to tell their story and get free. —V (formerly EVE ENSLER), award-winning playwright and author of bestsellers The Vagina Monologues and The Apology

You Ruined It (Ordinary Terrible Things)

Review\nMORE ABOUT the critically acclaimed Ordinary Terrible Things series by Anastasia Higginbotham:It’s that exact mix of true-to-life humor and unflinching honesty that makes Higginbotham’s book work so well…—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (*Starred Review) Author/illustrator Anastasia Higginbotham is a book creator who doesn’t shy away from tough topics. She tackles them directly in the “Ordinary Terrible Things” series, published by Dottir Press. These kid-friendly books can help start important conversations. —CITIZEN TIMES A beautiful assemblage of a book—as if Romare Bearden himself rose from the dead and created a sequel to Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.—COURTNEY E. MARTIN, columnist for On Being\nFEATURED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES 
Part of the Ordinary Terrible Things series, the new and expanded edition of Death Is Stupid is an invaluable tool for discussing death, exploring grief, and honoring the life of our loved ones. 
When someone we love dies, adults often say things like, "She's in a better place now," or "I know how you feel." You do not, one little boy thinks after his grandma passes away. Caught in the swirl of anger, confusion, and fear that accompanies grief and mourning, he doesn't just think death is unfair—he thinks death is stupid. It takes him some time, but when he starts sharing cherished memories of his grandma and working in her garden, he starts to feel just a little bit better. Necessary, beautiful, and ultimately reassuring, Death Is Stupid helps make death a little less scary—for kids and adults. 
The Ordinary Terrible Things series shows children who navigate trouble with their senses on alert and their souls intact. In these stories of common childhood crises, help may come from family, counselors, teachers, or dreams―but crucially, it's the children themselves who find their way to cope and grow.

Death Is Stupid (Ordinary Terrible Things)

Review\nThe book not only helps children become aware of racism, it also empowers them to work toward justice and cultivates activism...appropriate for younger kids as well as older ones, making it a great tool for family discussions. —THE STRATEGIST 
White families may appreciate Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness for helping children understand their personal privilege and how their choices can either contribute or dismantle white supremacy. —HUFFPOST 
An honest explanation about how power and privilege factor into the lives of white children, at the expense of other groups, and how they can help seek justice. —THENEW YORK TIMESAs someone floundering to find the right words to engage in conversation, I appreciate this book because it provides very clear and specific language to talk about white privilege. —THE CHRISTIAN CENTURY 
Very blunt, but not harsh. Incredible resources for a parent/caregiver to use with their children who may be having questions about race and racism. —THE MINING JOURNAL 
This book does a phenomenal job of explaining how power and privilege affect us from birth, and how we can educate ourselves...Not My Idea is an incredibly important book, one that we should all be using as a catalyst for our anti-racist education. —THE TINY ACTIVIST 
In her brilliant square picture book “Not My Idea”, Anastasia Higginbotham skilfully argues and explains in a child-friendly way, why 'Racism is a white person’s problem and we are all caught up in it – mostly by refusing to look at it.' The author not only informs children about white supremacy and the oppression of people of colour, she also comforts them and encourages them to make a difference, no matter how small they are. —WHITE RAVEN SELECTION 2019 
A much-needed title that provides a strong foundation for critical discussions of white people and racism, particularly for young audiences. Recommended for all collections. —SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (*Starred Review) 
A necessary children's book about whiteness, white supremacy, and resistance… Important, accessible, needed. —KIRKUS REVIEWS 
A timely story that addresses racism, civic responsibility, and the concept of whiteness. —FOREWORD REVIEWS 
For white folks who aren’t sure how to talk to their kids about race, this book is the perfect beginning. —O MAGAZINE 
Quite frankly, the first book I’ve seen that provides an honest explanation for kids about the state of race in America today. —ELIZABETH BIRD, librarian 
I am in love with Not My Idea, and with Higginbotham’s direct, radical, compassionate approach to talking about whiteness, racism, and the need to tell painful but important truths. —KATE SCHATZ, NYT-bestselling author of Rad American Women A–Z, Rad Women Worldwide, and Rad Girls Can 
Anastasia Higginbotham is a children's book author and illustrator, not an athlete, but to teach kids to stand up against racism, she's taking a knee next to Colin Kaepernick. —FORUM 
Higginbotham is silently asking her readers to be more aware of everything around them...she is able to take control of the narrative and answer questions that expand on what little the child can gleam from adults. —MEL SCHUIT, blogger at Let's Talk Picture Books 
Anastasia’s books are works of love and urgency...She’s doing the work that few have tried. —GREG O'LOUGHLIN, founder of The Educators' Cooperative\nFeaturing brand-new activity pages and additional learning material, the paperback edition of Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness is a picture book about racism and racial justice, inviting white children and parents to become curious about racism, accept that it's real, and cultivate justice. 
An honest explanation about how power and privilege factor into the lives of white children, at the expense of other groups, and how they can help seek justice. —THE NEW YORK TIMES 
ONE OF HUFFPOST'S RECOMMENDED "ANTI-RACIST BOOKS FOR KIDS AND TEENS" 
**A WHITE RAVEN 2019 SELECTION** 
NAMED ONE OF SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL'S BEST BOOKS OF 2018\nThi

Patiently forthcoming with lessons your parents redacted, this book about sex for kids starts a necessary conversation that stresses consent, sex positivity, and the right to be curious about your body. 
The dialogue focuses on the dynamics of sex, rather than the mechanics, as Grandma reminds readers that sex is not marriage or reproduction, and doesn’t look the same for everyone. Instead, each person’s sexuality is their very own to discover, explore, and share if they choose.A refreshing, positive response to a child’s questions about sex. . . . Above all, the author emphasizes that people have the right to make their own choices about sex, now and always. —SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL I love that it's Grandma giving advice. Some say the very young and the very old understand each other best, because each is closest to the unknown. —GLORIA STEINEM, feminist and author of My Life on the Road

Tell Me about Sex, Grandma (Ordinary Terrible Things)

Parenting & Relationships

Parenting

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Higginbotham, Anastasia. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Higginbotham, Anastasia

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Higginbotham, Anastasia. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Divorce Is the Worst (Ordinary Terrible Things)

Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness (Ordinary Terrible Things)

Divorce Is the Worst (Ordinary Terrible Things)

What You Don't Know: A Story of Liberated Childhood

You Ruined It (Ordinary Terrible Things)

Death Is Stupid (Ordinary Terrible Things)

Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness (Ordinary Terrible Things)

Tell Me about Sex, Grandma (Ordinary Terrible Things)