Moving is tough on any child, but for many military kids, a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) can feel like a constant. The sound of packing tape, the rustle of cardboard boxes, the bittersweet goodbyes, and the anticipation of starting over at a brand-new place… It’s a lot for a young mind to carry. If you are looking for a way to help your child process this transition, sometimes, the best tool isn’t a pep-talk, it is a story.
To help, we’ve compiled a list of PCS-related books for kids of all ages. From gentle picture books for babies and toddlers to relatable transition stories for school-aged kids, preteens, and teens, these recommendations are here to help your military kid(s) navigate the ups and downs of their next big move.
For 0-5:
Moving to the Neighborhood by Alexandra Cassel
See You Later, Alligator by Sally Hopgood
The Berenstain Bears Moving Day by Stan & Jan Berenstain
For 5-10 Age Group
Alexander, Who’s Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move by Judith Viorst
Evelyn Del Ray is Moving Away by Meg Medina
How I Learned To Fall Out Of Trees by Vincent X. Kirsch
Home Moves With Me by Kathy Feedham Raggio
I Move A Lot, and That’s Okay by Shermaine Perry Knights
Moving Day by Teri Roche Drobnick
Miri’s Moving Day by Adam R. Chang and Stephen Wildman
The Koala Who Could by Rachel Bright
For 10-15:
Not All Heroes by Josephine Cameron
The Best Worst Summer by Elizabeth Eulberg
365 Days to Alaska by Cathy Carr
We hope these books will help your kids with the move, no matter where your next set of orders takes you. A PCS move is a journey, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Want to expand your library even further? Check out our curated book list to find the perfect story for your child’s next chapter, then request a free copy of the book through our United Through Reading app.