Only in America can something like this exist. You and Me Make Three is a children’s story book from the point of view of BB Bear, which talks children through the complexities and reality of getting divorced.

However rather than being aimed at kids who’s parents are getting divorced, the book is scheduled to be entered into every school in the USA, so all kids all benefit from the horrors of their parents getting divorced, even if they’re not going to. Scare kids much?

The book uses pictures, and a cute bear, to tell kids what it will be like when their parents split up; how they’ll have to spend time at the homes of each parent, see them separately etc. The book was written by three different authors, all women (naturally) and even includes tips for parents. The tips are called SMILE tips, which obnoxiously means ‘Start Making It Livable for Everyone’… yuk.

The Victor Smile Foundation is to donate all the proceeds of the sale of the book to purchase books for schools.

John Landis (not the film director) is the president of Education Foundation for Oakland Schools:

The Foundation believes You and Me Make Three will assist many teachers, students and parents through the emotional process of separation and divorce. Using the book and bear in the classroom will also help children who aren’t involved with divorce to better understand the feelings of those who are.

Personally I feel that having the book in schools will scare the crap out of kids who’s parents are happily married and will worry them unnecessarily.

Clive Bellmore