Available:*
Material Type | Library | Call Number | Suggested Age | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book | Searching... Guyandotte Public Library | 355.12 MIL | Juvenile | Searching... Unknown |
Bound With These Titles
On Order
Summary
Summary
Parents have many different jobs. Some work in the military and are away from home for months or years. When your parent is gone, you miss what you did together. What are some things you can do while they are gone?
Reviews (2)
Kirkus Review
Separation from a parent is difficult. This photographic guide uses short text and familiar vocabulary to explain deployment. The book speaks directly to child readers, acknowledging their feelings and letting them know their feelings are OK. It reassures them that friends and family will be around to help, and they will be able to send pictures, write letters, and talk to their parent on the phone or even video chat. It gives them ideas on how to count the days until their parent is home and even to think about how they will welcome the parent home: making a welcome-home banner or fixing their parent's favorite food. The pages feature bright photographs of diverse families; these include both military moms and dads and display the full range of emotions involved during this difficult time. One especially touching photo shows a mom whose face is tight with emotion bidding goodbye to a weeping child, critically emphasizing that deployment is hard on everybody involved. Also critical is straightforward text reassurance "that your parent loves you and cares about you." The book ends with the parent still deployed, assuring children that "the love you share keeps your hearts close." Miller's book is a welcome addition to this rarely published topic. Between 2001 and 2010, 1.75 million children in the U.S. had at least one parent in the military, yet books about deployment of a parent or loved one are difficult to find. Essential reading for many, many families. (glossary, further reading, index) (Informational picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Separation from a mother or father may be unimaginable for many kids, yet some parents in the military are deployed for months at a time. This book suggests practical ways for kids to cope when a close family member is away. Acknowledging that children often feel sad when a mom or dad is leaving and miss them, especially during the times they usually spend together, the straightforward text reminds the audience that even when far away, "your parent loves and cares about you." Children worried about their parents' safety are assured that "deployed parents are well trained for their jobs." Miller encourages kids to write letters or draw pictures and confirms that they can sometimes communicate with the absent parent through phone calls, email, or video chat. The book concludes with plans for a homecoming celebration. The many attractive, colorful photos reflect the diversity of the U.S. military as well as the wide range of emotions experienced by the children of deployed parents. A helpful resource for the many young children affected by military deployment.
