When Your Daddy's a Soldier

by Gretchen Brandenburg McLellan, EG Keller (Illustrator)

Overview

A lyrical, moving story about a family's experience at home during their dad's time away at war.

For one young boy and his family at home, the days pass slowly. That's because when your daddy's a soldier and he's away at war, you can't wait for him to come home so you can be together again.

This poignant and impactful story, inspired by the author's lived experiences, captures the essence of the daily heartache, fear, joy, and uncertainty that a child whose parent has gone off to war must live with.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593463901
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	10/18/2022
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	1,011,702
Product dimensions:	9.10(w) x 11.20(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD540L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Gretchen Brandenburg McLellan’s daddy was a soldier and a veteran of three wars. Gretchen is a former elementary reading specialist who devotes herself to writing for children in a variety of genres. Her books include Mrs. McBee Leaves Room 3, I’m Done!, Button and Bundle, and No Party Poopers! McLellan lives with her family in Washington. Visit her online at gretchenmclellan.com or follow her on Twitter @gmclellan5 or on Instagram @gretchenmclellan.

EG Keller is the illustrator of the New York Times #1 bestseller, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Presents A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo, and the picture book To the Moon and Back for You by Bravo star Emilia Bechrakis Serhant. As Gerald Kelley, he illustrated documentarian Ken Burns’ New York Times bestselling book, Grover Cleveland, Again!, and wrote and illustrated the picture book, Please Please the Bees, which won the 2017 Frances and Wesley Bock Book Award for Children’s Literature and was read aloud for Storyline Online by Rashida Jones. He lives in Denver with his husband and dog. Visit him online at egkellerdraws.com or follow him on Instagram @egkellerdraws.

Editorial Reviews

"An uplifting and honest portrayal of life for military families told from the eyes of a child...this book is perfect for military families looking for a little reassurance about their experiences." –School Library Journal

"Digital illustrations beautifully capture each family member’s emotions...earnest." –Kirkus

From the Publisher

10/01/2022

PreS-Gr 4—An uplifting and honest portrayal of life for military families told from the eyes of a child. Soldiers and their families face the excitement of a very important job, but they also face the trials of being apart. The part of the family that stays home is proud, but also sad. They have important jobs to do, too. While their soldier is away at work, they take care of each other and send him treats to feel connected. The struggles are described honestly without being upsetting. The illustrations convey the emotions of the family, including the highs and the lows. While the story does include the efforts of the family, female soldiers are not depicted front and center. VERDICT Despite the absence of depicting mothers serving their country, this book is perfect for military families looking for a little reassurance about their experiences.—Darby Wallace

School Library Journal

2022-08-17
Life continues when parents are overseas.

An unnamed narrator is proud of his soldier father. The boy often engages in imaginative play that mimics his perceptions of military life, but he’s also saddened by his father’s long absences. The boy and his mother and sister do their best to cope, writing letters to Daddy, sending him things (like a seashell and a skipping stone) that will remind him of them, and, when Daddy does come home, celebrating his return. Digital illustrations beautifully capture each family member’s emotions and speak volumes to the stress endured by military families; the art will pull in readers, especially military families. Unfortunately, the book includes the harmful, outdated message that boys should hide their sadness and that the suppression of valid emotions equates to maturity and bravery: “Our daddy is going to war. Sis cries, but I try to act like a soldier. Brave. Daddy says he’s proud of me, but his voice sounds lumpy. Later, I hide in my fort and cry.” It’s an unfortunate addition in a story dealing with a topic of relevance to many. The boy, his father, and his sister are brown-skinned; their mother is lighter-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Well intentioned and earnest but laced with problematic “boys don’t cry” messaging. (Picture book. 6-10)

Kirkus Reviews