Military Parent Away
Hi everyone,
We recently received this request:
I am searching for recommendations of picture books to use for the children's message
during the (Memorial Day) service. I am focusing on experiences that today's children
from military homes are facing. Are there any picture books that could meet my need?
While I found a few books on Amazon, I thought it best to consult with my wonderful FDO colleague Gail
Forsyth-Vail who has been working on a new military resource for congregations – please see her
comments and resource below. I thought it would be helpful to share with everyone as there are
probably others looking for similar resources.
Pat Kahn
From: Gail Forsyth-Vail
Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 2014 10:28 AM
To: Pat Kahn
Subject: RE: picture books for children who have parents in the military
Hi PatSo much of what is written is for the military kids themselves, and might be confusing to children who
have never thought about a parent being deployed. I like this page of resources:
http://www.booksformilitarychildren.info/
When you click on the picture books tab, there are good synopses of the books. I am thinking that these
three are especially good for the purpose of a children’s story in worship (although I have never read any
of them):
Don’t Forget, God Bless Our Troops by Jill Biden
Sometimes We Were Brave by Pat Brisson
While you Were Away by Eileen Spinelli
I feel a great sense of caution if this issue is going to be merely raised as a children’s story without time to
process it afterward. Will the children have a chance to talk over with someone the idea that a parent may
have to go to war for a time? That’s a pretty heavy idea to hand to a young child who has never thought
about it before.
Also, the book Off to War: Voices of Soldiers’ Children by Deborah Ellis, while not a picture book, has first
person stories from children and teens from both the US and Canada who had/have parents serving in
Iraq and Afghanistan. If there is time for some real conversation after the Time for All Ages, particularly
with older kids and middle schoolers, I would recommend using a couple of stories from that book.
I hope this is helpful.
Gail
From: Pat Kahn
Sent: Monday, May 05, 2014 4:27 PM
To: Gail Forsyth-Vail
Subject: FW: picture books for children who have parents in the military
Hi Gail,
I wondered if you’d have ideas for this request from the military resource…all I did was look up
on Amazon and found these:
I Miss You
http://smile.amazon.com/Miss-You-Military-AboutDeployment/dp/1591025346/ref=pd_sim_sbs_b_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=0ZW6HFZEFF8TTVCRH
QDW
A Paper Hug
http://smile.amazon.com/A-Paper-Hug-StephanieSkolmoski/dp/0978642503/ref=pd_sim_b_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=08DPAF8TQAVDCZFW25FT
Night Catch
http://smile.amazon.com/Night-Catch-BrendaEhrmantraut/dp/0972983392/ref=pd_sim_b_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0KZ0YTCDHNT5G6RGJBRT
Lily Hates Goodbyes
http://smile.amazon.com/Lily-Hates-Goodbyes-MilitaryVersion/dp/1936214784/ref=pd_sim_b_5?ie=UTF8&refRID=0XXC80HM4FPNWSQQAT42
Thanks,
Pat Kahn