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When Your Daddy's a Soldier
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.
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.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published October 18, 2022
2 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 12, 2023
3.5 stars, well done. This one is for all those who have or had a loved one who serves/served in their country's military. I know that my great niece and nephew will recognize themselves, their family and their dad, my nephew in this story about a parent who goes away to serve his country for a long time (and possibly forever long time).
November 7, 2022
A beautifully and perfectly written children's picture book about what a family experiences when a father (soldier) deploys and comes home and deploys again. Having experienced two deployments without children and two deployments with children, I have read lots of books about military families and this book is among my favorites. Gretchen McLellan tells the story simply and clearly. Even the youngest children can understand what it feels like and looks like to have a soldier in your family. This book should be read by all military families experiencing deployment and by their non-military friends and families to help them be more empathetic to the experiences of their military friends.
October 17, 2022
I am very biased about this book as my husband and partner is a Naval officer and is soon deploying with the Pacific fleet aboard the NIMITZ. We also have two kids and my eldest is very much like the little boy in this book. He tells us he wants to be a fighting captain when he grows up and is always drawing what his battleship will look like when he and his daddy are the captains. I have never seen a book more accurate in what it is like for kids to deal (or not deal) with a parent being deployed. Reading it to them has helped them process it a bit and even for my husband to acknowledge and deal with his emotions about being away. This book would also be great for any veterans or anyone who wants to understand a little bit of what it is like to be in a military family. I know the title says "solider" but this book is just as helpful for families with sailors, marines, airmen, and even coast guardsmen.
October 17, 2022
Just crying. A daily reminder that I don't hate individuals in the military, I hate the military industrial complex. The illustrations are really beautiful, and I thought the text was a nice blend of practical and lyrical.
September 23, 2022
I enjoyed this book, a lot. I grew up in a military family and spent the last part of my career serving military families overseas. The young boy tells the story of his experience when his soldier father is required to be away from the family. The story he tells as seen through his eyes is confined to his natural understanding at that age of the feelings that affect him and his family members.
The subject matter is handled in a sensitive way that is appropriate for readers who are of similar age to the boy. The book would be appealing to children or other readers interested in a military family’s experience in times of deployment as seen through a child’s eyes. In communities were military families live, this book would be useful to help civilian peers to understand some of the feelings of their classmates.
The illustrator perfectly supports the author’s words. He uses a precise water color style with enough detail to clearly convey and support the author’s meaning. The illustrator portrayed all the people as sympathetic but strong people. That empathetic design along with the color palette adds to the realistic but comforting message of this book.
The subject matter is handled in a sensitive way that is appropriate for readers who are of similar age to the boy. The book would be appealing to children or other readers interested in a military family’s experience in times of deployment as seen through a child’s eyes. In communities were military families live, this book would be useful to help civilian peers to understand some of the feelings of their classmates.
The illustrator perfectly supports the author’s words. He uses a precise water color style with enough detail to clearly convey and support the author’s meaning. The illustrator portrayed all the people as sympathetic but strong people. That empathetic design along with the color palette adds to the realistic but comforting message of this book.
February 10, 2022
Thank you to Viking Books for providing this arc through Edelweiss
This book is the PERFECT representation of military life. The author did a fantastic job at showing the realistic ups and downs. This book provided more than just "I am sad when my dad is gone, I am happy when my dad is here" by showing how the children see the mother going through it also. A definite must read for children, specifically military families.
This book is the PERFECT representation of military life. The author did a fantastic job at showing the realistic ups and downs. This book provided more than just "I am sad when my dad is gone, I am happy when my dad is here" by showing how the children see the mother going through it also. A definite must read for children, specifically military families.
September 26, 2022
This is an important picture book that shares the complex journey of a young military family with grace and honesty. The reader feels sadness, joy, connection, care, longing, community, and love. Beautifully illustrated - lots of extra details to deepen multiple readings.
February 26, 2022
Seems very helpful for military families, honest (not sugarcoated) and hopeful.
February 26, 2023
One little boy and his family have a daddy in the military. Daddy is gone most of the time and it is very hard.
A heartfelt book for children about dealing with the hard emotions of parents in military; Gretchen Brandenburg McLellan brings it hardcore with the text while Eg Keller perfectly captures the emotions of the boy, his little sister and their mom, in the illustrations.
The biggest takeaway is that love knows no distance.
A heartfelt book for children about dealing with the hard emotions of parents in military; Gretchen Brandenburg McLellan brings it hardcore with the text while Eg Keller perfectly captures the emotions of the boy, his little sister and their mom, in the illustrations.
The biggest takeaway is that love knows no distance.
September 26, 2022
This is a really beautiful and genuine look at a child's viewpoint when his father is a soldier who is called to duty. From the child's eye, he wants to be like his father but also misses him terribly, and sees how his absence, and eventual return, can understandably affect himself others in their family. Very moving illustrations throughout.
December 5, 2022
Gretchen’s words convey the essence of military families living through long deployments and joyful reunions. EG’s illustrations capture the soul of each family member. This heartfelt book awakened my memories of being a Navy life and our young family. This book is a gift to children everywhere, whether they are military children or curious friends.
February 9, 2023
What does your life look like as a kid when your dad’s a soldier? This book paints a clear picture of such a family, pictured here as biracial. Very accessible window into such a life. Would also work well as the foundation for a compare/contrast activity between this child’s experiences and a reader’s own experiences growing up in a family where mom or dad holds a different job.
February 22, 2023
That special water is coming out of my eyes ~ what a beautiful book in every way. If you know any child whose Dad is protecting our country, this would be a must read for them. It is written by an American and aimed at American children. But, thinking of all that is taking place in our world right now, I feel certain it would be appreciated by any family that has a Dad as a soldier. ♥
January 7, 2023
During the months of January and February I read lots of children's books due to StoryStorm and NFFest. Books about soldier parents are difficult reading due to reality. McLellan broaches a difficult subject in kid friendly language with compassion and a dose of reality
January 18, 2023
I read "When Your Daddy’s A Soldier” to my first graders on Veterans Day and cried throughout the whole story. Even though I don't have any family members in the military, the story just touched my heart. I will be reading it every year (and try not to cry :-)
November 15, 2025
An excellent glimpse into how kids feel when a parent goes off to war. Written from the author's lived experience, a reminder of the commitment not just the soldier, but the family pays for our coutnry's freedom.
February 14, 2023
A knowledgeable book for all children about learning about the lives of a person in the military and family. A great book to teach during any kind of honorable day like Veteran's Day.
February 16, 2023
A very realistic portrayal of family military life. Captures a lot of emotions.
April 8, 2023
A child details what it feels like when his dad is home and when he goes to war. Elementary and up. nice primer.
April 18, 2024
2nd sad book today.
January 29, 2025
The good and the bad of being a military brat with beautiful illustrations.
February 27, 2023
Even though I don't have anyone in my immediate family in the military, this book still brought touched my heart and had me shedding a few tears.
When Your Daddy's a Soldier conveys military families living through deployment, as well as reunions.
The book is gentle and real.
The illustrations are absolutely beautiful, and capture the family dynamic and emotions very well. Part of the reason why the book is so touching is the deep emotions carved on everyone's faces as they try to navigate life while their father, or husband, is deployed and all the uncertainties that come along with that.
A beautiful story for military and civilian families alike.
When Your Daddy's a Soldier conveys military families living through deployment, as well as reunions.
The book is gentle and real.
The illustrations are absolutely beautiful, and capture the family dynamic and emotions very well. Part of the reason why the book is so touching is the deep emotions carved on everyone's faces as they try to navigate life while their father, or husband, is deployed and all the uncertainties that come along with that.
A beautiful story for military and civilian families alike.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews