American Hero Books: My Mommy Is a Marine
Author: Alia Reese, Copyright @ 2011
Ages infant - preschool
Help your infant-preschool age child understand and feel proud of Mommy’s very important job AND keep Mommy present in your child’s mind while Mommy is away during training and deployment. Read, march, and bark along with our fun and simple descriptions and insert your own picture over those printed in the book to see Mommy at work as a United States Marine.
B is for Brave: When Daddy or Mommy is Deployed
Author: Dianna Varga, Copyright @ 2013
Ages 6-8
B is for Brave is not only for children of military families but for all children to enjoy and learn about military life.
Brave Like Me
Author: Barbara Kerley, Copyright @ 2016
Ages 4-8
When someone is serving our country, far from home, everyone in their family has to be brave. Including -- and sometimes especially -- the kids. This book speaks to all kids in this situation in telling the story of a boy and a girl with parents away on duty. It captures the children's worries, fears, trials, and triumphs while waiting for their parents to return from service. Although the narrative tells one universal tale, the photographs depict multiple perspectives so that every reader has someone they can relate to. In the end, each child finds the strength and patience to endure the wait, showing admirable bravery and inspiring us all. An afterword looks further at the meaning of bravery and offers resources for helping kids deal with transition, deployment, and separation.
Flexible Wings
Author: Veda Stamps, Copyright @ 2015
Ages 8-12
Veda Stamps' Flexible Wings is a fictional exploration of the lives of military children. This book, written for preteens, delves into themes of sports, community support, and volunteerism as a way to help children and their families through difficult times.
In Flexible Wings, Summer Stevenson is an eleven-year-old biracial girl who dreams of having a permanent home and swimming in the Olympics one day, just like her idol Olympian Lia Neal. But those things seem out of reach as her parents "the heroes" continually move the family from house to house like boxed-up toys.
After their last move, she thought her life would never change, but now the moving truck is idling in front of her house again, this time taking the family to Valencia, a small town in southern California known for its bike trails, roller coasters, and great schools. But things aren't so great for Summer. She worries constantly that her fighter-pilot mom could be redeployed at any moment, and she struggles to make new friends, finding herself in humiliating circumstances with her neighbors.
Summer sees a glimmer of hope when her parents sign her up for competitive swimming, but she turns out to be the worst swimmer on the team! Inspired by nature and drawing support from friendships both old and new, including those with Grandma "Bachaan," her coaches, and other kids on the swim team, Summer seeks the courage she'll need to tackle life's challenges.
Grandpa, What If?
Author: Sandra Miller Linhart, Copyright @ 2010
Will Momma remember me? Will I remember her? Homecomings are wonderful reunions, but they can also be stressful at times. Momma is coming home, but she's been gone a long time. Will she recognize Bean? Will Bean be able to pick Momma out of a sea of soldiers??
Hero Mom
Author: Melinda Hardin, Copyright @ 2013
The moms in the book are superheroes. They may not leap over tall buildings, and they may not have super-human speed. But these moms construct buildings, fly planes, and make tanks roll. They do all kinds of things to help create a safer world. These superheroes are moms. Military moms. Hero moms.
I'm a Hero Too! (Mommy version)
Author: Timothy P. Dunnigan, Copyright @ 2011
I'm a Hero Too offers a developmental journey into some of the more common emotions young children face, but find difficult to define or express in the absence of a military parent. It offers insights to guide the child's desires to be involved with the absent parent through activities and meaningful thoughts. Whether the absence is thirty days for a military school, training rotations, or a one-year unit deployment, our story makes suggestions on how to stay in touch with feelings, emotions, and the absent parent.
I'm a Hero Too reads and is illustrated purposely as branch immaterial, military nonspecific, and gender neutral - there is a Daddy and a Mommy version of the book. All the love, time, and efforts put into writing this very unique book are to ensure that no military child is left out of this story.
I'm Here for You Now (Board Book)
This children's board book is designed to support young children when a parent is deployed or during other stressful times. Each page has a window for you to insert personal photos.
Just Till Mommy Comes Home
Author: Loriann Kinney
A touching story about a single Soldier mother and her baby that are forced to live apart during a deployment, they both soon realize that love comes in many different forms and that anyplace can feel like home when filled with love.
Love, Lizzie: Letters to a Military Mom
Author: Lisa Tucker McElroy, Copyright @ 2005
Ages 4-8
Nine-year-old Lizzie writes to her mother, who is deployed. Includes nonfiction tips for helping children of military families.
Military Mommy
Author: Carol Dabny, Copyright @ 2010, Ages preschool - 6th grade
Military Mommy is a charming poem about how one small boy learns how to deal with moving half way across the world with his mom. Through the eyes of five year old Noah, Military Mommy takes us on a journey from bootcamp separation to sharing his experience of what its like to live on an Army base. Military children will relate to this humorous light hearted, but touching true story. This full color picture poetry book will raise patriotic awareness for all school age children.
Momma's Boots
Author: Sandra Miller Linhart, Copyright @ 2010
It's Boot's task to take Momma where she's needed, but it's Momma's job to explain why. When Momma puts on her boots, Bean knows it's time to say good-bye, and maybe for a long time. What does Momma do when she goes? Do the other mommies wear boots which take them away, too? Can Bean understand the many things Momma's called to do, why her boots sometimes take her far away, and how a soldier's work is not much different than some other mommies' jobs??
Mommy is in the Military
With MyOwnStory, caregivers can create customized children’s books for special situations in a child’s life. Our stories were prepared under the careful guidance of educators, doctors, and child development specialists. Our Collection of Stories covers subject matter that is significant to children and their families, such as having a new baby in the family, the first day of school, going to the dentist, moving to a new city and many more. Once you customize these stories, they are yours to save, print and enjoy for years to come.
Mommy's Deployed
Author: Bridget Platt, Copyright @ 2012
Ages 0-10
The only military book of its kind: Mommy's Deployed is a completely customized children's book for those with a parent deploying. The book features the name, gender, and physical attributes of, not only the child, but the parents as well!
Mommy Wears a Uniform
Author: Shunsee Wilson, Copyright @ 2009
Mommy Wears a Uniform is a look into the lives of young children who have mothers who proudly serve their country in the armed services. Due to our current wars, we have more mothers leaving their children behind for six to thirteen months at a time. We often hear of all the devoted fathers, sons, and brothers who we call hero, but we do not hear much about the mothers who selflessly serves their country while dealing with the anguish of being separated from their children. This story shows how family has a key support role while Mommy is deployed. Mommy Wears A Uniform is a salute to all the women who are daughters, wives, sisters, mothers, and HEROES.
Mommy, You're My Hero! (Board Book)
Author: Michelle Ferguson-Cohen, Copyright @ 2005
Ages infant - preschool
The very first children's picture books for military brats, Daddy, You're My Hero! and Mommy, You're My Hero!, are part of the pioneering Books for BratsTM series for children of military personnel. The first two titles in this series were written, illustrated and published by an adult military brat in 2001 to help children coping with the deployment of a parent.
My Air Force Mom
Author: Mary Lee, Copyright @ 2007
Ages 4-8
A winner in the Children's Fiction Category of the 73rd Annual Writer's Digest Writing Competition, My Air Force Mom is unique. This picture book explores customs and courtesies of military culture through a child's eyes. Author Mary Lee takes your child along with her fictional character Susie on a journey of discovery. From military uniforms through a military child's 'rite of passage' full circle to Susie's development of a sense of pride and patriotism in our country. My Air Force Mom shows children that the military offers careers to women as well as men. It gives military moms and dads a book to help their young children begin to understand military life. My Air Force Mom gives civilian parents a tool to explain mysteries of military life to their children. Answers to a child's curiosity are found in My Air Force Mom.
My Mom Hunts Submarines
Author: Julia Maki, Copyright @ 2012
When we arrive at my school, Mom kisses me good-bye as she drops me off. I go into my school, and she goes to work on a Navy base. When she gets there, she will fly in a huge, gray airplane called a P-3C Orion. They are as big as a dinosaur!
This is a story written for young children about a little girl who has a mother in the military. Everything about their day is normal- except when the mother goes off to work, she will fly in planes and hunt for submarines. Sometimes she has to travel and is away for a while, but she will always come home.
Throughout the entire book, the resounding theme is, "If my mom can fly in planes and hunt submarines, there isn't anything I cannot do!" This is an important message for every child.
My Mom Is Going Away, But She Will Be Back One Day
A deployment story
Authors: James Thomas, Melanie Thomas, Copyright @ 2012
Ages 4-8
Military families sometimes have to spend a lot of time apart from each other while serving their country, with one or more of the parents deployed. The separation can be just a few days in length or many months. This children's book helps the family explain to the child how things will work while the parent is away and how to communicate over the distance until the day the family reunites. The writing style and art of the book enables each child, boy or girl, to relate to the story in a personal sense. This book was computer designed with a cut out page at the end allowing the child to write a letter and draw a picture for the deployed parent.
My Mommy Wears Combat Boots
Author:Sharon McBride, Copyright @ 2008
As we march on through another year of war, many service members have already completed more than one deployment. Astonishingly, a lot of these service members are mothers, and they are not only balancing their commitments to their families but to the nation as well. My Mommy Wears Combat Boots is based the personal experience of a soldier and a mother who was seeking a way to explain why she needed to leave her child again and go to war. Young children are very limited when it comes to communication skills, and often have a difficult time expressing guilt, frustration, anger, loneliness and sadness and often don't realize that it's normal to feel all of this and more as the result of their mom's deployment. Books about mommies going to war are few and far between, and My Mommy Wears Combat Boots is for mothers in uniform everywhere that are seeking a way to explain to their children the emotions associated with deployment and a way to positively channel those emotions when they are away.
My Mom's Boots
Author: Elizabeth Gordon, Copyright @ 2020
This is a book dedicated to military mom's and their children. As a female service member leaving for a deployment, I found a shortage of books geared toward mothers leaving their children behind and trying to help them understand the importance of what their moms were going to be doing. Enjoy!
My Mother's Pearls
Author: Sally Huss, Copyright @ 2015
Ages 2-8
Many children experience the loneliness created by military separation. The little girl in this story is such a child. She describes her struggle with sadness when her mother is deployed. But, her wise and thoughtful mother uses a string of pearls to tell her daughter how proud she is of her and how she can feel good even when her mother is away. How does she do it? You’ll have to read the book to find out.
My Mother's Wings
Author: Sally Huss, Copyright @ 2015
Ages 2-8
Like many children in military families, the boy in this story misses his pilot mother when she is deployed for duty. But, she is a wise and resourceful mom who knows how to heal his lonely heart. In doing so, she gives him the key to helping other children of military parents. What did she tell him? You’ll have to read the book to find out.
Over There (Board Book - Mommy Version)
Author: Dorinda Silver Williams, Copyright @ 2006
Ages 0-3
A wonderful, simple deployment book for infants and toddles which includes a pocket at the end of the story to put the parent's photo. A downloadable version of this young children's board boook is available at www.zerotothree.org. Most New Parent Support Programs at military installations have the board book available for distribution.
Pilot Mom
Author: Kathleen Benner Duble, Copyright @ 2003
Ages 4-8
Jenny's mom, Major Strom, is a tanker pilot. Before she leaves on a training mission, she takes Jenny and her best friend K. C. to see the air base. K. C. thinks being a pilot is exciting. Jenny worries about her mom's safety and wonders if her mom likes flying more than she likes being her mom.
Soldier Mom
Author: Alice Mead, Copyright @ 1999
Ages 9-12
In the summer before seventh grade, Jasmyn Williams is made captain of the basketball Pre-season League. That night, she learns that her mother is going away--to war. Jas's mom is in the army, and at the beginning of August 1990 she is among the Reserves called to serve in the Persian Gulf. Who will take care of Jas and her baby half brother? Mom's boyfriend, Andrew's father, will stay with them. But Jack has hardly been a father to Andrew, much less to Jas. Furious with Mom for abandoning them, with Jake for being self-centered and incompetent, and with herself for putting basketball before Andrew, Jas struggles to accept her mother's absence. Finally, with help from a boy she likes and from her best friend, she does. But then she makes a startling determination about her mother--and about all Soldier moms.
Sometimes We Were Brave
Author: Pat Brisson, Copyright @ 2010
Ages 4-8
Jerome's mom is a Sailor. When her ship is in home port, she and Jerome bake cookies, read books together, and take their dog, Duffy, for walks. When his mom's ship goes to sea, she gives Jerome a hug and says, "Be brave, Jerome. I'll be back as soon as I can."
Even though his dad takes good care of him, Jerome misses his mom and worries about her. Jerome doesn't feel brave at all. But he does what he needs to do every day--goes to school, helps his dad with chores, and takes care of Duffy. Then one day he learns that bravery means something very different than he thought it did.
When Your Mom Goes to War
Helping children cope with deployment and beyond
Author: Maryann Makekau, Copyright @ 2010
Ages 8 and up
When Your Mom Goes to War is dedicated to moms and their families coping with deployment. A parent's role in shaping, guiding and loving a child is of the utmost importance. When mom is also a soldier serving in a warzone, her job of parenting takes a dramatic shift. These Little Patriot Books™ bring chapter by chapter strategies for families experiencing that shift. They are packed with tools, tips and whimsical art for a positive journey---before, during and after deployment. In addition to the helpful storyline for families, counselors and educators are calling these Little Patriot Books a "must read' for their valuable ideas, information and resources.
Where is My Mommy?
A Book About Children's Fears
Authors: Mary Kilgore MSW and Mitchell Kilgore MSW
Copyright @ 2010
Ages 4-8
How does a child cope when a parent disappears? This gentle story is ideal for sharing with a child who can't understand why Mom or Dad is gone, and when if ever the parent might return. Created by a clinical social worker and school social worker/mother and son team, Where Is My Mommy? helps children work through loss and grief. Can be used by therapeutic child care programs, school and preschool counselors and social workers, in support groups and individual counseling, and by family members, guardians and foster parents. Especially helpful in situations without closure such as abandonment.
Where Were You?
Author: Tracy Hancock, Copyright @ 2015
All ages
Where Were You? represents a child’s thoughts and feelings regarding the many milestones and meaningful events in his or her life that a loved-one was not able to share. “A Parent’s Lament” is the parent or guardian’s heartfelt reasoning and justification for the inability to be present to witness those milestones. The intention of this book is to bring to light the inner most thoughts and feelings of a child and a military family member who are separated from each other for any length of time. It summarizes both points of view.
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