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Best new books for military spouses ~ 2021
My three children have endured three long deployments without their daddy. Supporting military kids is very real to me. Our family has benefited from those who have it on their heart to reach out to military kids with good quality books. Contrary to what many believe, there are MANY books for military kids (LINK to my lists). And now I am delighted to highlight some NEW military children books!
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Author: Planting Roots
Does your military adventure leave you feeling more like you’re floundering than flourishing?
You are not alone. Military life brings unique challenges for both women in uniform and military spouses. The operational tempo and the stress of frequent transitions can leave you spiritually depleted. But God’s plan for you is far greater than simply surviving. He wants you to flourish. So how do you do that?
Fifteen military women and wives collaborated to encourage you through the words of Flourish: Thriving Faith in Military Life. Their combined twenty-five years in uniform and more than 300 years as military spouses brings inspiration and encouragement for every aspect of your life—relationships, separations, parenting, grief, transitions, health, and even retirement. This forty-five-day devotional will help you develop resilient faith for military life through:
- Personal stories to encourage
- Biblical truth to empower
- Practical steps to overcome challenges
- Reflection questions to make it personal
Through faith, God empowers us to live well in military life. It’s time to look forward with excitement and purpose to discover what God can do. Together, let’s embrace strength, hope, and freedom as we trust God with each step of our military journey.
Are you ready to flourish?
Additional devotionals for military families are found HERE
Flourish: Thriving Faith in Military Life
Best new books for military children ~ 2021
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Author: Brenda Ehrmantraut
Cuando un soldado se tiene que ir al otro lado del mundo por su trabajo, el y su hijo juegan un juego nocturno con la Estrella del Norte.
¡Atrapa la estrella! es una historia eterna que ayuda a las familias a sentirse conectadas, aun cuando están separadas.
~
¡Atrapa la estrella! is the Spanish edition of Night Catch by Brenda Ehrmantraut.
When a soldier has to go to the other side of the world for his work, he and his son play a game with the North Star.
¡Atrapa la estrella! is a timeless story that helps families feel connected, even when they are separated.
View the entire list of Latino books for military children found HERE
¡Atrapa la estrella!
More BEST new books for military families!
Authors: Adam Davis and Chad Robichaux
Become the warrior you are meant to be.
Behind the Lines is a 365-day devotional written to encourage, empower, and inspire those who serve our nation. No matter your branch of military service, the words found within these pages will equip you with God's wisdom as you hold the line against evil and protect the innocent.
Discover the true source of
- strength for serving
- power for persevering
- protection in times of danger
- resilience during adversity
- peace amid conflict
You are fully equipped, completely prepared, and wholly trained to face your calling from God.
Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. Psalm 144:1 NIV
An exhaustive list of devotionals for military families can be found HERE
Behind the Lines: 365 Daily Challenges for Military Personnel
Author: Sierra Redmond
My PCS Passport Journal is a 52 week journal created to help military spouses, military service members, military families and teens in their new duty station journey. Readers will complete a mixture of travel and exploration challenges and reflections each week geared toward helping the reader to build a fulfilling and exciting experience within their new hometown.
The author, Sierra Redmond, is the military spouse, journalist and CEO of East Star Media. She created this journal and workbook series after discovering a need to get military families out of their shells and into their communities. She believes that the two to four year experience at a duty station should be a magical experience of self discovery and immersion. It is her hope that this journal and workbook series challenges military affiliated members to create their best life experience.
View the entire list of pcs books for military families HERE
View the entire list of journals for military spouses HERE
My PCS Passport: 52 Weeks of Exploration Challenges & Reflection for Military
Author: Brooke Mahaffey
Inspired by real-life experiences, this book for military-connected children is an excellent resource to help prepare children for a PCS (Permanent Change of Station) move. In this heartwarming story, the author validates the natural feelings and emotions that children often experience when it comes time to PCS. Most importantly, the story characters discover the benefits of moving and the excitement of being a military child.
Psssst!...did you know that military children are also part of a special club? The Dandelion Club!
View the entire list of military move books for military children HERE
I'm a Dandelion - A PCS Story for Military Children
Author: Karen Pavlicin
Personal stories, practical ideas, and checklists help readers know what to expect, how to prepare, and how to personally grow as individuals and families. Updated second edition includes new information about longer repeat and multiple deployments, self-care and wellness, and stories and examples from recent conflicts.
View the entire list of books for military spouses going through deployment HERE
Surviving Deployment: A Guide for Military Families
Author: John Letaw
The book you wish you'd had years ago is finally here! For active duty, military retirees, National Guard/Reservists, surviving family members... TRICARE Around the World is the resource you need to get the most from your military healthcare benefits.
This easy-to-read book starts at the basics then gets into the full details of TRICARE:
Who is Covered? Enrollment details for all beneficiaries even including surviving spouses, stepchildren, dependent parents, ex-spouses, adult children, and more.
Choosing a Plan. How to use the online Plan Finder Tool; when and how to sign up. Full descriptions of 11 TRICARE health plans, plus 15 little-known specialized plans to meet your family's needs.
Coverage and Benefits. Exactly what is and is not covered, and for whom. Includes special needs programs; using TRICARE on cruise ships; air ambulance/medical evacuation; dental and vision programs, and more.
Finding a Provider. How to find a doctor in any country of the world, regardless of your TRICARE plan. Network vs non-network providers. How to reduce your expenses by choosing the right provider.
Full cost descriptions. Regardless of which plan you are in, your relationship to the sponsor or where you live...learn what you can expect to pay for you and your family.
Prescription refills. Five strategies to take care of your prescription needs anywhere you may travel.
TRICARE in the Philippines. Find Certified & Preferred Providers in all 81 provinces of the Philippines. How to get reimbursed even for those troublesome "professional fees" that many doctors add on. A special list of Tips & Tricks tailored to getting the most from your benefits in the Philippines.
How to submit your claim. The world's only 10-Step TRICARE Claim Checklist to virtually guarantee your claim will be approved the first time, every time.
Navigating the Regional Contractor Web Portals. Create and link online accounts for all family members; set up direct deposit online; secure messaging; and most importantly -- how to file your claim online in just minutes.
Where to go for Help. There are vast resources available to you, from the FREE MHS Nurse Advice Line, to Retired Affairs Offices and VFW Service Officers near you. Learn how to access VA's Foreign Medical Program for FREE VA care overseas, and more.
Extensively cross-referenced to government source material, you will have easy access to authoritative information. Plus, we provide access to our unique online community of TRICARE users so you can interact with thousands of others who have exactly the same questions as you.
This book can be life-changing. You will earn back many times the cost of purchase on your first claim. Better yet, you can save THOUSANDS of dollars each year without filing a claim at all! We compare TRICARE vs your employer-sponsored health plan such as Kaiser or BCBS and how you can keep more of your paycheck each and every month by declining your employer's health plan.
Should you buy traveler's insurance in case of a medical emergency overseas? We explain how you can save hundreds of dollars on vacation expenses... including TRICARE's coverage for air evacuation/air ambulance.
Whether your time was in the U.S. Army (USA), Navy (USN), Air Force (USAF), Marines (USMC), Coast Guard (USCG), or U.S. Space Force -- this book is for you!
TRICARE is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Military Health System (MHS).
Additional resources about military health and wellness are listed HERE
TRICARE Around the World: Getting the Most from Your Military Medical Benefits
Author: Rachel Robertson
Created especially for military kids, this popular journal offers comforting words and a special place to express feelings during the deployment of a parent or any loved one from any service branch.
Young journal keepers will find encouragement for difficult days, ideas for healthy activities, and plenty of journaling pages to express their feelings and record experiences through words and pictures.
New and updated edition!
- Fun new design
- Enhanced writing prompts
- Ideas for keeping in touch
- New goal-setting pages
- New feelings pages
- Glossary and fun facts about military life
View the entire list of deployment journals for military families HERE
Deployment Journal for Kids (Second Edition)
https://mybucketjournals.com/products/my-military-story-bucket-journal-spiral (available in spiral, digital, and paperback)
Do you have a veteran in your family? Help them document their service, share their memories, and create a legacy for future generations. Every military veteran is a hero with stories to tell. Some are funny, some are sad, but mostly they have an important place in history that helps us understand the sacrifices made for our freedom. No two people who served in the military have the exact same experience. Some were in the Navy and served on boats. Some served in combat or in foreign lands, while others served stateside. Some were assigned to multiple posts, deployments, or units. This journal was made to work for you no matter what your history. It is a place to record the memories of your service and share them with others.
MY MILITARY STORY BUCKET JOURNAL SECTIONS INCLUDE
- Military Promotions
- Medals and Recognitions
- Enlistment or Draft Memories
- Basic Training
- Duty Stations and Assignments
- Deployment
- Combat
- How You Were Affected
My Military Story Bucket Journal
Author: Victoria Terrinoni
Your significant other just announced they joined the military. After getting over the shock, you have questions, lots of questions:
- What is it like living in the military?
- What happens when my spouse deploys?
- How do I handle moving all the time?
This honest and insightful book will give you an inside look at a military spouse's life and help you navigate the system. Readers will learn the joys and pitfalls of being married to the military.
The writer dispels some myths about the military lifestyle and highlights the lessons learned along the way. This book will help you figure out what you can do to combat the loneliness you feel every time you move to a new place. How lost you feel trying to deal with a totally different system than anything else you've dealt with before. It also helps you learn to use military-speak, a language of its own.
Where You Go, I Will Go takes you on the author's 31-year journey as a military spouse to show you are not alone in this. She also points out her biggest mistakes, so you don't make them as well.
Where You Go, I Will Go gives you the basics you need to:
- See how a move is supposed to go and how they actually turn out.
- What to do to ease your child's confusion with these life changes.
- Where to go for support, especially during a deployment.
- What do all those acronyms mean?
By reading this book, you will find lessons to help you throughout your military career while getting an insider's view of the fun times and the hard times of military life.
What's stopping you from learning the ropes from someone who has been there?
View the entire list of books for military spouses HERE
Where You Go, I Will Go: Lessons from a Military Spouse
Author: Brian Reese
Brian Reese was good at masking his PTSD, bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety. He even told himself he did not “deserve” benefits, which he later discovered was complete bullshit. As an air force officer deployed to Afghanistan, he embodied the motto of “service before self.” Unfortunately, like many veterans, his service came at his own expense, and abusing alcohol and drugs to cope with mental health issues nearly ended his life. But by the grace of God and the power of pure vulnerability, Brian began a transformational journey of overcoming social stigmas and persevering through adversity. This journey led Brian to create VA Claims Insider to help Veterans get the VA rating and compensation they deserve, which has become a global movement of Veterans Helping Veterans Worldwide™.
In You Deserve It, Brian provides veterans with a step-by-step blueprint to help them obtain virtually unknown federal and state benefits. With years of personal experience and more than ten thousand hours devoted to helping veterans get the benefits they’re entitled to, Brian provides readers with the unparalleled insight and expertise that forms the foundation of his SEM Method. Whether you served thirty days or thirty years, this book will educate and inspire you to reap the rewards for your honorable service to our country. Brian Reese is currently the founder & CEO of VA Claims Insider, whose mission is to educate and empower veterans to get the VA disability benefits they’ve earned for their honorable service.
You Deserve It is “The Veteran Benefits Bible...” It's a total game-changer for Veterans and their families! Want to Learn "HOW" to Get 100s of STATE & FEDERAL Benefits You've Earned for Your Service?
This book is the ultimate guide to getting little-known veteran benefits potentially worth $1,000s of dollars or more...
You Deserve It! The Definitive Guide to Getting the Veteran Benefits You've Earned
Author: Lizann Lightfoot
Dear Military Spouse,
I wrote these letters to encourage you throughout your military life journey. Whether you are celebrating a milestone, surviving an unfamiliar challenge, or feeling unheard, you are not alone.
I am here with you, from the first moments of falling in love with your service member, to attending your first military ball, giving birth while your spouse is deployed, and moving across country (or an ocean) on short notice. I know what it's like to be making new friends—again and again, finding strength to support other spouses in the community, preparing to leave active duty, and many other military life moments in between.
This collection of Open When letters is meant to deliver that special message from a friend who understands, whenever you need reassurance, helpful ideas, or a simple reminder of your own strength. We've got this!
With love from a fellow military spouse,
Lizann Lightfoot
The Seasoned Spouse
View the entire list of books for military spouses HERE
Open When: Letters of Encouragement for Military Spouses
Author: Pearl Gifty Alimo
Award-Winning Finalist in the Parenting and Family category of the International Book Award program.
When military spouses say "I do" to their service members, they are often clueless about the military lifestyle that lies ahead-specifically, raising a family while the service member deploys several weeks, months, and years throughout their career.
Growing Your Family is a raw testimony of how one immigrant military spouse and ambitious career woman is raising her family with grit, grace, and style. Sharing her extraordinary experience in creating her home from the scratch and with nothing, saying countless tearful goodbyes with young children, and helping her military family thrive in the COVID-19 pandemic, Pearl provides rare gems of wisdom and her unadulterated perspective on how to make the military lifestyle work. This seasoned childcare professional's humor will keep you hooked and laughing aloud as you follow Pearl to unknown corners of Ghana in Africa, to the exotic culture in Japan, and to the sophisticated lifestyle in the US.
Growing Your Family offers priceless guidance and heart-to-heart encouragement to the clueless or tired military spouse.
**Additional books for and about military spouses are found HERE
**Additional books for and about military parenting are found HERE
Growing Your Family: Learn How to Flourish and Thrive as a Military Family
Author: Shermaine Perry-Knights
I Move A Lot and That's Okay captures the ups and downs of what it's like to move as a military-connected kid.
Full of fun and vibrant illustrations, the messages highlight all the things that military-connected children experience complete with family activities and ideas to make moves easier during PCS season. Inside you will find a diverse military family of different races and gender.
Moving with kids means a lot of social, emotional, and physical change. This book validates their experiences, feelings, and thoughts. Understanding more about their world helps children learn to handle feelings of loss associated with moving to a new home.
This book will encourage important conversations about:
- Moving
- Making new friends
- Anxiety
- Big feelings
- New environments
- Problem-solving
- Positive mental health
- Accepting each other's differences
View the entire list of books for military children on the move HERE
I Move a Lot and That's Okay: Axel's Story
Author: Leah Henderson
A moving tribute to the little-known history behind the first Memorial Day, illustrated by Coretta Scott King Award winner Floyd Cooper
Today is a special day. Eli knows it’s important if he’s allowed to miss one second of school, his “hard-earned right.”
Inspired by true events and told through the eyes of a young boy, this is the deeply moving story about what is regarded as the first Memorial Day on May 1, 1865. Eli dresses up in his best clothes, Mama gathers the mayflowers, Papa straightens his hat, and together they join the crowds filling the streets of Charleston, South Carolina, with bouquets, crosses, and wreaths.
Abolitionists, missionaries, teachers, military officers, and a sea of faces Black, Brown, and White, they march as one and sing for all those who gave their lives fighting for freedom during the Civil War.
With poignant prose and celebratory, powerful illustrations, A Day for Rememberin’ shines light on the little-known history of this important holiday and reminds us never to forget the people who put their lives on the line for their country. The book is illustrated by award-winning illustrator Floyd Cooper and includes archival photos in the back matter, as well as an author’s note, bibliography, timeline, and index.
A Day for Rememberin': Inspired by the True Events of the First Memorial Day
Author: Padgy Soltis
Volveré De Nuevo es una proclamación conmovedora para los niños que experimentan la dificultad de estar separados de un ser querido. Escrito en un estilo simple y rítmico, este libro es una mirada hermosa y conmovedora al vínculo de la paternidad y cómo ese amor no conoce límites. Los niños disfrutarán de la calidad lírica de la historia, mientras que los padres sentirán el impacto emocional de las palabras.
I Will Come Back is a touching proclamation to children experiencing the difficulty of being separated from a loved one. Written in a simple, rhythmic style, this book is a touching, beautiful look at the bond of parenthood and how that love knows no limits. Children will enjoy the lyrical quality of the story, while parents will feel the emotional impact of the words.
View the entire list of deployment books for military children with a deployed mother HERE
Volveré De Nuevo - I Will Come Back
Authors: Allison Wood, Tracey Enerson Wood, Kristen Riffle
A colorful collection of tips and tricks for getting the most out of the nomadic military lifestyle. Told through humorous anecdotes by those with years of unique experiences, these life hacks reveal a special culture with expectations and numerous obstacles to be faced along the way.
Military life boasts of travel to exotic places, immersion in the worldly cultures, and cuisine that most Americans can only dream about . . . and on the government’s dime, to boot!
At least, that’s what the common perception is. But those who have served know that while the above may be true, military life comes with its own set of challenges and can be a hardship as much as it is rewarding.
Here to help is the advice, guidance, and personal stories of spouses from all walks of life, in stages from the newlywed to the retired and properly salty. They share tips on overcoming the numerous obstacles, and navigating the special culture, traditions, and the one-of-a-kind lingo of military service.
Gathered mostly from those who are affiliated with the military, but also from those with similar diplomatic lifestyles, the anecdotes reveal the special bond they share with their fellow spouses, and the wisdom gained to pass to the next generation.
The very special illustrations were created by a talented Air Force wife, and reflect both the strong beauty and earnestness of those who are engaged in our nation’s most serious business, and yet, have learned not take themselves too seriously.
**Additional books for and about military spouses are found HERE
Life Hacks for Military Spouses: Advice, Wit, and Humor from Those Who Served Behind the Scenes
Author: Julianne Duncan Price
Moving can be stressful for parents and children alike, but with a couple of Adventurers to help, it can be exciting too! Written for 4-8 year olds, The Adventurers Club follows two veteran Adventurers and their pet turtle as they turn packing boxes into pirate ships, empty rooms into art canvases, strangers into friends, and a new house into a home. Engaging illustrations draw children into the adventure, and professional Tips For Moving give parents ideas for turning their move into a fun journey for the whole family.
View the entire list of military move books for military children HERE
The Adventurers Club - A Picture Book about Moving
Author: Alicia Delory
"I dare you to open Alicia Delory's Something is Better than Nothing and then try to put it down. This is a page-turning narrative that exposes physical and emotional shrapnel, relayed with unflinching and poetic honesty. Through her woven reflection on loving a veteran and mourning the loss of her father, Delory attains a rare and sharp beauty, laced with humor and hard-won wisdom." - SONYA HUBER, AUTHOR OF PAIN WOMAN TAKES YOUR KEYS
"This stunning memoir relates a rarely heard account of a wife surviving her army husband's return from Afghanistan with severe PTSD. Their story of perseverance, anger, violence, and a yearning for understanding, are interspersed with gripping scenes from Delory's difficult childhood. Told with searing frankness, dark humor, and penetrating insight, here is a riveting true story of how fierce honesty and enduring love can heal immeasurable challenges. " - EUGENIA KIM, AUTHOR OF THE KINSHIP OF SECRETS
"Alicia Delory bleeds through the page in this stunning, emotional memoir. She does so effortlessly, without seeking pity or needing to apologize. What she creates is a blunt, honest, and at times heart-wrenching look at millennial marriage." -- REUBEN "TIHI" HAYSLETT, AUTHOR OF DARK CORNERS, BEST OF 2019
Additional books about and for military and veteran families coping with PTSD are found HERE
Something Is Better than Nothing
Best new books about the military, military veterans, Veterans Day, Memorial Day ~ 2021
Author: Jeff Gottesfeld
With every step, the Tomb Guards pay homage to America’s fallen. Discover their story, and that of the unknown soldiers they honor, through resonant words and illustrations.
Keeping vigil at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, in Arlington National Cemetery, are the sentinel guards, whose every step, every turn, honors and remembers America’s fallen. They protect fellow soldiers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, making sure they are never alone. To stand there—with absolute precision, in every type of weather, at every moment of the day, one in a line uninterrupted since midnight July 2, 1937—is the ultimate privilege and the most difficult post to earn in the army. Everything these men and women do is in service to the Unknowns. Their standard is perfection.
Exactly how the unnamed men came to be entombed at Arlington, and exactly how their fellow soldiers have come to keep vigil over them, is a sobering and powerful tale, told by Jeff Gottesfeld and luminously illustrated by Matt Tavares—a tale that honors the soldiers who honor the fallen.
View the entire list of children's books about Memorial Day HERE
Twenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Author: Lawanda Warthen
He Looks Like Me, written from the perspective of a little girl named Sonja, tells the story of the first African American Defense Secretary, Lloyd James Austin, III, a retired four-star general. Mr. Austin is a superb role model for both military and civilian Americans, and his life serves as an outstanding example for future generations. His story represents the melting pot of individuals from different races, backgrounds, and cultures who make up the US Army and protect our freedoms. This important book helps individuals who look like me understand that they are not alone and that, with hard work and a commitment to doing the right thing, they too are destined for greatness. He Looks Like Me introduces the world to a great soldier, a hero, and a man of peace who proved to be an exemplary leader. Mr. Austin is a humble servant leader who has remained focused on people while leading from the front. He treats others like he wants to be treated-with dignity and respect. This children's book was created for all children, but especially to show our brown and black children that they too can be destined for greatness.
He Looks Like Me: A Celebration of Lloyd Austin, our First African American Secretary of Defense
Author: Amanda Davis
Discover the inspiring story of the American flag that flew over Ground Zero, traveled across all fifty states as it was repaired, and returned to New York as a restored symbol of unity.
In the days following September 11th, a 30-foot American flag hung torn and tattered at 90 West Street, across from Ground Zero. A few weeks later, the flag was taken down by a construction crew and tucked away in storage, where it stayed for nearly seven years.
The flag was brought out of storage in 2008 when the New York Says Thank You Foundation headed to Greensburg, Kansas, a town nearly destroyed by a tornado. NYSTY brought the flag with them, sparking a grassroots restoration effort that traveled over 120,000 miles across all fifty states, bringing together thousands of people, and helping America heal and rebuild . . . hand by hand, thread by thread, one stitch at a time.
This book is the story of that journey, a journey that ended at the opening of the National September 11 Museum, where the flag remains today. Along the way, the flag was restored using pieces of retired flags from every state—including a piece of the flag that Abraham Lincoln was laid on after he was shot at Ford's Theater and threads from the original Star-Spangled Banner flag, which flew at Fort McHenry in the War of 1812 and inspired Francis Scott Key to write the national anthem. The pieces and threads were stitched in by military veterans, first responders, educators, students, community-service heroes, and family members of 9/11 victims, among others. At each stop, communities came together to remember, to heal, and to unite.
30,000 Stitches: The Inspiring Story of the National 9/11 Flag
Author: RP Kids
The Mini Military series focuses on introducing young readers to the various branches of the US military. Lil' Marine highlights what it's like to be in the US Marine Corps, focusing on uniforms, bases, and parachutes, and introducing toddlers to military vehicles, such as the amphibious assault vehicles and aircraft.
Perfect for military families, those with veterans in their family, or for anyone looking to expose their youngest readers to parts of American society, this book and the series is sure to inspire and celebrate our brave service men and women.
Lil' Marine (Board Book)
Author: Amari Ferguson
Amari has big dreams of becoming a paleontologist someday, but first, he must go to college. Join Amari on an adventure near water, in caves, on a fossil hunt, and in the lab! See what he discovers about what it takes to be a paleontologist in Amari Goes on an Expedition!
Amari Goes on an Expedition
New books written by a military child ~ 2021
Author: Amari Ferguson
Amari loves playing with and talking about dinosaurs and hopes to be a paleontologist someday. One day while playing with his Box House, he journeys back in time to see some of his favorite prehistoric creatures. Read about his adventure in this first book in the "Life with Mari" series.
Amari Goes to Dinosaur Land
Author: Zara Johnston
A heart-warming rhyming story created to support children when they move
When Teddy has to move he feels all sorts of emotions, not wanting to leave his friends and being scared of the unknown. Will Teddy have a change of heart once he sees the new possibilities that change can bring?
"An all-round spectacular book for military children and others who are facing a move, and for the children who will be there in their new town to welcome them home"
View the entire list of military move books for military children HERE
Moving: Teddy's Journey
Author: Shavonne Gibson
April is considered the month of the Military Child. Let us come together to celebrate them for their many sacrifices. Purple Up!
View the entire list of books for children regarding the military lifestyle HERE
Purple Up "We Serve Too"
Author: Barbara Gruener
Adapted from and inspired by the real-life story of an unsung hero, Mr. Quigley's Keys invites you to walk in the work shoes of a beloved handyman as he quietly jingles through the hallways of his school, listening for ways to serve and connecting by heart. Bask in the admiration and pride that the students feel for their Navy veteran, whose war injury left him deaf, and watch as his every move models the school's keys to connection: love, perseverance, work ethic, empathy, goodness, and peace. Spend a birthday in the cafeteria and experience the joy of receiving a Quigley creation, then savor the sweetness as the can-doer classmates turn the tables to thank their faithful fix-it friend. Flip over the final page for a key twist that'll wrap you up in a huge hug of gratitude and love.
Mr. Quigley's Keys
Author: Athens E. Pellegrino
Mission: Mistletoe is the second story in The Military Child Chronicles. This series was created to serve as a resource and tool for military families. The holiday season can be very difficult for military families. Often, geographical separation and distance can leave military families feeling isolated and displaced.
A young boy, Atticus, experiences his first Christmas away from his grandparents in a new location. The story creatively depicts the challenges and complex emotions that military children may face during the holiday season and offers adaptive solutions to an adverse climate. Mission: Mistletoe also provides family activities to help build excitement and comradery in a military community. Come join Atticus as regains his holiday spirit and saves Christmas!
View the entire list of military family Christmas books HERE
The Military Child Chronicles - Mission: Mistletoe
Author: Athens E. Pellegrino
Mission: My First PCS, is the first story in the series, The Military Child Chronicles. The series was written to serve as a tool for military families. On a daily basis, military family life can change drastically. A young boy, Atticus, learns that his family will be relocating over the summer also known as a Permanent Change of Station (PCS). The story beautifully illustrates the challenges and complex feelings children may experience. Mission: My First PCS also offers tips and activities to help military families during their PCS. The series and book were created in order to serve as resources for our brave military families.
View the entire list of military move books for military children HERE
The Military Child Chronicles - Mission: My First PCS
Authors: Gary Roberts Arnold and Sandra Breier
Cadence Counts introduces young readers to the rhythmic cadences used by the U.S. military to foster feelings of pride, fellowship, and common loyalty among those serving our country.
Enjoy lots of parent-child time together singing the cadence and exploring the many ways the C-130 Hercules serves our country - transporting, weather reconnaissance, firefighting, search and rescue, and more. With a combination of beautiful aviation photographs and custom illustrations, Cadence Counts inspires kids to:
- learn to count
- master an uplifting military cadence
- discover amazing facts about the C-130
Cadence Counts also includes IOS/Android compatible Quick Response Codes (QRs) that link to music and game videos that complement the reading experience.
View the entire list of children's books about the military HERE
Cadence Counts with the Amazing C-130 Hercules
Author: Zandra Moten
Have you ever wanted to travel the world? Many military families are afforded this opportunity when a family member serving in the armed forces begins a tour of duty. A tour of duty is a period of time when an active-duty service member serves at a particular location. Families could be assigned to locations from six months to three years. Many people in the military community call the most popular time for location reassignments PCS (Permanent Change of Station) Season. As you can imagine, a sudden or planned relocation can be hard for children to understand and adapt. The PCS Season book series gives a glimpse into the lives of military families and most importantly, the military-connected children. In this first book of the series, meet Riley. Her story is based on real events. Join her on the journey as she discovers what PCS Season is all about and learn how her family helped to her understand the meaning of PCS Season.
View the entire list of books for military children going through a PCS move HERE
It's PCS Season: Riley's Journey to Discover PCS Season
Author: Vicki Cody
It is August 1990, and Iraq has just invaded Kuwait, setting off a chain reaction of events leading up to the first Gulf War. Vicki Cody’s husband, the commander of an elite Apache helicopter battalion, is deployed to Saudi Arabia—and for the next nine months they have to rely on written letters in order to stay connected.
From Vicki’s narrative and journal entries, the reader gets a very realistic glimpse of what it is like for the spouses and families back home during a war, in particular what it was like at a time when most people did not own a personal computer and there was no Internet—no iPhones, no texting, no tweeting, no Facetime. Her writing also illuminates the roller coaster of stress, loneliness, sleepless nights, humor, joys, and, eventually, resilience, that make up her life while her husband is away. Meanwhile, Dick’s letters to her give the reader a front row seat to the unfolding of history, the adrenaline rush of flying helicopters in combat, his commitment to his country, and his devotion to his family back home. Together, these three components weave a clear, insightful, and intimate story of love and its power to sustain us.
Additional books for and about military spouses are found HERE
Fly Safe: Letters from the Gulf War and Reflections from Back Home
Author: Brad Blazek
Children may be confused when they have a parent with a disability and especially a disabling brain injury. They may blame themselves for the parent being in pain or not understand why their home acts differently. This is a children's book about a little girl bunny who is telling her little baby sister bunny about their daddy bunny who has a brain injury and can't remember. It is a touching story of how the daddy may be different than other daddy's but how he loves his children. His pain, forgetfulness and need for less noise is not their fault. He wants them to be able to be like all the other little bunnies even though he may be a little different.
View the entire list of children books for military wounded warrior families HERE
My Daddy Forgets: There is a Boo Boo in His Head
Authors: Eileen Doyon and Christy Gardner
Fall in love with Lucky!
This amazing hardcover picture book is a true story about Lucky, a little puppy that only Christy Gardner, an Army Veteran who has two prosthetic legs, saw potential in.
He was a little puppy born with an unusual front leg. Others saw him with a flaw, Christy saw him with lots of love to give.
She was already training puppies to become service/therapy dogs. The story of Lucky is that of a special puppy with an incredible personality and a special mission. Who knows what his fate would have been if Christy had not given him a helping hand? You see, Lucky was a puppy that no one wanted to care for. Christy immediately felt a connection with him.
Read how Christy and her service dog, Moxie, took Lucky into their home. He will warm your heart and put a smile on your face. Moxie teaches Lucky that he can do things like other puppies can, he just has to figure out his own way.
This story is about anti-bullying, and that being different is ok, and to never, never give up...happy trails!
View the entire list of books for military children with an injured parent HERE
Lucky: Little Guy, Big Mission
Author: Kris Rystrom Emmert
I saw stripes going by my dining room windows. Naval stripes. Stripes on dress blues. What are naval officers coming to my house on a Friday morning while Jon is at sea? In an instant, time stopped.
Embark on a life-changing encounter as you journey through the remarkable life and death of an accomplished naval flight officer and his grieving widow's path from unimaginable heartache to unstoppable hope. With captivating and highly accurate military scenes, excerpts of touching long-distance love letters, and raw, unfiltered emotions, Providing Promise isn’t just another memoir--it is a lifeline. Experience your own inner healing and uncover your God-given destiny as you walk alongside one who has seen firsthand how God can turn tragedy into triumph. “I pray that my story of heartache to hope will inspire people to find answers to their hard questions in the midst of their suffering. God is faithful to walk with us through difficult circumstances. He provides promise for us and heals us by taking something unbelievably awful and turning it into something truly good.” Discussion guide included. (Also available as an e-book or audio book.)
A portion of the proceeds from Providing Promise is being donated to the VAW-VRC Memorial Scholarship Fund. For more information about this fund or to donate, visit vvosa.org.
View additional books about military loss HERE
Providing Promise: A Navy Widow's Journey to Hope
Author: RP Kids
The Mini Military series focuses on introducing young readers to the various branches of the US military. Lil' Air Force Pilot highlights what it's like to be in the US Air Force, focusing on uniforms and flight gear, and introducing toddlers to military vehicles, such as the fighter jets, helicopters, and bombers.
Perfect for military families, those with veterans in their family, or for anyone looking to expose their youngest readers to parts of American society, this book and the series is sure to inspire and celebrate our brave service men and women.
Lil' Air Force Pilot (Board Book)
Author: Amy McGrath
The inspiring story of the first female Marine to fly a combat mission in an F/A-18—and the transformative events that led to her bold decision to take on the most powerful man in the U.S. Senate.
Amy McGrath grew up in Edgewood, Kentucky, a childhood shaped by love of country, baseball (the Cincinnati Reds), and, from the age of twelve, a fascination with fighter jets. Her devastation at learning that a federal law prohibited women from flying in combat fueled her determination to do just that--and then, to help change the laws to improve the lives of all Americans.
McGrath writes of gaining an appointment in high school to the U.S. Naval Academy, making it through Marine Corps training, graduating from Annapolis, Maryland, becoming a Second Lieutenant, and raising her right hand to swear to defend the U.S. Constitution, honor bound.
She vividly recounts her experiences flying in the Marines, and her combat deployments to Iraq (Kuwait) and Afghanistan, her work as an Air Combat Tactics instructor—and what it was like to finally fly that fighter jet: high-speed, intense, and physically demanding.
Here is McGrath, training to do the most intense tactical flying there is (think the Navy's TOPGUN ); meeting the man who would become her husband; being promoted to major and then lieutenant colonel; marrying, having three children, a career and life in Washington and then moving her family back to Kentucky to begin a whole new chapter in politics; her roller-coaster congressional campaign (she lost by three percentage points); and making the tough decision to run again, in an even bigger, higher-stakes national campaign, against the five-term leader of the U.S. Senate, Mitch McConnell.
A moving, inspiring American story of courage, determination, and large dreams.
Additional books about and for women military veterans are found HERE
Honor Bound: An American Story of Dreams and Service
Author: Brooke Mahaffey
Inspired by real-life experiences, this book for military-connected children is an excellent resource to help prepare children for a PCS (Permanent Change of Station) move. In this heartwarming story, the author validates the natural feelings and emotions that children often experience when it comes time to PCS. Most importantly, the story characters discover the benefits of moving and the excitement of being a military child.
Psssst!...did you know that military children are also part of a special club? The Dandelion Club!
View the entire list of military move books for military children HERE
I'm a Dandelion - A PCS Story for Military Children
