This is the perfect book to read to a child who has a parent away at war. It could be used to help prepare them before the parent leaves or tell help comfort them while they are away. I can't imagine how hard it must be for a parent or a child in this situation. If this book provides even the smallest amount of comfort, that is a great thing. It encourages a child to ask questions and helps them understand that everyone in your family is missing that person so it can help to talk with each other. I don't think I would read this to a whole class. It is most likely such a sensitive subject to the child that is experience missing their parent, but I would give it to a child to read or take home to read with their family. ( )

"Come Home Soon" is a picture book for young readers to read when feeling anxiety or afraid because they have a parent who is being deployed to war. The book reassure young readers that is okay to feel scared and angry because a parent is going to war. I love that book has questions that children can express their feelings or share ways their family is dealing with a love one in a war. ( )

I like this book because it reassures readers, especially kids with a parent(s) who are away from home while serving in the military, that it is okay for them to miss their loved ones and feel sad about it. This book gives hope to those readers that they will see their loved ones again. One thing I appreciated about this book was how there were several specific pages that had a boxed question that asked "What about you?", in which students would be able to relate and empathize with this book. For example, on pg. 21, the question asked "What are some of the things you and your family can do to feel closer to your parent while they're away?" This question can allow families to bond closer together. This book is about separation that is only temporary. ( )

4. “Come Home Soon” is a picture book about coping with parents who are sent to a war zone. The big idea of this book focuses on helping children to understand temporary separation. In my opinion this is an exceptional book for any child with questions of military parents. I enjoyed this book for several reasons. To begin, the book offers a first look at how children may feel when their parents are leaving for the military. I love that the writing offers side questions for readers to relate too. For example, near the beginning the book asks, “What about you, do you know other children who have parents in the military?” Not only is the book implied for children of military parents, but also for any other reader. Next, the specific facial expressions on the characters of the illustrations creates an engaging read. The colorful pictures flow with each page’s explanations, thus they promote interactions among all readers, and touches the specific emotions children of military parents may experience. Lastly, I did like the layout of the entire book because the message of when a parent goes to war, gradually grows, and becomes extremely positive. For instance, the beginning of the book explains how it is hard to say goodbye to a parent, the unhappy, worried feelings children may experience while parents are serving, and questions children may have. The middle of the book begins to heighten with positivity by developing questions for children to ask their parents, and good reasons why their parents serve in the military. In the end of the picture book, specific ideas to connect and feel comfortable with their parent serving in the military is provided. I love how the last illustrated page ends quoting, “But saying hello again can be one of the happiest times that you all share as a family.” ( )