Coming Home

Starred review from September 29, 2014
As joyful reunions between soldiers and loved ones unfold around him on the tarmac, a blond-haired boy in a red T-shirt and camo shorts wonders where his soldier could be. Then, finally, it happens: “Mom!” Ruth’s beautifully observed, nearly wordless picture book combines journalistic immediacy with the intensely dramatic framings of a graphic novel, reflecting Ruth’s background in the medium (including the 2013 comic The Lost Boy). Working in tones of sunlight and khaki, Ruth moves his protagonist in and out of the foreground, almost as if he’s asking readers to scout for him in the same way that he is looking for his mother. “Sheesh!” the boy thinks, as he passes lovers locked in a kiss—a moment of levity amid his increasing anxiety. Ruth brings his story to a close at the perfect emotional moment: the boy leaps into the arms of his kneeling mother, and they hug each other tightly, their eyes closed as they savor every second. A stirring tribute to the resilience of both soldiers and those they must leave at home. Ages 4–7. Agent: Allen Spiegel, Allen Spiegel Fine Arts.

October 1, 2014
A nearly wordless picture book chronicles the wait for reunion after a troop plane lands. The first spread shows a pregnant woman, a dog and one blond boy, all evidently unrelated. The boy waits to find his soldier in the crowd, his face full of expectation. The foreground is colored in, while the background images are translucent, allowing young readers to focus on a few of the stories. First, the dog tackles its owner, a young female soldier. Soon, a male soldier kisses a waiting woman. Another tenderly regards the pregnant woman's belly. The boy runs among the embracing families, looking for his soldier. He regards the kissing and hugging with age-appropriate disdain and continues his search. When it's clear that most people have found one another, his face is worried, nearly tearful. A small grin turns into a celebratory "MOM!" and soon he is caught up in a welcome hug of his own. Most spreads contain just one or two words that tie the illustrations together. A lengthy, unnecessary author's note sounds a dissonant note against the concise, carefully worded story. The dust jacket borders on maudlin, with the boy saluting a plane while standing next to the waiting dog, and confusingly implies a relationship. Though it's on the manipulative side, it should be helpful for children anticipating a parent's return. (Picture book. 2-6)

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November 1, 2014

PreS-Gr 2-As long as American troops are serving overseas, there will be children waiting to be reunited with them. In Ruth's nearly wordless picture book, readers follow the anxious progress of a young boy in a red T-shirt as he looks through the crowds of returning veterans and their loved ones. Along with him, there's a border collie dashing into its owner's arms, a man tenderly touching the belly of a pregnant woman, tight embraces, and comradely photo shoots. Ruth's skillful depiction of a variety of people simultaneously experiencing joyful reunions culminates in a wildly exuberant "MOM!" as the boy spots the person he's been searching for. Respectful and as handsome as it is useful, this book has a place in most collections.-Miriam Lang Budin, Chappaqua Library, NY

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2014
Preschool-G This affecting picture book is simplicity itself. Nuanced drawings drive the action, with only occasional words appearing every other page or so. Lifelike illustrations show a young boy at a busy airport. While he moves through throngs of people, various scenes of military personnel reuniting with their families are portrayed. Tension slowly mounts as he continues his search, Watching . . . Waiting. Finally, he catches sight of a familiar figure and runs into the arms of a soldierhis mom. Young readers will identify with the main character's reactions: his patient wistfulness, his sheepishness over public displays of affection, his growing consternation as his search continues, his final exuberance. This gently reassuring selection will resonate with children who have parents in the military or with anyone who is separated from a family member for any reason. Its simple message lends itself to multiple applications and audiences, extending its potential impact beyond more focused selections, such as Jill Biden's Don't Forget, God Bless Our Troops (2012) or Gary Metivier's Until Daddy Comes Home (2014).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)