Don't Forget, God Bless Our Troops

May 14, 2012
Second lady of the United States Biden turns her family’s experiences into an earnest picture book that encourages support of those serving in the military and their families. Natalie (inspired by Biden’s granddaughter) misses her father desperately when he is deployed. “Soldiers have to do hard things sometimes,” her mother quietly reminds her. But waiting and worrying about her father, and trying to be a strong example for her younger brother, Hunter, are tough. The words “Be brave, Natalie” appear as a frequent refrain as Natalie, Hunter, Mommy, and Nana celebrate holidays and milestones, wishing Daddy could be with them. Packages, prayers, video chats, and kind gestures from friends and neighbors make things a little easier, but nothing can match the joy of the day when Daddy
arrives home to his “brave, brave girl.” Colón captures the rhythms of everyday family life at school, church, and elsewhere in his textured, mixed-media compositions, depicting several tender moments of concern and love among family members. Biden also includes an author’s note, information about the military, and tips for how children and adults can reach out to military families. Ages 5–up.

May 15, 2012
Second Lady Biden delivers a sensitive, non-political account of one family's deployment. "Does Daddy really have to go?" are the opening lines in this child's view of deployment, and they are the first words many children say when their parents tell them of the long separation they are about to suffer. "Daddy is a soldier," is the honest answer Natalie has to process. As the seasons change with Daddy still abroad, the difficulty is obvious. Natalie has to be brave as she waits and waits. She is comforted by the support of her neighbors, the prayers of her church, a sensitive teacher, and playing with her "Daddy Dolls" (GI Joes); video chats with her dad are big events. Colon's soft brush-and-scratch technique invites the youngest readers in, taking a bit of the edge off the sadness but never turning the story saccharine. Each family facing deployment is unique and faces its own challenges, but Biden nicely touches on the experiences that are common to every family: loneliness, fear, long months of boredom and the paradox that life goes on despite the absence. She wisely leaves out the truly difficult moments: the goodbye scenes, the possibility of injury or death, and the readjustment upon the soldier's return. Teachers and counselors will reach for this often for the extensive, excellent resources in the backmatter as well as the story. (author's note) (Picture book. 4-8)

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July 1, 2012

K-Gr 2-Biden takes inspiration from her own family in relating this story about a five-year-old girl coping with her father's military deployment. Natalie goes to school, church, the swimming pool, etc., but each activity is underscored by her sadness and anxiety about her dad. The recurring phrase, "Be brave, Natalie," reminds her that she has a responsibility of her own. The mom or dad is the heroic soldier, but the soldier's families demonstrate courage as well. The illustrations, done in watercolor, colored pencil, and lithograph pencil, are vibrant and appealing. They capture the emotion of the story but also show that this situation is daily life for many people. The full-page or two-page pictures invite viewers into the frame; there are no borders as barriers to intimacy. While keeping the story at a child-appropriate level, Biden reaches out to military youngsters to help them understand their own feelings and increases awareness for all children about military families in their communities. Back matter provides practical ways to support these families.-Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2012
Grades K-3 Biden, wife of the vice president, watched for a year as her granddaughter, Natalie, dealt with the deployment of her father to Iraq. Using Natalie's experiences as a springboard, Biden chronicles what life is like for a child with a parent fighting far from home. Natalie sits on her father's lap as her mother explains, Soldiers have to do hard things sometimes. So do their children. Natalie has to comfort her mother and help her younger brother through missing his dad. But there are glimmers of light as well: on video chat, she shows her father her loose tooth; the family sends care packages overseas; and she befriends a girl whose parent is also deployed. Connecting each spread are the words, Be brave, Natalie. Through both the sensitive text and the art, there is always the feel of time passing until, finally, Natalie's father comes home. As always, Colon's scratchboard-style art, rendered in watercolor and colored pencil, invites a closer look. Here readers will see how faith and community help military families. The excellent back matter gives readers myriad ways that both adults and children can help military families in their own communities. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: The Second Lady will no doubt attract publicity, and plenty of it. But even without a celebrity author, this book is so full of wonderful ways to help the troops that it is a must for libraries.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)