Pat Brisson, Author
France Brassard, Illustrator
Boyds Mills Press, Fiction, 2010
Suitable for: Ages 4 and up
Themes: Separations, Military Families, Bravery, Courage
Opening/Synopsis: “My mom is a sailor. She works on a big ship. When her ship is in home port, she comes home every night…When her ship goes to sea, she goes, too. She’s gone for a long time. Mom hugs me hard before she goes…She says, “Be brave, Jerome. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” Dad does his best to care for Jerome and his dog Duffy, but it’s just not the same with Mom gone. Jerome doesn’t feel very brave. But, Jerome has Duffy to share his experiences. Sometimes there are surprises. Sometimes they both have accidents. Sometimes they’re afraid during storms. Sometimes they both get ice cream cones. Sometimes they both have bad days. And, they both learn about bravery in an unusual way.
Why I like this book: Pat Brisson has written a very sensitive story about a military mother who serves in the Navy. She creates a skillful and realistic portrayal of what separation means. Jerome’s loss isn’t glossed over, problems are faced head on, and the family makes the adjustments needed with hope, love and courage. Brassard’s illustrations are warm, gentle and covey the right amount of emotion for the story. This is also an excellent book to use in the classroom with students.
Activities: A special thank you to Barbara Gruener who recommended this book to me. Check out her review. Every year she reads this book to her students, and then has her students do projects for the military at school. You can learn about what her students have done. There are many classroom activities that support our troops, including writing postcards, e-mailing messages, sending care packages and cell phone cards. It you have a military child in you classroom, invite the parent to visit and talk to students. Support our Troops also has a very complete list of organizations that sponsor activities.
To see a complete listing of all the Perfect Picture Books with resources, please visit author Susanna Leonard Hill’s Perfect Picture Books. Or click on the Perfect Picture Book Fridays badge in the right sidebar.
Another great choice,Pat. I bet this is a lovely story with the dog for comfort. Thanks Pat.
LikeLike
Thanks. The dog brings the dog great comfort and they go through everything together.
LikeLike
Thanks for sharing this important title! Just this morning I got an email from the wife of a deployed soldier saying his Team got our 8 boxes and I quote, “It’s like Christmas!” Seriously, we can NEVER do enough to support these brave men, women, and children.
LikeLike
Barbara, thanks again for the recommendation! That is so cool. You students must have been thrilled and pround that they made a soldier and his unit happy.
LikeLike
Wonderful pick Patricia! Happy weekend 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks Coleen!
LikeLike
This sounds like a great resource for the classroom like you said. Thanks for sharing this Patricia 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks! Glad you liked the selection Jennifer.
LikeLike
I’m so glad to be adding this to our list, Pat. We don’t have enough books for children of military families. This one looks wonderful, and I love the ideas for activities. Thanks so much for sharing!
LikeLike
Susanna, I was grateful Babara mentioned it to me. I had another one, but liked this so much better. Good for out list.
LikeLike
This sounds excellent. I so appreciate that the child struggles with being brave, and doesn’t always succeed. That will encourage real kids so much more than if the child in the book coped perfectly at all times. Thank you for sharing!
LikeLike
Great comment Beth. Thanks.
LikeLike
What a wonderful book. I hadn’t heard of it before but I love almost everything Boyds Mills Press publishes. Thanks for sharing!
LikeLike
Thank you Julie. I’m glad you liked the selection. It goes with my theme this month.
LikeLike
Thank you Pat for your review and including the link to Barbara’s “Character Counts” website. My children’s school holds a character assembly every month, and I think the teachers would appreciate knowing about thise resources!
LikeLike
Cathy, Barbara’s doing such a fabulous job with her students and has great activities. It is a great book for the classrooom. Hope you mention it.
LikeLike
What a great resource for so many families with loved ones deployed. Thanks as always Pat!
LikeLike
Kirsten, glad you liked this selection. Very good book!
LikeLike
We need more books like this one, Pat, with so many moms (and dads) in the military these days and being deployed for long stretches of time…how difficult for young kids :(. Thank you for a wonderful choice and a great review and also for the link to Barbara’s site! 🙂
LikeLike
Vivian, Glad you liked the selection. Did you see my post last Monday on books specifically designed for kids with deployed parents — We Serve Too!. Great series.
LikeLike
Another great selection. I ran into a Viet Nam vet today. Broke my heart the stories he shared about how he was treated when he returned home from service. Now, he’s in a military town, but worries about how soldiers and families are doing so many deployments. It’s tough. Tough.
LikeLike
Stacy, glad you liked the selection. Thanks for sharing your discussion with a Vietnam Vet. Hope you like the remainder of my posts for the month. They are focused on loss and PTSD and wonderful programs to help. Too many vets serving 3-4 tours returning with serious adjustment issues. That’s how we lost out grandson.!
LikeLike
A great review once again, Patricia. It is important that all sides of the reality of war are told.
LikeLike
Niamh, thanks. My focus is on the kids right now. But, the remainder of my posts will be dealing with loss, PTSD and veterans and the many programs available. Have some interesting information to share.
LikeLike
Great review Ms. Tilton! I think this book sounds somewhat sad, but I think it’ll help military kids. The illustrations probably add a lot to the story, seeing the cover.
LikeLike
Erik, it’s so important to acknowledge the sacrifice of military kids and to focus on how they handle separation. The dog plays a big role.
LikeLike
Lovely book and review Pat. Very real! Great resource for the classroom, to.
LikeLike
Diane, glad you enjoyed the selection! Barabara recommended it to me.
LikeLike
It sounds like a lovely and important book. Barbara has lots of great book ideas!! I love her blog.
LikeLike
It was a very different book for militay children. I was glad Barbara recommended it to me.
LikeLike
This sounds like such a sweet book! A perfect addition to PPBF! Thanks Patricia!
LikeLike
Loni, thank you. I really liked the book.
LikeLike
An excellent recommendation, Pat. It’s nice to know that there is a respectful, well told story for kids who do have to deal with a parent being away in the military.
LikeLike
Thanks Heather. It is a very respectful of military kids who really have so much to cope with at a young age. Glad you liked the selection.
LikeLike
You always pick such poignant books. I feel like crying just from the review. It seems like a real winner. Something that needs discussion when read to a kid. A book that describes the reality of a military mother and her son. Perhaps it can be read before any separation, like hospitalization or just going to camp.
Thanks for introducing us to another strong book and author. 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks Clar. This is an excellent book dealing with the anxiety of separation. Ran a series especially for kids with deployed parents last Monday–We Serve Too! Excellent books about deployment, reunion and homecomings. Thanks for your comments.
LikeLike
I”ll try and go back to search your blog for that series. Your blog is post rich. Or should I say your posts are content rich. 🙂
LikeLike
Clar, such a nice comment. I just hope people will share the info with those requiring help.
LikeLike
Clar, such a nice comment. I just hope people will share the info with those requiring help.
LikeLike
It does sound like a sweet and beautiful picture book. Will definitely check this one out. I am loving your theme for the month and getting to know such diverse books in the process. 🙂
LikeLike
It is a wonderful book for kids because it is so realistic! Kids who are separated from a parent for any reason will identify!
LikeLike
This is great addition to the list, Patricia. Barbara Gruener had wonderful suggestions for activities. Thanks for the great review.
LikeLike
Penny, this is a helpful book for any child facing separation! Glad you liked the selection.
LikeLike
What a wonderful perspective. ‘Sometimes we were brave’ encapsulates the military experience so well, and is beautifully stated. Such a nice way to recognize the special relationship which exists within military families, and actually all families that endure unusual stress for many reasons. Thank you, Pat Brisson for sharing your insights in a way sure to help all children, not only military.
Way to go, Barbara Gruener! I’ll bet kids love you and the great activities! Soldiers love receiving ‘holiday’ cards because those are days not usually celebrated such as ‘Mother’s Day’ or ‘Valentine’s Day’ – Halloween was the best. Costumes and candy for the troops make their day, and they get a big kick out of dressing up!
Wonderful selection, Pat. Thanks for a lovely review.
LikeLike
Thank you for such lovely comments. Barbara suggested this book. I like Pat Brisson’s style of writing. This book will definitely help kids. Actually any child facing a separation from a parent. Thank you for commenting.
LikeLike
We just got the most BEAUTIFUL thank you note from a Texas soldier who’s stationed in Northern Afghanistan. He said that his platoon kept repeating, “Five Boxes!” but that they were even MORE excited by the kids’ notes and artwork. They sent a picture of the letters posted in their hangar as a reminder of the generosity of the future generation. Imagine, them thanking us. Humbling! I’m glad that you all like this book as much as we do!!
LikeLike
That is fantastic and very humbling! Thanks for telling me.
LikeLike