Congratulations to Vijaya Bodach who won ONE WEEK OF YOU from last week's blog and to Gretchen Griffith who won A SONG FOR GWENDOLYN BROOKS.
In Daddy Can You See the Moon? (Spork, 2019) a well-written and beautifully illustrated picture book, author, Gayle Krause, sensitively portrays one of war’s harsh realities: a soldier’s devastating injury.
Krause's rhymes and Carlos de la Garza's illustrations, demonstrate three constants in the story: the moon, love, and courage. Before he leaves to serve, the father says:
Though I'll be gone
I have a way
For us to share
Part of each day.
At bedtime,
Look up at the moon
And I will too.
I'll be home soon.
While his father is away, the little boy counts the days and six full moons pass. Until the day his mother hears alarming news:
She sets down her coffee mug and wraps me in a giant hug.
I wipe her tears, and ask, "What's wrong?"
She answers "Son, you must be strong."
Daddy stepped on unsafe ground. His legs were hurt when he was found.
That night the boy looks out his window and fearfully wonders,
“Daddy...can you see the moon
Marching in a dream platoon?”
You're marking time at Soldier's Gate
But I hope that you can wait.
cause Baby, Ricky, Mom and me,
We need you in our family.
His father comes home and the little boy helps his father rehabilitate. Courage—is shown, not told--through the text and illustrations.
Reminiscent of one of my favorite picture books, I’ll Love you Forever, the book goes full circle ending with the boy having grown up and now a soldier looking at the moon. He holds his father’s picture while his father—back home—gazes at the moon too.
See Kathleen Temean's blog for more information on Gayle's book journey.
GIVEAWAY
To celebrate her book birthday tomorrow, April 9th, and in conjunction with the Month of the Military Child, Gayle is giving away an autographed copy of Daddy, Can You See the Moon? Leave me a comment by April 11 (with your email address if you are new to my blog) and I'll enter your name. If you have a family member in the military or plan to give this to a child whose parent is in the military, I'll enter your name twice.
