This collection of original stories and poems touches on many aspects of military life from a child's point of view. From moving to making new friends, deployment, homecoming, patriotism, and tender family moments, Military Life gives a glimpse of the many joys and challenges military children experience. Moonbeam Children's Book Awards - Gold Medal
Midwest Book Awards - Finalist Contents:
"Just Like You!" by Julie LaBelle
"My Space" by Donna Portelli
"Best Friends" by Judy Hissong
"My Daddy Jumps Today" by Michelle Tonsmeire
"Mama's Been Called Up" by Charlene Kochensparger
"Saying Goodbye" by Peggie Brott
"The Good Day" by Alison Buckholtz
"Holding Mom's Kite" by Jennifer Jesseph
"When Mommy Comes Home" by Amy Houts
"When Daddy Comes Home" by Amy Houts
"Love Letters" by Karen Pavlicin
"It's Five O'Clock" by Cindy Shaw
"Good Night" by Christy Lyon
Illustrations by Quinette Cook
About the Author: Twelve authors draw on real-life experience to create original stories and poems for military children.
JULIE LABELLE's son grew up to be a Marine just like his dad. Their Marine neighbors were also good role models for how to play hard in the mud and get hosed off at the end of the day ''Just Like You!''
DONNA PORTELLI loves to make a wonderful space for each person in her family. A recent move to a new neighborhood and her daughters' attempts to make their new space their own inspired her poem ''My Space.''
JUDY HISSONG moved several times while her dad was in the Army and made many friends along the way. The friendship in her poem ''Best Friends'' continues today after seven moves and many, many years.
MICHELLE TONSMEIRE's husband has been in airborne units all over the world. She was inspired to write ''My Daddy Jumps Today'' the first time their young son watched his daddy jump at the drop zone. Michelle lives in North Carolina with her husband and two children.
CHARLENE KOCHENSPARGER is a writer who lives near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base with her firefighter husband and two children. ''Mama's Been Called Up'' was inspired by her children's school librarian who wanted more books about moms who deploy.
PEGGIE BROTT believes in helping her three children find the silver lining in any situation and enjoys all the adventures Army life brings. She was inspired to write ''Saying Goodbye'' during her husband's second deployment.
ALISON BUCKHOLTZ wrote ''The Good Day'' for her children, Ethan and Esther, while her husband, a Navy pilot, was deployed.
JENNIFER JESSEPH has been writing poems for more than 20 years. When she thought of parents deploying, the image of a kite came to mind and that's when she wrote ''Holding Mom's Kite.''
AMY HOUTS, the daughter of an Army tech sergeant, has written 37 books for children. She was inspired to write ''When Mommy Comes Home'' and ''When Daddy Comes Home'' after reading about a mother saying goodbye to her young children before deploying.
KAREN PAVLICIN exchanged more than 800 handwritten letters with her Marine husband during his deployments. She loves to leave love notes in her son's lunchbox and read reminders from her treasure box. It was her son's love note on the pantry door that inspired her to write ''Love Letters.''
CINDY SHAW is married to an Army military police officer. They currently live on post next to the parade field. Each evening, their children run out to watch the lowering of the flag, inspiring her poem ''It's Five O'Clock.''
CHRISTY LYON loves to read to her two boys before bedtime. She wrote ''Good Night'' to add a prayer for safety and grateful thanksgiving for their day.
QUINETTE COOK, illustrator, lives in Minnesota with her husband, two children, and a Weimaraner named Jazz. She holds a BA in commercial art and design from the University of Minnesota.
