MWSA Book Review

Son, A Soldier’s Work Is Never Done

Authors:  Kathy Barnes, Ph.D. and Smith McGarr

Publisher:  AuthorHouse

Reviewer: Bill McDonald – President of the MWSA

War is Scary for Children – This Book Helps!

This book will grab your heart when you begin to look at photos in the story. It makes the book come alive with emotions that I assume will allow children ages 5 to 8 years old to fully identify with. Authors Kathy Barnes and Smith McGarr have done an excellent job giving this age group something to relate to in their delightful, yet serious, book “Son, A Soldier’s Work Is Never Done.”

War is not easy for any adult to understand. It is even more difficult for young children who have to deal with a father or mother who is taken away from their lives and sent off to war. This book may be an effective tool for them to use in helping with this scary time in their lives.

The photos are an excellent choice to go along with the words of the story. This book should stimulate conversations between adults and the youngsters reading the book. This is a great book to read together and to discuss. It can be read over and over again to help children trying to cope with the situation.

This book has my personal recommendation. The MWSA awards this book its highest children’s book rating of FIVE TEDDY BEARS!

Reviewer: Joe Fabel – MWSA Review Board

This is a companion book to “Daddy Misses Kisses and Candy at War”. The present book deals with children who are in the elementary grades, an age group who have more understanding but whose questions are just as desperately in need of answers.

These youngsters are often scared about the possible effects of war on the missing parent. At times they “play at war” with their friends, an important “acting out” in search of understanding as well as healthy imitation. The text contains conversations typical of this age group. Additionally there are work sheets for the children to complete thereby assisting them in their attempts at understanding why the parent “is away.”

The child is able to express love of the service person as well as providing a message of love from that parent who is serving our country. We must never forget that the children need reassurance along with the support and conviction that what the parent is doing away from home is important and worthwhile.