Celebrating Veterans & War Heroes | Inspirational War Stories to Share with your Kids
It’s important to Mike and I that the boys have a certain understanding of the sacrifice veterans (and our current servicemen and women) made to protect our country and our freedoms. Both of my grandfathers, my two great-uncles, and two brother-in-laws are all veterans. One brother-in-law continues to serve.
We are so thankful for them, and we are so proud of them.
With Veterans Day fast approaching, consider introducing your child to age-appropriate books that might foster a sense of pride and appreciation in them as well. Below you’ll find my take on five inspirational war stories that we’ve loved as a family, and opened the way to some pretty interesting and meaningful conversations. Included with each, is my personal recommendation for age-appropriateness – but you know your child. Go with your gut, and enjoy :).
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Don’t Forget, God Bless Our Troops
Written by Jill Biden, Illustrated by Raul Colon
Conflict: Current
Told from the perspective of Jill Biden’s granddaughter, Natalie, in Don’t Forget, God Bless our Troops, readers are given a glimpse into the life of a family left behind during their father, Jill Biden’s son’s, deployment.
Be brave, Natalie, is the refrain that punctuates each passing season, each interaction, each kindness this family receives while waiting for Dad to come home. The boy’s and I first read this book when my brother-in-law was deployed, and on every page I saw illustrated the bravery my nieces and nephew and sister-in-law made every day, deployment-long, just like Natalie’s family.
A wonderful reminder of the sacrifices our military families make to support our men and women in arms, this book also stands as a reminder to pray for our troops and their families, and support them in meaningfully practical ways where we can.
Suggested Age Range: 2-3 years and up
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Year of the Jungle: Memories from the Home Front
Written by Suzanne Collins, Illustrated by James Proimos
Conflict: Vietnam
Bestselling author of The Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins shares the personal story of her dad’s deployment to Vietnam when she was in the first grade. Told through the postcards of her father, and the somewhat bewildered naivety of a small child, this book touches on the sad reality that while war itself is complicated, it also does complicated things to the ones we love.
It’s true. He’s home now. Some things have changed but some things will always be the same.
Year of the Jungle is a beautifully moving narrative of a family separated by war, and their journey back to one another.
Suggested Age Range: 4-5 years and up
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Voices of Pearl Harbor
Written by Sherry Garland, Paintings by Layne Johnson
Conflict: World War II
In Voices of Pearl Harbor, Garland uses the unique perspective of several individuals to tell the World War II story of one of the worst foreign attacks on American soil. Each page is a poetic rendering of one persons account of one piece of the story, starting slowly, year by year, quickening to an almost minute by minute account, and leveling out to a post 2000 perspective.
What I love most about this book, is Garlands attempt to portray multiple sides to this one story. War is war. Sometimes people are evil in their intentions, and sometimes they are just people caught on the wrong side of a conflict. For someone who had a grandfather serving on both sides of the war (German and American), this is a welcome and accurate sentiment.
Suggested Age Range: 5-7 years and up (based on length not content)
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Irena’s Jars of Secrets
Written by Marcia Vaughan, Illustrated by Ron Mazellan
Conflict: World War II
Based on real-life World War II hero Irena Sendler, Irena’s Jars of Secrets is a moving narrative of bravery and human rights. While the content of the book is beyond my own children’s maturity, I was riveted by Irena’s story and the legacy she left to the world by way of the 2,500 Jewish children she saved from the hands of the Nazi’s.
Every child saved with my help and the help of all the wonderful secret messengers, who today are no longer living, is the justification of my existence on this earth, and not a title to glory.
– Irena Sendler, from a letter to the Polish Senate, 2007, included in Irena’s Jars of Secrets
We will definitely be revisiting this book when my kids are older. Irena is the type of brave historical figure I want my boys to be moved and motivated by.
Suggested Age Range: Mature children (based on content)
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Fly, Cher Ami, Fly!: The Pigeon Who Saved the Lost Battalion
Written by Robert Burleigh, Illustrated by Robert MacKenzie
Conflict: World War I
Fly, Cher Ami, Fly! tells the story of an unusual World War I veteran. American Soldiers of the 77th Infantry Division waited stranded behind German lines for carrier pigeon Cher Ami, to fly to safety with the message of the lost battalion’s location. Cher Ami accomplished what no one else could, precipitating the rescue of many American lives.
Suggested Age Range: 2-3 years and up
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Not interested in buying? I totally get it. Please go check them out at your library and enjoy as a family!