I had the opportunity to read the most darling story written from the perspective of a young, military child called, “Is Your Dad a Pirate?“
You WILL be in tears by the end of this.
Brilliantly written by Tara McClary Reeves and beautifully illustrated by Daniel Fernandez, this story is an overview of a young girl’s daddy going away to war, how she views her military spouse mom at home, and how they both handle the experience of daddy coming home injured. Mrs. Reeves shares this tender story based on her own childhood experience.
It all starts in the mind of a precious milkid, processing the reality that her daddy has to leave their home and their family to fight for our country.
While he’s gone, she prays for him, she dances for joy when he calls, she writes him letters, and she imagines what they will do together when he comes home.
Time passes, and when they finally get the call that he is coming home, things look a little different than in her original pictures. Her daddy is going to come home changed.
But the joy from this little girl pours off the pages when he shows up at the door.
She is resilient and she adapts; she draws NEW pictures of what her daddy and she will do together, only this time, her dad wears an eye patch and only has one arm instead of two.
But to her, he is and always will be her same, strong daddy. And she’s always watching her mommy’s sacrifice, too.
This book isn’t very long, but it perfectly encapsulates, magnificently illustrates, and respectfully honors the war-torn veteran, the resilient military child, and the sacrificial military spouse on the homefront.
When the little girl is questioned about her dad being a pirate, she knows exactly how to answer:
“He’s a veteran, a hero.”
“And he married one, too.”
I would highly recommend “Is Your Dad a Pirate?” for every single military family, no matter what branch your servicemember is affiliated with or how far along you are in the military life journey. You will be encouraged and uplifted, and it might just be the exact words you need for your own military family right now.
>>Buy Now on Amazon or on Mascotbooks.com
Here is the Amazon review:
“Her daddy went away to fight for our country. And he came home changed. What’s a young family to do when a parent is injured? How might they respond to curiosity? In this tender account based on her childhood experiences, beloved author Tara McClary Reeves shares how her family adapted to the extensive physical losses her father, Marine Corps Lieutenant Clebe McClary, sustained. With warmth and humor, this book encourages children and spouses facing similar trials to cherish the gift of family. To hold on to faith. And to choose to be loving heroes on the home front. Is Your Dad a Pirate? will challenge your perspective and deepen your commitment to love.”