DADDY, CAN YOU SEE THE MOON?

In this children’s picture book, a child deals with separation from his soldier father, who later returns home as a double amputee.

When young Bud’s dad goes off to war, he reminds his son to do his chores and help his mother, and he reassures him with a shared routine: “At bedtime, look up at the moon. / And I will too. I’ll be home soon.” As six months go by, Bud keeps his promises. Then his father is badly injured, losing both his legs; he’s fitted with prosthetic limbs and soon regains his strength. Bud is proud of him and wants to become a soldier, too. Finally, the elderly father and his deployed soldier son look at the moon at the same time, together though apart. Krause (Twice Betrayed, 2017, etc.) effectively softens the story’s disturbing elements with rhyming couplets and optimism, focusing on the dad’s steady recovery. However, some experts say to avoid statements like the father’s “While I’m not here, you’re the man,” as they burden children with adult responsibilities. Debut illustrator de la Garza’s images, which depict a white family and black doctor, show images of injuries that may be upsetting, but they’ll help to prepare kids for uncomfortable sights.

Addresses a difficult topic in kid-friendly terms despite some adult-level expectations.