Daddy's Home

K-Gr 2—A child tries to understand why his father is so withdrawn and even angry after returning from war. Ultimately, he learns to be patient with his dad, who is still healing from what the author calls "invisible wounds." The book includes a short list of tips and resources for families coping with similar situations. While well-intentioned, the text is a bit heavy-handed in its message and too generic in its storytelling. Cartoon drawings feature characters with stiff movements, large black dots for eyes, and upside-down arcs for frowns; they prevent the story from conveying any true emotion despite the subject matter. The book does address a challenging aspect of deployment difficult to find in other children's picture books and, in that respect, might be useful for military families dealing with what happens when their loved ones come home.—Sarah Townsend, Norfolk Public Library, VA