Why Did Daddy Have To Leave?
By Robert C. Snyder, Ph.D
Illustrations by Ron Himler
Harcover: 32 pages
List Price: $17.95
ISBN 978-0-9885295-9-5
(Ages: Everyone)
Publication Date: June 26, 2018
About this book
Why Did Daddy Have to Leave? helps children understand why parents on active military duty, or serving as a Reserve or National Guard soldier called to active duty, must leave for an extended length of time, despite loving their children greatly. The story is told through the voice of a young child watching “Daddy” pack and mobilize for war and was inspired by the feelings my own six- and eight-year old children encountered as I mobilized and deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The book is a timeless way for parents and teachers to help young children understand and cope with the temporary, but long-term absence of a parent serving our country in war or peace time.
What people are saying
“Dr. Rob Snyder continues and expands on his past themes of the mobilization of our military men and women, along with the separation from families and loved ones that the services require. Having deployed to Iraq himself, Dr. Snyder brings a personal perspective that will help a child understand why Mom or Dad has to leave, as well as enable others to understand why our families are our source of strength and wholeness. I strongly recommend this book to our service members, their families, and friends – and especially their children, who are our hopes and dreams for a better future.”
--Mr. Steven A. Patarcity, OCAR, DAC, G-3/5/7 Plans, Strategist, and COL, AR, USA (Ret)
“Doctor Snyder’s book takes the reader on a journey, through a child’s eyes, about the deployment of our Armed Forces. As one of the State Commanders of the largest combat veterans’ organizations in the nation, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, I am very much aware of how the deployment of our military affects the entire family. Therefore, I would recommend this book as a must read for not just our military families, but for anyone interested in the sacrifices that are made by our men and women in uniform being deployed.”
--Dwight R. Fuhrman, State Commander, Department of Pennsylvania Veterans of Foreign Wars
About the Author:
Dr. Snyder is a former Army Reserve Officer, who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom between February 2003 and February 2004. In Iraq, Captain Snyder served as the operations officer for a Military Police unit in Baghdad, Iraq, providing convoy security and operating Iraqi jails and prisons. His interest in writing children’s books has developed from reading books to his own two children, along with ten years of teaching elementary students. Currently, he is in his 16th year serving as a pre-service teacher educator at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania.
About the Illustrator:
Born in Cleveland Ohio, Ronald Himler attended the Cleveland Institute of Art, where he majored in painting and illustration. After working for a number of years at professionally related jobs in the arts, Ron illustrated his first picture book in 1972. He has been writing and illustrating picture books ever since! He is one of a very few working artists in the world to illustrate more than 150 children’s books. In addition to children’s books, Ron has also painted hundreds of book covers for young adult novels, which are displayed in bookstores and libraries across the nation. Ron has earned many honors and awards over the course of his career, including the prestigious Society of Illustrators Silver medal for the cover of Red Cap. In creating his paintings, Ron uses a variety of artistic media, including watercolor, oils, gouache, and pencil. His gentle and sensitive depiction of the deeper meaning and sacrifice behind the everyday, mundane activities of veterans provides young children a unique and tender way to honor and connect with our military.
Also by Robert Snyder: What is a Veteran, Anyway and order your copy today!