The Little C.H.A.M.P.S - Child Heroes Attached to Military Personnel - Softcover

Jennifer Fink; Debbie Fink

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0967887151 ISBN 13: 9780967887159

Publisher: Harmony Hearth LLC, 2012

Synopsis

This book is about a bond between five CHAMPS (Child Heroes Attached to Military Personnel). Each CHAMP has a parent serving in a different branch of the United States military. The uplifting, powerful book celebrates our Champs' contribution to our Nation, and gives voice to their military-connected challenges. At the same time, the cleverly-crafted story serves to educate the Champs' civilian classmates, friends, and neighbors about military life from kids' perspectives. The Little CHAMPS builds a bridge of understanding between our country's military world and civilian world, helping to strengthen our Nation.

About this title

About the Author:

JENNIFER FINK
Jen studies Public Health and Military Studies at the University of Maryland; and is passionate about assisting wounded Servicemembers, Veterans, and their families. She has interned for the American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces and for Operation Homefront. Jen received The President s Volunteer Service Award and the Red Cross Youth Volunteer of the Year Award at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. She motivates college students to give back to military families through her nonprofit Operation CHAMPS (OperationChamps.org).

DEBBIE FINK, MA
Debbie is an author, educator, and performer who has written numerous books and scripts. Her books, workshops, and performances reach readers and audiences globally. Debbie has had the honor of touring overseas with the USO for her project Operation Thanksgiving Eagle / OTE (OperationThanksgivingEagle.com), thanking Champs for the daily sacrifices they make on behalf of our freedom. She also runs the Mom of Many Hats global health initiative (MomOfManyHats.com), helping families cope with a cancer diagnosis.

WALTER BLACKWELL
Walter is a U.S. Navy Veteran and former President/CEO of the National Veterans Business Development Corporation (TVC). Career highlights include private industry, international business and nonprofit arenas. A graduate of Washington University, he has authored and illustrated children s books and one-man plays, and currently is launching a personal cloud platform start-up.

Review:

The children s book The Little CHAMPS (Child Heroes Attached to Military Personnel) is a vital contribution to the support of our nation s military families. These children are indeed our unsung heroes, as they make daily sacrifices on behalf of our freedom. The Little CHAMPS addresses real-life issues that are both child-friendly and engaging for readers of all ages. Even more, this meaningful book empowers CHAMPS with critical coping tools along the way.

Military children who read this book are likely to feel understood, valued, and proud of their service. Civilian readers are likely to have a whole new level of understanding for their heroic Champ peers. As a result, The Little CHAMPS can help elevate the status of our nation s military children both in their own eyes and in the eyes of their peers.

We at the USO are honored to play our role and fully support The Little CHAMPS, its message, and its critical contribution to our youngest heroes and their families. --Sloan Gibson - President, the USO

The Little Champs is a marvelous children s book about the lives of five children of active military duty families and how they navigate a difficult yet all too common situation: transition and loss. Easy to read, eminently practical, and clearly enjoyable for young and older readers, the book provides a wonderful vehicle for parents and other significant adults to talk with children about the similarities and experiences that any child may have and to discuss some unique and challenging circumstances of military children.

In a positive, matter of fact manner, this book addresses one of the most prevalent and difficult issues experienced by most children of military parents: loss. Examples of the various ways military children may experience loss are provided throughout the book, as are numerous ways for adjusting, coping and moving forward. The normalization of the issues presented in the story is one of its many strengths.

One of the great surprises of this book is that it offers insight in a way that can help bridge the cultural gap between children of military and non-military families. This is a book that children and parents can read and return to again and again over the years, as they experience some of the challenges described in the story. The characters are likeable, the issues are neither trivialized nor glorified, and most important of all, practical, realistic solutions are offered in an inviting, non-judgmental manner. Three cheers for The Little Champs! --Sherri Brown - Senior Vice President, American Red Cross, Service to the Armed Forces

The message of this book is so special and such an important contribution that I have made an exception to our MCEC policy concerning endorsements for not yet published works, a first for the Military Child Education Coalition. The Little Champs is a remarkable and creative work that we believe will resonate with military-connected children of all Service branches as well as the children of Veterans. Finally their story has been told, in their words, with appreciation, sensitivity, creativity, and, most of all, with heart. This book is not just a collection of vignettes about individual children; rather it is a story that weaves each child s individual struggles with the military life into a beautiful quilt of unity, strength, teamwork and support for one another in spite of their differences. We could all learn a lesson from The Little Champs.

Even more important is the opportunity this book presents to open dialogue with the civilian professionals, caregivers and friends concerning the challenges and strength of our military-connected children as they grow-up in families of service to our Nation.

I highly encourage you to share this book with your children, their teachers, and anyone else who may wonder what it is like for our Nat --Mary M. Keller, Ed.D - President and CEO, Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC)

The Little Champs is a marvelous children s book about the lives of five children of active military duty families and how they navigate a difficult yet all too common situation: transition and loss. Easy to read, eminently practical, and clearly enjoyable for young and older readers, the book provides a wonderful vehicle for parents and other significant adults to talk with children about the similarities and experiences that any child may have and to discuss some unique and challenging circumstances of military children.

In a positive, matter of fact manner, this book addresses one of the most prevalent and difficult issues experienced by most children of military parents: loss. Examples of the various ways military children may experience loss are provided throughout the book, as are numerous ways for adjusting, coping and moving forward. The normalization of the issues presented in the story is one of its many strengths.

One of the great surprises of this book is that it offers insight in a way that can help bridge the cultural gap between children of military and non-military families. This is a book that children and parents can read and return to again and again over the years, as they experience some of the challenges described in the story. The characters are likeable, the issues are neither trivialized nor glorified, and most important of all, practical, realistic solutions are offered in an inviting, non-judgmental manner. Three cheers for The Little Champs! --Sherri Brown - Senior Vice President, American Red Cross, Service to the Armed Forces

The message of this book is so special and such an important contribution that I have made an exception to our MCEC policy concerning endorsements for not yet published works, a first for the Military Child Education Coalition. The Little Champs is a remarkable and creative work that we believe will resonate with military-connected children of all Service branches as well as the children of Veterans. Finally their story has been told, in their words, with appreciation, sensitivity, creativity, and, most of all, with heart. This book is not just a collection of vignettes about individual children; rather it is a story that weaves each child s individual struggles with the military life into a beautiful quilt of unity, strength, teamwork and support for one another in spite of their differences. We could all learn a lesson from The Little Champs.

Even more important is the opportunity this book presents to open dialogue with the civilian professionals, caregivers and friends concerning the challenges and strength of our military-connected children as they grow-up in families of service to our Nation.

I highly encourage you to share this book with your children, their teachers, and anyone else who may wonder what it is like for our Nation s Champs (Child Heroes Attached to Military Personnel). I m sure you ll see a piece or two of your Champ in the face or words of one of the Champs in The Little Champs. The words are moving and informative and the accompanying illustrations are compelling and beautiful. This work promises to be a solid resource for parents, educators, caregivers as they support the military-connected child now and for years to come. --Mary M. Keller, Ed.D - President and CEO, Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC)

About this edition

• Publisher: Harmony Hearth LLC
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 0967887151
• ISBN 13: 9780967887159
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 56
• Illustrator: Walter Blackwell