Children's Book Aids Military Families Dealing with Deployment.

Lifestyle Editors/Business Editors

Topical News: War On Terrorism 

BROOKLYN, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 20, 2003

With War Looming 'Daddy, You're My Hero!' and 'Mommy,

You're My Hero!' Books Encourage Compassion and

Support for Children of Military Personnel

Around the world, children of military personnel are being confronted with the difficulties of having a parent deployed in the service of our country.

Children's book author and military brat, Michelle Ferguson-Cohen, has written, "Daddy, You're My Hero!" and "Mommy, You're My Hero!" to help military and reservist's families speak with children about deployment.

Everyday, whether or not we are at war or involved in a military action, soldiers are deployed to service leaving their families behind. According to the Military Times, the military community is 3.3 million strong. This "military city's" demographics rank between New York and Los Angeles in terms of income and population. These numbers do not reflect the huge numbers of reservists who can now count themselves among this population.

The books address the issues of separation in a simple manner to assure and comfort small children and, suggest tips to deal with feelings of helplessness from a child's perspective.

"Sometimes in the throes of politics, policies and opinions about war, people forget about the children," says Ferguson-Cohen. "This book is a tribute to these families who can't forget. This much-ignored community, who need and deserve our compassion and support."

Military children are often vulnerable targets for those who oppose military activities. Ferguson-Cohen, the daughter of a Vietnam veteran, hopes the books will help educate the civilian community and act as a counterbalance to these incidents, which range from insensitivity to verbal and physical abuse.

"Education is always the first step toward compassion," says Ferguson-Cohen. "In America we have learned to live together through tolerance. Especially as adults, there is much we can do to avoid putting the weight of war on children."

Ferguson-Cohen, who has had a long career in the music industry, is the daughter of a retired Army General who served two tours in Vietnam, as well as the granddaughter of a soldier killed in action during WWII.

The two titles are the first in the Books for Brats series for children of parents in military and public service brought to you by Little Red Haired Girl Publishing. As a service to the military and reserve communities, a multimedia version of the book is available online free of charge to facilitate immediate need and is also available for sale in paperback version at www.booksforbrats.net.