ANCHORS AWEIGH, MOMMY'S UNDERWAY!

Primiano’s picture book tells of the daily life of a girl and her father while her mother is deployed.

This rhyming tale features the Garcia family: a unnamed little girl, Daddy, and Mommy, who, early on, departs on a Navy ship. Although the child misses Mommy reading her bedtime stories, she and Daddy have lots to do. Daddy isn’t good at certain things, such as brushing the youngster’s hair and getting her to school on time, but he does his best and is good at playing dress-up. They practice patience, and each night, she chooses her favorite part of the day to store in a jar. They also have Taco Tuesday, just like Mommy does on her ship. When Mommy finally comes back, the girl is happy that the three of them are reunited. This sweet slice-of-life story effectively focuses on a child with a parent in the military. It ably normalizes not having both parents available all year long, which some young readers will find relatable. It’s noteworthy that although the father tries hard, he’s still lacking in certain areas, which sets a nice tone of wholesome reality. Wojtowicz’s bright, full-color cartoon illustrations are adorable and rendered in a style that resembles crayon drawings. The characters—especially the girl—are endearingly portrayed.

An appealing story of a military family.