My Dad is Going Away, but He Will be Back One Day; A Deployment Story
James Thomas - undifferentiated
My Dad is Going Away, but He Will be Back One Day; A Deployment Story
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Deployment Story
by James Thomas - undifferentiated
The text is written at a 2nd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
The soft rustle of a letter in your hand smells like a hug from far away. Even when Dad is on the other side of the world, his love wraps around you like a warm blanket. Every word and drawing you send brings you closer until the day you’re together again.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This gently illustrated picture book supports young children aged 5-8 through the experience of a parent's military deployment. It offers comforting explanations about separation, encourages communication, and includes interactive pages for children to write and draw for their deployed parent. The book is appropriate for early readers and thoughtfully addresses the emotional impact of family separation.
Why we rated My Dad is Going Away, but He Will be Back One Day; A Deployment Story 7LE
My Dad is Going Away, but He Will be Back One Day; A Deployment Story is written at a Level 2 reading level across 16 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 3.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, My Dad is Going Away, but He Will be Back One Day; A Deployment Story works for readers up to grade 4.0.
We rate My Dad is Going Away, but He Will be Back One Day; A Deployment Story as 7LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Separation Anxiety, Emotional.
Thematically, My Dad is Going Away, but He Will be Back One Day; A Deployment Story explores family, military life, emotional resilience, and early literacy — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 5-8 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about family, military life, emotional resilience.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
7LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Content Flags
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781412034265
- Pages
- 16
- Publisher
- Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
- Published
- July 26, 2004
- Type
- Fiction