Jill Biden to Publish Children's Book in June

Posted on January 23, 2012

Second Lady Jill Biden will publish an illustrated children's book, Don't Forget Nana, God Bless Our Troops, with Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. The book will be illustrated by Raul Colon. The cover art has not yet been released. The book will arrive in stores on June 5, 2012. Dr. Biden is donating all net author proceeds to charities to support military families and children. She did not accept an advance for the book.

Jill Biden says, "As a military mom and a teacher, I wanted to write this book to make all Americans, especially children, aware of the unique experience of children who have a parent or other relative deployed in our armed forces. I saw with my own grandchildren just how difficult it is to carry on while you are worried about a parent who is serving in a war zone � and I also learned what a difference it makes when members of the community show support. I hope my granddaughter Natalie's story, which inspired the book, gives readers some insight into the strength and character of our military families, and encourages them to reach out in their neighborhoods and communities."

The story in the book will be told through the eyes of Vice President Joe and Jill Biden's granddaughter, Natalie Biden. The story is inspired by Natalie's life at home when her father was deployed. Natalie's father, Beau Biden, is a Major in the Delaware Army National Guard and was deployed to Iraq for a year. Readers will follow Natalie's experience as she learns to cope with missing her father and finds comfort in the kindness of members of her community. The book also includes resources about what readers can do to support military service members and their families serving at home and abroad.