While military parents are away serving and protecting, their children are at home, taking care of themselves and each other.
April 15 is Purple Up! Day―a day when Americans around the world recognize and celebrate the children who make sacrifices along with their military parents. Classmates mix the colors of the different military branches to create banners that say, “Thank you for your service!”
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Sneak Peek
Why This Book
Every child should be able to see their experiences reflected in the pages of a book. This story is important both for children of military families (who are well aware of their day-to-day contributions and deserve to see them celebrated) and for readers who are not from military families (to help broaden their perspective and understanding).
It also has the potential to spread awareness about the real-life Purple Up! Day and spark discussion about ways to celebrate it.
In “Purple Up! We Salute Our Friends,” neighborhood friends organize a school-wide celebration of children from military families. The students consider what it means to be a hero and both identify and honor the multitude of ways that these special families (and their children) contribute.
A fun, upbeat read-aloud, this book can be shared on school campuses, in libraries and homes around the world to send a clear message to military children that their contribution matters.
As a school-based mental health provider, Sarah is inspired by the strength, wisdom, and resilience of young students with whom she works. She firmly believes that all children deserve to see their experience reflected in the pages of a book. Sarah has great respect for the contributions of military families. While not part of a military family herself, her husband and father-in-law served in the Navy before she met them. She also lives in a community near a naval base and has enjoyed participating in “Purple Up! Day” herself—helping to celebrate the inspiring young people in her community.
Photos
Classroom Guide
Our Classroom Guide includes several writing and discussion activities for young readers based on Purple Up! We Salute Our Friends.
Coloring Sheet
Download and print the coloring sheet for your class.
Practical Tips
Download our supplemental article: Supporting and Celebrating Children from Military Families: Practical Tips for Parents, Caregivers and Teachers
Learn More
If you want to learn more about “Purple Up! Day” and/or the Month of the Military Child, here are some resources. There are many more… these are just a few.
- Purple Up Day: 6 Things To Know About Military Child Day (operationmilitarykids.org)
- Month of the Military Child Toolkit (militarychild.org)
- Purple Up USA (purpleupusa.org)
- Purple Up! For Military Kids Day (veteran.com)
- Month of the Military Child Toolkit (militaryonesource.mil)
- Get Your Purple On to Recognize Military Children (defense.gov)
Reviews
“Kids whose parents have served in the armed forces are recognized with a day honoring their sacrifices.
When a group of friends witness a camouflage-clad mom saying goodbye to her family before leaving for military service, they wish desperately that they could help. Some research leads them to a website for Purple Up! Day, which is observed on April 15. The kids’ efforts widen from their school to the entire town, until a full celebration takes place, including a Hero Wall on which people place posters and photos honoring not just military families, but also first responders and teachers. An author’s note explains the origin of the day, which began in New Hampshire in 2011. Notably, children are never referred to here as “brats,” the traditional term for military kids. The sentiment is heartfelt, and the collagelike illustrations express love for kids who keep their families going in the absence of a parent. The text isn’t consistent—it can’t decide if it’s a rhyming book or not—and there aren’t any named characters to get to know, but those are small quibbles for a title that laudably spotlights a group of children who don’t always get their due. The military family at the center of this book presents Black, and one of the children uses a wheelchair. The community is diverse.
A solid explanation of a growing movement to recognize military kids.” – Kirkus Reviews