Story
The Story Behind Maggie the Military Rat
Military families know that being called a "military brat" isn't an insult: it's a badge of honor! According to the Department of Defense, there are over 1.6 million active duty military children in the United States. These kids experience life differently than civilians do: they typically have to move every 2-3 years, endure prolonged parental separations, and understand what it means to serve from a young age. As a result, they often grow into adventurous, resilient, and service-minded individuals. It's no wonder that the official flower of the military child is the dandelion: it puts down roots almost anywhere and blooms wherever its seeds are planted.
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Monica's children belong to this special group. While preparing for their first military move, she searched in vain for a quality picture book to explain to them their unique role as military brats. When she couldn't find what she was looking for, she was inspired to write her own book. Maggie the Military Rat tells the heartwarming story of a patriotic rat who wants to serve. The book is a much-needed gap filler in children's literature, portraying the military lifestyle in a positive, validating, relatable, and meaningful way.
Heartwarming. Authentic. Needed. Maggie the Military Rat is a true literary treasure for military and non-military families! From the darling illustrations, to the cleverly written text, Maggie is a delight and wonder to read about and relate to. Giving readers a glimpse at the difficulties military families endure and providing ways that others can help and connect with our nation's service members, Maggie the Military Rat will quickly become a timeless treasure meant for every bookshelf. Having grown up as a military child myself, I am honored to be so authentically and excellently represented in Author Monica Denniston's debut children's book.
Sarah Doran (Army vet, military brat, and military children's book author)
What People Are Saying
What a charming and gorgeous book with such a positive message for military and non-military kids alike! The best books draw you right into the world of the story, whether familiar or unknown, and Maggie the Military Rat does it beautifully. Military kids will surely beam with pride to see their own reality reflected on each and every page. For non-military kids like my 6-year old, it's both a sweet story about perseverance and kindness, as well as an introduction to a way of life they may be unfamiliar with. My daughter was so intrigued to learn about the families of soldiers and what some of their struggles are. She was rooting for Maggie's success the whole way! The watercolor illustrations are enchanting, with fun details that will delight military kids in-the-know, and simply enrich the story's world for those who aren't. Three cheers for Maggie! What a splendid addition to our bookshelf.
L.C., Torrance, CA
Being a military spouse and raising my own 3 military brats is not always the easiest. Maggie the Military Rat is such a well-written book that demonstrates what military kids feel. The long deployments, the care packages, and the constant moving is the way of life for a military family. Only military families would know the special attention to details the illustrator created, which allows the military kid to feel seen. A beautiful, well-written story that any military brat can see themselves in.
S.F., Fort Worth, TX