Reviewed by Robert A. Groves for Readers' Favorite

Aila is a young girl who is facing separation from her dad during a military deployment. The Dada Doll by Nina Rohrig follows her journey. Before his departure, Aila’s dad gives her a special doll to hold onto and hug tightly when she misses him. She takes the doll everywhere – to the store, the playground, the zoo, and the aquarium. Each night as she starts to fall asleep, she kisses the doll. She talks to the doll about her feelings as she counts days until her dad returns. She feels her saddest and misses her dad the most in the middle of their separation. It seems time has not passed much at all. She learns that the hard part was not goodbye, but the time between being together again. The homecoming celebration is grand, and Aila’s dad tells her about something special he carried with him during his deployment. What could it be?

To me, The Dada Doll is more than just a children’s story. It is a practical guide for parents and caregivers to draw on when managing military deployments. One of the main lessons that Aila learns is that distance is not the same as absence. Although they are apart, a bond is maintained. Nina Rohrig addresses the waiting brilliantly. Instead of rushing to a happy ending, she lets time pass, following Aila through days of sadness, longing, and the small comforts she finds. There is a real emotional journey that is common to military families. The story also has authenticity as Rohrig lived this experience personally as a military spouse. While the words' message is important, Elisabetta Boughton’s watercolor illustrations also deepen Aila’s experience. This creative team has joined forces to bring us something lasting and useful into the future. If you are a military family member, it is a must-read. If you are not connected to the military, it has value in coping with any parent-child separation. Well done!