Inside The Stories Bringing Veterans’ Service To Young Readers

A single word on a headstone—Unknown—sent author Jeff Gottesfeld on a path to write children’s books that carry the weight of service with grace. Today, we sit down with Jeff to trace that path from 21 Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to his new large-format book, Honor Flight: Celebrating America’s Veterans, and a forthcoming project that centers on the kids who also serve.We dig into how a writer chooses the right voice for young readers without softening the truth. Jeff shares why his early draft didn’t land, how a first-person perspective unlocked emotional clarity, and what collaborating with illustrator Matt Tavares adds to solemn subjects like the Tomb Guards. Then we climb aboard an actual Honor Flight as Jeff recounts serving as a guardian for a Vietnam-era sailor: the early-morning bustle, the wheelchairs rolling in formation, the crackle of stories traded on the bus, and the overdue homecoming so many never received. Honor Flight’s generous, coffee-table scale turns reading into a family ritual—perfect for parents and grandparents to point at the page and say, “That was me,” while kids learn what service and gratitude look like in real life.We also preview We All Serve, a book that gives military children a mirror and civilian classmates a window. Frequent moves, missed holidays, long deployments, and the quiet courage of welcoming a wounded parent home—these are the threads often unseen outside the base gate. Jeff explains why these stories matter now, when fewer than 1% serve but 100% can learn to honor sacrifice. Along the way, we highlight community efforts that lift up military families and show how schools, libraries, veteran groups, and neighbors can use these books to spark honest, hopeful conversations.If stories shape what a nation remembers, these pages help us remember well. Listen, share with a veteran or teacher, and help a child connect to the people behind the uniforms. If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe, leave a review, and pass the episode to someone who could use a new way to talk about service.