Three families face the problem of a parent having to be deployed in the armed forces, a white family, a black family, and a family whose mum is the one leaving. In sensitive pictures and minimal text, we see the problems, the worries, the sadness at the actual goodbye, and the changes that having one less family member around can mean. Children may have to do more chores around the house, there may be upsets and confusions, but there are also things that can be done to minimise the affects. Phone calls will help, and perhaps keeping a calendar to mark off the days. Lots of pictures help too, and sending packages to the one far away can be reassuring. A suggestion I thought particularly helpful is the fact that the same sky overlooks all of us wherever we are in the world, and that looking at the stars nightly will bring us together in the knowledge that we are seeing the same things. We learn that when the parent returns there may have to be time to adjust, and that patience is needed by all the family. If goodbyes are sad, then 'saying hello again can be one of the happiest times that you all share as a family.' Lovely, warm pictures and a page of information for the parent or carer will help the discussion of a subject that is unusual in children's literature.