Childrens books about veterans

At Tawny Owl Wood, our mission goes beyond storytelling. At the heart of every book is a deeper purpose: to gently bridge the gap in those tricky, hard-to-navigate conversations. The ones we all want to have with our children, but sometimes don’t know where to start. Through heartfelt, real-life experiences wrapped in magical tales, we aim to spark meaningful conversations and create space for empathy and understanding.

In early 2024, my family and I stayed at a charming AirBnB in Suffolk. As we pulled into the drive, we were greeted by the lovely owners, Sue and Mick. Mick stood confidently outside the house, simply minding his own business. It was then that we noticed he had two prosthetic legs. Phil and I exchanged a glance in the front seat, while Alfie, our son, sat in the back, blissfully unaware.

Prosthetics had never come up in conversation at home. It wasn’t a subject we had thought to explore with Alfie yet. In that moment, I’ll be honest: both Phil and I froze. We didn’t know what to say, or how to prepare Alfie for this moment. But children have a way of teaching us what really matters. Before we could say anything, Alfie jumped out of the car and ran straight up to Mick. We held our breath.

Then, Alfie said, with total sincerity and wonder: “Wow, you’ve got a really cool set of legs!”

It was a moment of pure pride. The ice was broken in an instant. We joined the conversation with ease, and Mick, a double amputee and veteran, began to share parts of his story with us. He rides his motorbike, tends to his beloved horses (western style, no less), and lives a full, inspiring life. He shared with us a powerful belief: “A disability is only one, if you allow it to be one.”

That moment stayed with me for the rest of our trip.

Back home, I kept thinking about a story I had already written, The Grumpy Troll. Something about it no longer felt finished. I wanted to reflect the real-life heroism and kindness we’d just experienced. I wanted the main character to be a war veteran with prosthetics. I wanted to honour Mick.

So I approached him. With a bit of (loving) persuasion, he agreed. And just like that, The Unexpected Guest was born.

In mid-2024, I sent the new manuscript to Sue and Mick. To my delight, it got the thumbs-up first time. By the end of the year, it was with the talented Sarah-Leigh, who brought the story to life through her illustrations. We are now counting down the days to its official release.

The Unexpected Guest is more than just a book. It is a celebration of resilience, inclusion, and the belief that we all have something valuable to contribute. It perfectly embodies what Tawny Owl Wood is all about: turning real-life experiences into magical, meaningful stories.

We’re also incredibly proud to announce that The Unexpected Guest — along with all its related merchandise — will support Blesma, the Limbless Veterans charity, with a lifetime donation.

Without Alfie’s open heart, Sue’s encouragement, and Mick’s incredible spirit, this story wouldn’t exist. It reminds us of the magic that can unfold when we let curiosity and kindness lead the way.

If you support a charity or have a real-life story you believe could become a magical tale, we would love to hear from you. You never know where it might take you.