Sara has been waiting for this day for months.
The butterflies in her belly are fluttering fast. Today is the day her daddy comes home.
But waiting isn’t easy.
The hours stretch on. The hangar fills with families. And when the planes finally appear overhead, Sara’s heart races.
Which one is Daddy’s? Will I recognize him?
Told through a child’s eyes, Finally Home captures the anticipation, uncertainty, and joy of a military homecoming.
Perfect for:
- Military families (Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air Force, Army, Space Force, National Guard)
- Kids who love airplanes (featuring the F-35B Lightning II)
- Parents and educators looking for meaningful, emotional read-alouds
This heartwarming picture book:
- Helps children understand separation and reunion
- Sparks conversations about resilience, love, and service
- Makes a meaningful gift for military and patriotic holidays, including Month of the Military Child, Military Appreciation Month, Veterans Day, Fourth of July, and more
Ideal for ages ~4–8 (Pre-K to 3rd grade)
Cortney Cino is the author of The Lights That Stay, Sincerely, Antonia, Finally Home, and the Piper's Adventures series. With a background in marketing, she now writes and publishes children's books full-time. Her experiences living in Washington, DC; Boston, MA; and Morehead City, NC, where her family was stationed with the military, have all influenced her writing. Cortney currently lives with her husband and three daughters in Northern California. For more information, visit www.whimspirebooks.com.
Tim Deberd lives in Uzbekistan and works with publishers around the world. He loved drawing throughout his childhood and started attending art school at seven, where he gained extensive knowledge in fine arts. After graduating high school, Tim entered Uzbekistan's only art college. He finds it fascinating to bring words to life in illustrations.
