Gold Star Mom Honors Fallen US Navy SEAL Son with Inspiring Children's Book

Disclosure: I received product at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

After receiving the devastating news that her son had been killed while fighting Islamic State militants in Iraq on May 3, 2016, Krista Keating-Joseph was motivated to revisit publishing a children's book about her son’s perseverance and determination on his school’s track team which she began over a decade earlier. Unbeknownst to even some of her closest friends, Krista had started writing Big-Hearted Charlie Runs the Mile several years before he passed. A writer looking to make her son smile, Krista enlisted the help of an artist she knew quite well to produce the illustrations - Charlie’s own grandmother, Phyllis Holmes. Without a desire to publish at the time, the work had remained tucked away as a fond memory for over a decade until Charlie’s death, and would become a crucial part of her healing process.

Big-Hearted Charlie Runs The Mile is based on a true story about a little boy who joins a track team and works hard to overcome his small size as he run against boys who are much bigger. At first, he never wins a race, but Charlie doesn't give up and his hard work pays off. He becomes a champion on the track and later a true hero in real life as a US Navy Seal.

This book is a wonderful tribute to an American hero who gave his life for his country. The book celebrates his life and what he was able to accomplish with determination. It's a wonderful read-aloud story that teaches children the importance of working hard and believing that anything is possible with hard work. The book does not mention his ultimate sacrifice, but the first time I read the book, I ended up in a puddle of tears because I knew the background story of Charles Keating IV. I hope you will add this book to your children's library. Part of the proceeds will benefit K9S for Warriors and The Navy SEAL Foundation.

Buy your copy at

bigheartedcharlie.com