NEW RELEASES
Picture books help families stay connected during deployment
(St. Paul, MN)—Elva Resa Publishing has acquired world rights to a set of popular deployment countdown picture books by Kristin Ayyar. The English hardcover editions were originally self-published by Ayyar in 2013 and 2016. Elva Resa will release four updated paperback editions March 18, 2025, customized for a dad or mom being away from home, available in English and Spanish.
In Countdown ’til Daddy Comes Home, a young boy waits for Daddy to come home from a trip. To make their separation easier, his family creates rituals to stay connected and count down the days ’til Daddy comes home. Countdown ’til Mommy Comes Home presents a similar story, while Mommy is away.
Responding to growing requests for Spanish language picture books for military kids, Elva Resa is releasing simultaneous Spanish editions of each version: Contando los días hasta que llegue papá and Contando los días hasta que llegue mamá, translated by Elva Resa’s award-winning senior Spanish editor, Gabriella Aldeman.
Especially meaningful for military kids who have a deployed parent within any service branch, or for kids with a parent who is a frequent business traveler, each book includes additional ideas for countdown activities as well as discussion questions in the back to help parents and children talk about separations and stay connected while apart.
An Air Force spouse for more than 24 years, Ayyar guided her family through many of her husband’s deployments. She says, “I hope that sharing our rituals through these stories helps children maintain a special connection to their parents who have to be away from home for any length of time.”
Elva Resa’s senior artist, Brenda Harris, updated the original artwork throughout, including custom lettering for the covers. As she reviewed the final layouts, Harris says, “I suddenly had a memory of my dad returning from a deployment. I clearly remember cleaning and making signs. I remember wondering if he’d be different. It brought tears to my eyes. I’m so happy to help get these books out there for kiddos to be reminded it will all be okay.”
About the author and translator
Kristin Ayyar is the mother of three wonderful children, is an avid volunteer in her community, and was an Air Force spouse for over 24 years. Her books Countdown ’til Daddy Comes Home and Countdown ’til Mommy Comes Home are based on her family’s experiences and are filled with rituals that she and her children followed when her husband was traveling the globe or deployed overseas.
Gabriella Aldeman is a Panamanian American author and translator and Elva Resa’s primary Spanish translator and editor. She translated El propósito de Estrella: Una misión militar by Krista Betcher and the Spanish editions of Teri Weber’s Operation AviationTM series, which includes the picture books Vuela con Maytai, El Tanquecito, and La Misión de Alce. Gaby’s picture books include Paula’s Patches and Squawk of Spanish.
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ELVA RESA PUBLISHING LLC is an award-winning, mission-driven, traditional independent publisher based in St. Paul, Minnesota, specializing in quality resources by, for, and about military families. ElvaResa.com, MilitaryFamilyBooks.com
MEDIA: Please contact Elva Resa PR at 651-357-8770 or pr@elvaresa.com.
Available in English and Spanish. Ages 4-8.
All four countdown books will be released in paperback March 18, 2025, available everywhere books are sold. The new editions are based on Ayyar’s self-published English hardcovers released via Mascot Books in 2013 (Daddy) and 2017 (Mommy).
Available now for preorder at MilitaryFamilyBooks.com/Countdown in cases of 50, bulk packs of 200, and single copies. Bulk preorders placed by February 15 arrive in time for April’s Month of the Military Child.
Direct sales support military family programs. Order online (MilitaryFamilyBooks.com), send purchase requests to orders@elvaresa.com, or call 651-357-8770.
ISBN 979-8-88752-029-2 Countdown ’til Daddy Comes Home (English paperback)
ISBN 979-8-88752-033-9 Contando los días hasta que llegue papá (Spanish paperback)
ISBN 979-8-88752-030-8 Countdown ‘til Mommy Comes Home (English paperback)
ISBN 979-8-88752-034-6 Contando los días hasta que llegue mamá (Spanish paperback)
Author: Kristin Ayyar
Translator: Gabriella Aldeman
Publisher: Elva Resa Publishing
Publication Date: March 18, 2025
Distributed by: Military Family Books
Format: 8″x10″ Paperback, 32 pages
Retail Price: $15.95 each
Case Quantity: 50
More information:
About the books: https://ElvaResa.com/Countdown
Author Kristin Ayyar: https://ElvaResa.com/author-artist/Kristin-Ayyar
Translator Gabriella Aldeman: https://ElvaResa.com/author-artist/Gabriella-Aldeman/
JUV039050 JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Emotions & Feelings
JUV013060 JUVENILE FICTION / Family / Parents
FAM055000 FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS / Military Families
Fecha de publicación 18 de marzo de 2025.
Sobre los libros
Ediciones disponibles:
Countdown ’til Daddy Comes Home (inglés)
Contando los días hasta que llegue papá (español)
Countdown ‘til Mommy Comes Home (inglés)
Contando los días hasta que llegue mamá (español)
Escrito por Kristin Ayyar, traducción de Gabriella Aldeman.
De 4 a 8 años.
Un niño espera a que su papá/mamá regrese de un viaje. Para que la separación sea más fácil, su familia crea rituales para mantenerse en contacto y contar los días que faltan para que papá/mamá regrese a casa. Ideal para niños militares que tienen un padre/madre desplegado o niños que tienen un padre/madre que viaja frecuentemente por negocios. Incluye preguntas para que padres e hijos hablen de las despedidas y de cómo mantenerse en contacto mientras están separados.
Sobre la autora
Kristin Ayyar es madre de tres hijos maravillosos, voluntaria entusiasta en su comunidad y esposa militar de la Fuerza Aérea por más de 24 años. Sus libros Contando los días hasta que llegue Papá y Contando los días hasta que llegue Mamá se basan en las experiencias de su familia y están llenos de rituales que ella y sus hijos siguieron cuando su esposo viajaba por el mundo o estaba desplegado en el extranjero.
Sobre la traductora
Gabriella Aldeman es una autora y traductora panameña estadounidense y es la principal traductora y editora al español de Elva Resa. Tradujo El propósito de Estrella: Una misión militar por Krista Betcher y las ediciones en español de la serie Operación Aviación de Teri Weber, que incluye los libros ilustrados Vuela con Maytai, El Tanquecito y La misión de Alce. Entre los libros ilustrados de Gaby figuran Paula’s Patches y Squawk of Spanish.
Download this press release as a pdf.