Michelle Ferguson-Cohen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michelle Ferguson-Cohen
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| Born | Ft. Benning, United States |
| Occupation | author, illustrator, publisher |
| Genre | Children's books |
| Notable works | Daddy, You're My Hero! |
Michelle Ferguson-Cohen is a special author, artist, and publisher. She writes and draws books for children, especially those with parents in the military. Her own dad was a military officer and a Vietnam veteran. Because she grew up as a "military brat" (a child of a military parent), many of her picture books are made for and feature military kids.
Contents
Helping Military Kids
Michelle Ferguson-Cohen wrote, illustrated, and published the first children's books made for military kids. These books were also the first picture books for children dealing with a parent's military deployment (when a parent goes away for military duty). A newspaper even called her the "Dr. Seuss for Military Brats"! This shows how much her books help kids understand their parents' important jobs.
Her Books for Brats
Michelle started her own publishing company, Little Redhaired Girl Publishing. She created a series of books called "Books for Brats." Her goal was to help military kids feel proud of being called a "military brat." She also wanted her books to help all children understand their military family neighbors.
Popular Stories
Even though she published them herself, her books "Daddy, You're My Hero!" and "Mommy, You're My Hero!" have reached hundreds of thousands of young readers. They were first published in 2001 and are now in their third edition. Teachers have used these books in classrooms to help students learn about understanding and kindness. They are also given out in many different places, both for military and civilian families.
Supporting Families
"Books for Brats" were among the first to help military families, especially those from the National Guard and Reserves. During the first deployments of the Iraq War, Michelle worked with groups that support military families. She hosted readings of her books across the country. Many experts in education, medicine, and child development have suggested her books. They say the books can help explain deployment and teach kids how to cope when a parent is away. Her books are also valued for their unique content, diverse illustrations, and for showing female soldiers.
Speaking Up for Military Kids
The news media often asks Michelle Ferguson-Cohen for her ideas because she is an expert in the military community. She has become a strong supporter for military kids. She works to make sure military families are shown fairly in the media.
Other Work
Before she became a children's author, Michelle Ferguson-Cohen worked in the music industry. She owned an agency in New York and London. She worked with famous DJs and rock musicians. During her time in entertainment, she helped with charity events to raise money for War Child, a group that helps children affected by war. Michelle is also a writer and humorist. She is listed as a contributor to a book called The Complete Idiot's Guide to Jokes.
