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Award‐winning author and military family advocate Karen Pavlicin‐Fragnito to read children's books

Awarding‐winner author and military family advocate Karen Pavlicin‐Fragnito will read from a selection of children’s books with a military life theme at the R.H. Stafford Library preschool storytime as part of Washington County’s Month of the Military Child Purple Up! events. Two reading times are scheduled: Monday, April 14 and Thursday, April 17, both 10:30‐11 a.m., in the children’s section of the library, located in Central Park, Woodbury.

Reading selections will include Pavlicin‐Fragnito’s poem “Love Letters” in Military Life: Stories and Poems for Children, the picture book The Wishing Tree by Mary Redman, Dr. Jill Biden’s book Don’t Forget, God Bless Our Troops, and other books that celebrate and give a glimpse into the lives of military children.

Washington County Library is celebrating Month of the Military Child with Purple Up! events planned for branch libraries throughout the county, beginning with Purple Up! day at the Oakdale Library April 12. Why Purple Up? “Because purple is the color used to represents all branches of military service,” says
children’s librarian Marty Hoekstra. “People who attend Purple Up! events are encouraged to wear purple and join in fun activities to celebrate military children.”

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April was designated Month of the Military Child by Secretary of Defense Caspar W. Weinberger in 1986 to honor the important role children play in the Armed Forces community. There are approximately 2 million military children, ranging in ages from newborn to 18 years old; 1.3 million military children are
school‐aged.

Pavlicin‐Fragnito is an active advocate for military families, especially military children. In March, she met with key leaders at the Pentagon, Office of the Vice President, Association of the United States Army, and National Military Family Association, in Washington, DC, to discuss current challenges facing military families. She runs operations at Twin Cities publisher Elva Resa Publishing, the only US traditional publisher whose primary imprint specializes in resources for military families. Its online store, MilitaryFamilyBooks.com, provides resources to many military family organizations and distributes military family books from several large and small publishers to military units and installation exchanges.

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She is also publisher of the online magazine, Books Make a Difference (BooksMakeADifference.com). While the magazine covers a broad array of authors, illustrators, and book programs making a difference in the world, April’s magazine issue is also honoring Month of the Military Child, featuring military child Briley Rossiter, the 12‐year‐old author of Born an Angel, and Dr. Jill Biden, our nation’s Second Lady, a military mom, and key military family advocate. Elva Resa and Books Make a Difference have named Briley their honorary “military kid extraordinaire” for Month of the Military Child. Born an Angel tells the story of Briley’s relationship with her sister Ainsley, who has INAD, a rare degenerative dystrophy, and how racing together has changed their lives. “It’s such an inspirational story,” says Pavlicin‐Fragnito, “and Briley is the most mature and kind twelve year old, with an important message about inclusion.She’s amazing!” MilitaryFamilyBooks.com donates 100% of the sale of Born an Angel to Ainsley’s Angels of America Foundation to raise money for joggers so other kids with disabilities can participate in races
like those Briley and Ainsley have enjoyed.

In addition to her advocacy and professional publishing role, Pavlicin‐Fragnito has won many awards as the author of several books. Her book Life After Deployment: Military Families Share Reunion Stories and Advice was recently chosen for Mrs. Bonnie Amos’s First Lady of the Marine Corps Recommended Reading List. On her recent DC trip, Pavlicin‐Fragnito was invited to brunch at the Home of the Commandants, along with fellow reading list authors Holly Scherer (Military Spouse Journey: Discover the Possibilities and Live Your Dreams) and Sarah Smiley (Dinner With the Smileys: One Military Family, One Year of Heroes, and Lessons for a Lifetime).

Pavlicin‐Fragnito’s newest release is her middle grade novel, Summer of Courage, which released in paperback April 1. School Library Journal calls it “... an upbeat, positive story ... wise, hopeful ... with a subtle simplicity sure to touch hearts.” The story won several national awards in hardcover as Perch, Mrs. Sackets, and Crow’s Nest and was a finalist on the Children’s Crown Award List as one of the top twenty most wholesome books for fourth and fifth graders. A work of fiction, the story is based loosely on Pavlicin‐Fragnito’s real life experiences. The story is told from 10‐year‐old Andy’s point of view. Andy misses his dad, who died of cancer, and his best friend, Anthony, who moved away. This city boy spends the summer at Grandma’s farmhouse in rural upstate New York. In a summer filled with family, fishing, and friendship, he discovers what happens when you mix rotten apples with a little bit of faith.

Pavlicin‐Fragnito’s first husband, Bob Pavlicin, was a captain in the Marine Corps who died eleven years ago of cancer. She is now married to Geno Fragnito. They live in Woodbury with their three teens.

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