Welcome to Fort Goode, from Reycraft Books, Explores Life and Love in a Military Family
The illustrated book spotlights a boy having to adjust to a new environment when his father is reassigned by the U.S. Army.
New Rochelle, NY, June 15, 2023—Leading children’s trade publisher Reycraft Books has announced the publication of Welcome to Fort Goode, which takes young readers on a journey to which many of them can relate—that of moving to a new home, attending a new school, and having to make new friends. But the book presents that experience through the eyes of a boy in a military family. Written by Winsome Bingham, illustrated by Colin Bootman, and published on June 13, Welcome to Fort Goode focuses on Lang Ford, whose life is uprooted when his father, a Sergeant First Class in the U.S. Army, is reassigned to Fort Goode, a far-away military post in Virginia.
Neither Lang nor his mother is happy about the move, but they know they must pull together as a family and make the best of the situation. Lang’s mood brightens when he encounters other children at Fort Goode and starts to build connections to his new community. Above all else, he comes to realize that as long as his family is together, he is home.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Winsome Bingham is a military veteran who spent years living on Army posts like Fort Goode. Her son spent time with his friends exploring the post’s PX, Shoppette, and the moat. Winsome is the author of Soul Food Sunday, published in 2021 and named one of the Best Books of the Year by The New York Times. She writes about family, food, military life, and mental health. You can find her online at binghamwrites.com.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Colin Bootman was born in Trinidad, where the vibrant palette of the Caribbean influenced his painting. When he was seven, he moved to the United States, where he studied art and illustration. Colin has illustrated many books for children and won the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Award in 2004. In 2017, he won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Works for Children. All of Colin’s award-winning illustrations demonstrate his impressive ability to frame moments of life.
Bingham, a New York Times best-selling author and recipient of a 2022 Coretta Scott King Book Award, is also a U.S. Army veteran. She explained that Welcome to Fort Goode was inspired by her own experiences and her observation that children of military personnel were not being represented widely in children’s books. “There is something to be said about the sacrifices these children make,” Bingham said. “They give up a lot—constantly switching schools, forced to make new friends over and over, trying to blend into different countries and cultures. These children are away from their families for long periods of time. In times of war, they do not know if they will ever hear from their loved ones. It takes a toll on them. This is my love letter to them.”
The author expressed great enthusiasm for the book’s visuals. “I am in awe of Colin Bootman’s art—he is amazing,” she said. “He captured the setting, characters, and tone of this text. I am so honored and humbled that he agreed to illustrate it.”
Welcome to Fort Goode is the first in a series, and Bingham said she is looking forward to further exploring the dynamics within the military community. “You realize what a community could be,” she said, “when it is being supported by the members in the group.”
ABOUT REYCRAFT BOOKS: Reycraft Books partners with award-winning and up-and-coming authors and illustrators, primarily from underrepresented communities, to provide high-quality books that delight, inform, and honor the voice and vision of all children. Founded in 2019, the imprint publishes authentic stories—engaging picture books, chapter books, middle grade books, graphic novels, and more—that build knowledge, perspective, and connection, meeting the diverse needs of children, families, and educators.