Jeff Gottesfeld

Some Americans have chosen to acknowledge the 250th anniversary of the nation by attending “The Great American State Fair” in Washington, D.C., a 16-day celebration that opened January 25, 2026. Jeff Gottesfeld and Matt Tavares, who collaborated on the beautiful book Twenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, have teamed up again to create what is, in my view, a more meaningful and lasting tribute to American patriotism.

The book opens with an epitaph from President John show more F. Kennedy’s inaugural address in 1961: “Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country.”

An unnamed narrator then tells the story of those who served in the U.S. military over the years, beginning:

“Call me Kilroy. Squid. G.I. Joe. Airman, Jarhead, WAC, or WAVE. I’m an aging veteran of the United States Armed Forces. As warriors, we stormed Omaha Beach, broke out of Pusan, quarantined Cuba, and recaptured Hue. As peacemakers, we retrieved astronauts, rescued survivors, and walked the Little Rock Nine to their classrooms.”

He explains the tradition of “Honor Flights” - the focus of this book - a program fully funded by donations enabling veterans to be flown to Washington, D.C. to visit their memorials. Readers then accompany the narrator to the Iwo Jima Memorial, the Military Women’s Memorial, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and a number of others.

On the plane ride home, each veteran receives a packet of letters from neighbors, friends, and old co-workers thanking them for their service. Reading the letters, the narrator admits:

“I thought I had cried every tear I had at the Vietnam Memorial. I thought wrong.”

As the plane landed, hundreds of cheering people waved flags alongside a welcoming band.

It was a homecoming, the Vietnam Vet narrator said, they were denied years ago, and he only wished his wife were still alive to see it.

(Are you crying? I’m not crying!)

Gottesfeld concludes by providing more background on the Honor Flight program, and a very helpful page of background notes to fill young readers in on the battles, memorials, and practices referenced in the book.

As always, you can be assured that any book illustrated by Matt Tavares is going to be a treat. He does meticulous research, working with pencil and digitally colored images, and using shadow and contrasts to draw attention to different parts of his artwork.

Evaluation: Excellent! Recommended for ages 6 and up. show less

The picture book “Twenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier,” written by Jeff Gottesfeld and illustrated by Matt Tavares, offers a loving and reverent tribute to the unknown soldiers represented by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as well as those who guard the tomb in Arlington Cemetery. Told from the perspective of the Unknown Soldier, the book offers insight into who the soldier represents and how important the post of being a sentinel guard for the Unknown is.

The show more topic is an important one, particularly as we think about the price of freedom and the role that wars play in ensuring freedom. Fortunately, Gottesfeld and Tavares approach this subject with skill and sensitivity. This results in an effectively solemn, thoughtful, and lyrical examination of the history of the Unknown and the sentinel guards who keep vigil by the tomb. Like the soldiers, the guards are not individually named, thus keeping the focus on the task and what it represents. Besides achieving the right approach, Gottesfeld and Tavares also find the right tone for a picture book on this topic. The words and pictures work in tandem to make the information approachable and understandable for younger readers. show less

I asked for this ARC particularly because my dear father-in-law, a poor boy and son of Italian immigrants who enlisted in the US Army prior to the onset of WWII, was among the first to guard The Tomb of the Unknown Solider in those early years. He “helped lay many a soldier in his final resting place” at Arlington.

These were facts of which he remained quietly proud of during his entire life. He spoke of the drills, the uniform checks, the precision, the ritual and the respect for the show more man who was the symbol of so many men lost on battlefields and grieved for so deeply by their families.

He eventually was part of the last US Cavalry Unit and, when it was disbanded, a member of the US Army Air Corps in New Guinea where he and so many others risked (and too often lost) life & limb. I write this backstory to indicate what a demanding standard I have for a book on the topic of The Tomb of the Unknown Solider.

I can only imagine how difficult it must have been to write a book about The Tomb of the Unknown Solider for children. In the wrong hands it could easily have sunk to jingoism and melodrama.

Here the author managed to write a respectful and touching tribute that should not overwhelm young picture book readers (though I would advise parents and teachers to read it first and be prepared to answer children’s questions). The tasteful illustrations match my memories of visits to this tomb and of burials at Arlington. Regardless of parents’ or teachers’ political inclination, they should find this book praiseworthy. I would recommend this book to all regardless and suggest it for public, school and home libraries.

In a time when both Memorial Day (for honoring and mourning USA war dead) and Veterans Day (to honor the service of all USA military veterans) have degenerated into corporate greedfests used shamelessly to increase their sales and profits. Or alternately used by individuals for pre- and post-summer picnics, beach weekends, etc. The sanctity of these days have been lost.

This book is an excellent reminder of the need to remember and honor the daughters & sons, mother & fathers, aunts & uncles, cousins, grandparents, friends, neighbors, etc who served in the USA military. Real people who lived and loved, died, and are too often forgotten.

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." - George Santayana show less

Back in 1921, an unknown, fallen soldier returned in a casket to lay in state in the U.S. Capitol. He represented the many who died nameless and faceless during World War I. After being laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery, time went by and people began to forget. To stop the desecration, changes were made and sentinel guards installed. Never again would the Unknowns be alone.
Without fail, a sentinel guard has been present at the tomb since July 2, 1937 to keep vigil. It's the most show more difficult post to earn in the United States Army, and the guards strive for perfection. Every single thing the sentinel guards do honors the unknown fallen. This book is an excellent reminder of the sacrifices our servicemen and women have made in the past and continue to make today.

The Bottom Line: This picture book tells the little known history of the sentinel guards and what they do. Respectfully written without politics, author Jeff Gottesfeld broaches a difficult topic with dignity and grace. Beautiful illustrations cover full page and two-page spreads and help convey this difficult topic with reverence. Highly recommended reading for children in grades 2 - 3. Also, a highly recommended addition to school and public libraries.

This review also appears at the Mini Book Bytes Book Review Blog. show less