Twenty-One Steps

By Jeff Gottesfeld, Matt Tavares (Illustrator)

The story of an unknown soldier who represents all those who died in war and the sentinels who guard his tomb.

4.6/5 Goodreads · 1,034 ratings

32 pages· 875 words· Est. 7 min read-aloud

$17.99Save 6%

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Bookroo's summary

At Arlington National Cemetery, sentinel guards stand in unwavering tribute to America's unknown fallen. Their precise, relentless vigil honors those who sacrificed everything. Discover the profound story of these dedicated soldiers and the unnamed heroes they protect. What drives their commitment to perfection, and how did these unknowns come to rest here? This powerful tale reveals the depth of honor and duty at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

From the publisher

With every step, the Tomb Guards pay homage to America’s fallen. Discover their story, and that of the unknown soldiers they honor, through resonant words and illustrations. Keeping vigil at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, in Arlington National Cemetery, are the sentinel guards, whose every step, every turn, honors and remembers America’s fallen. They protect fellow soldiers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, making sure they are never alone. To stand there–with absolute precision, in every type of weather, at every moment of the day, one in a line uninterrupted since midnight July 2, 1937–is the ultimate privilege and the most difficult post to earn in the army. Everything these men and women do is in service to the Unknowns. Their standard is perfection. Exactly how the unnamed men came to be entombed at Arlington, and exactly how their fellow soldiers have come to keep vigil over them, is a sobering and powerful tale, told by Jeff Gottesfeld and luminously illustrated by Matt Tavares–a tale that honors the soldiers who honor the fallen.

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