Admiral William H. McRaven and his daughter Kelly McRaven are teaming up for a sequel to their successful picture book “Skipper the Seal.” The new book, titled “Be a Hero with Skipper the Seal,” is set to be published on March 11, 2025, by Little Brown Books for Young Readers. Illustrated by Howard McWilliam, this story follows Skipper as he is tasked by the U.S. President to assemble a team of heroes. McRaven shared that as a child in Texas, he aspired to be a superhero, but later realized that real heroes are those who believe in themselves and make a difference in the world.
Reflecting on her childhood, Kelly McRaven mentioned her fond memories of her father reading to her and imparting valuable life lessons. She emphasized the lesson that everyone has the potential to be a hero by giving back each day. McRaven, who retired in 2014, was at the helm of the U.S. Joint Special Operations Command during significant operations, including the mission that resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden in 2011 and the rescue of Richard Phillips from Somali pirates in 2009, portrayed by Tom Hanks in the film “Captain Phillips.”
In addition to his upcoming children’s book, McRaven has authored other works, such as “The Hero Code: Lessons Learned from Lives Well Lived” and “Sea Stories: My Life in Special Operations.”
