Celebrate Veterans' Day (formerly Armistice Day)
November 11, is the anniversary of the Armistice which was signed in the Forest of Compiegne by the Allies and the Germans in 1918, ending World War I, after four years of conflict.
At 5 A.M. on Monday, November 11, 1918 the Germans signed the Armistice, an order was issued for all firing to cease; so the hostilities of the First World War ended. This day began with the laying down of arms, blowing of whistles, impromptu parades, closing of places of business. All over the globe there were many demonstrations; no doubt the world has never before witnessed such rejoicing.
In November of 1919, President Woodrow Wilson issued his Armistice Day proclamation. The last paragraph set the tone for future observances:
To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nation.
In 1927 Congress issued a resolution requesting President Calvin Coolidge to issue a proclamation calling upon officials to display the Flag of the United States on all government buildings on November 11, and inviting the people to observe the day in schools and churches...But it was not until 1938 that Congress passed a bill that each November 11 "shall be dedicated to the cause of world peace and ...hereafter celebrated and known as Armistice Day."
That same year President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a bill making the day a legal holiday in the District of Columbia. For sixteen years the United States formally observed Armistice Day, with impressive ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where the Chief Executive or his representative placed a wreath. In many other communities, the American Legion was in charge of the observance, which included parades and religious services. At 11 A.M. all traffic stopped, in tribute to the dead, then volleys were fired and taps sounded.
After World War II, there were many new veterans who had little or no association with World War I. The word, "armistice," means simply a truce; therefore as years passed, the significance of the name of this holiday changed. Leaders of Veterans' groups decided to try to correct this and make November 11 the time to honor all who had fought in various American wars, not just in World War I.
The following books were published recently about Veterans Day and some of the wars that have involved Americans. More information including lesson plans and activities for Veterans Day can be found at http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000507.shtml
The above was excerpted from All About American Holidays by Mayme R. Krythe
Reviews
Across the Blue Pacific: A World War II Story
Louise Borden
Illustrated by Robert Andrew Parker
The author's uncle served on a submarine during World War II, and his ship hit a mine while on patrol in the Japanese waters off northeast Honshu. Although the author never knew her uncle, she has written an excellent story focusing upon the observations of a young girl living in that era. Molly lives next door to Ted Walker and, although she and her brother, Sam, know about the war, it seems like something quite remote from their everyday lives. Their street, Orchard Road, is a safe and happy place to grow up. When Ted is home on leave, he is patient and helpful to the young children in the neighborhood. When he returns to duty, Molly writes him letters. She always includes sketches of Buttons, the Walker's dog, in the corner on each envelope. When Molly enters fourth grade, she thinks of Ted Walker every time she looks at the large map her teacher has painted on the wall. She imagines what his experiences must be like in the vast blue of the Pacific Ocean. Then Mrs. Walker receives the tragic news--Ted's ship is missing. When the war is over Molly says, "This is the best news in a long time...except Ted won't be coming back." And even years later, when she is grown, Molly remembers her next-door neighbor, Ted. The text brings home the tragedy of war but does show how people recover while always keeping the memory of the heroes alive in their hearts. 2006, Houghton Mifflin, $17.00. Ages 5 to 9. Reviewer: Carolyn Mott Ford (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Booklist Book Review Stars, Apr. 1, 2006; United States
Children's Catalog, Nineteenth Edition, 2006; H.W. Wilson; United States
ISBN: 0-618-33922-1
ISBN: 978-0-618-33922-8
Almost Forever
Maria Testa
This sparse yet powerful and poetic novel takes us through the year of a young girl as she waits for her father to return home from war. Set during the Vietnam War, its parallels to the war in Iraq make it very timely. The father was a doctor, not necessarily expecting to go to war, as many current Reservists were not. He tells her that he will only be gone one year, which, as a child, sounds like forever to her. And seen through a first-grader's perspective, everything about the war is confusing. Even the television news, which gives some information to adults, is meaningless to young children. She does feel the anguish, however, made worse before the days of the Internet, of not receiving mail for weeks, and not knowing if her father is safe. As in any war, the soldier is changed, returning home haggard and sad, saying he has been gone forever. But the story ends on a hopeful note, with the little girl pointing out to her father that it was only almost forever, and that now he is home. Short and easy to read, this book is an excellent choice for reluctant readers, while still giving them plenty to think about. 2006 (orig. 2003), Candlewick Press, $5.99. Ages 9 to 14. Reviewer: Kathryn Erskine (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-7636-3366-6
ISBN: 978-0-7636-3366-0
Black and White Airmen: Their True History
John Fleischman
The last members of "The Greatest Generation" will someday be gone, but their stories will not be forgotten. With this book, Fleischman records another World War II story that is definitely worth remembering. The world of fighter pilots was clearly segregated during the war, as was much of civilian life. The paths of white pilot Herb Heilbrun and Tuskegee Airman John Leahr crossed many times throughout their lives: They were in the same third grade class, they worked at the same factory before the war, and they flew together on two missions during the war. But when they met in 1997, neither remembered having ever met before. The story is of a friendship that "began in 1928 and took a while to get going." Fleischman shares the tales of each man's life before, during, and after the war and talks about the close friendship that developed seventy-six years after they first met. Their story is also of the war in Europe and the war at home-the struggle that John and other African Americans fought against racism. Through John's story, readers learn of the battle that African Americans waged to be allowed to fight for their country in World War II, and how the Tuskegee Airmen dispelled the belief that African Americans were not intelligent enough to be pilots. Fleischman's descriptions of flying WWII planes will fascinate some and be a bit too much for others, but the story of these two friends is enough to keep all readers interested. VOYA CODES: 4Q 3P M J S (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Will appeal with pushing; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2007, Houghton Mifflin, 160p.; Photos. Further Reading., $20. Ages 11 to 18. Reviewer: Anita Beaman (VOYA, April 2007 (Vol. 30, No. 1)).
Best Books:
New Black History Books for Youth, 2007; Booklist; United States
ISBN: 978-0-618-56297-8
ISBN: 0-618-56297-4
The Cemetery Keepers of Gettysburg
Linda Oatman High
Illustrations by Laura Francesca Filippucci
This fictionalized account of an historical event depicts the devotion and hardship of Fred Thorn and his family during the Civil War. When Fred is seven years old, his father leaves to fight with the Union forces. Fred has two younger brothers and his mother is pregnant, so his grandparents come to help with caring for them and working in the cemetery. Several months later rebel soldiers invade their home and property and within a few days, the battle starts. With cannon balls bursting around them, Fred and his family run to a nearby farmhouse and huddle on the floor alongside injured soldiers. After three days they return home to find everything gone and all their windows broken. Fifteen dead horses lay in their yard. But the biggest job is the digging of over a hundred graves accomplished by Fred, his mother, and his grandfather. Fred's father arrives home several months later, about the time his baby sister is born. When President Lincoln gives the Gettysburg Address (which appears in the end pages, along with an author's note) the Thorn family is in attendance. Realistic full-page illustrations contribute to the somber mood. The sparse text appears in bordered boxes within the pictures. A worthwhile addition to Civil War collections. 2007, Walker and Company, $16.95. Ages 7 to 11. Reviewer: Phyllis Kennemer, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Kirkus Book Review Stars, March 1, 2007; United States
ISBN: 978-0-8027-8095-9
ISBN: 0-8027-8095-4
ISBN: 978-0-8027-8094-2
ISBN: 0-8027-8094-6
Christmas in the Trenches
John McCutcheon
Illustrations by Henri Sørensen
On Christmas Eve, Grandpa tells Thomas and Nora Tolliver a story that happened during WWI when the German and British soldiers decided to call a truce on Christmas Eve many years earlier. Apparently the British soldiers heard the German soldiers singing and decided to join them. That night, the Germans and the British ate together and played soccer, but the next day they fought each other again as if Christmas Eve had never happened. The first unique aspect of McCutcheon's book is the CD in the inside front cover. On the CD, the author reads the story--once with signals for turning the pages and once without--but the CD also includes songs from the book. This is an excellent way to introduce technology into the classroom while getting kids interested in books. The illustrations, created in oil on canvas, are beautifully done and extremely realistic. The illustrator also does an amazing job of depicting the soldiers during war in a manner appropriate for the young readers. 2006, Peachtree Publishers, $18.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Jennifer Jennings (Children's Literature).
Inspired by an actual incident during World War I, folksinger, John McCutcheon wrote a song also entitled Christmas in the Trenches. With the help of Henri Sørenson, they have created a beautifully poignant depiction of war at Christmas. Deep, rich colors in Sørenson's painting give us a sense of "No Man's Land" in 1914. The story portrays Grandpa Francis with his two grandchildren sitting on his knees after the Christmas feast, recalling his most memorable Christmas when he was away from home during World War I. Voices could be heard during a lull in the gunfire. Across the barren wasteland Christmas carols were exchanged, first in German then in English. Then they heard a familiar tune, "Silent Night." "And suddenly in two tongues one song filled the night sky. I never imagined singing could be so...holy." During this unofficial ceasefire, a group of soldiers, no longer enemies, just sons and father away from home for the holidays, enjoy a time of caroling, sharing photos and small gifts, and a game of soccer. As the sun rose that next morning, they return to their own sides. Although this is a fictional narrative, eyewitness accounts found in diaries and letters confirm this Christmas miracle. An audio CD is included featuring four options of narration read by the author and songs both in German and English. An author note, historical note, along with the words and the music to his song make this book a treasure to share with generation to come. 2006, Peachtree, $18.95. Ages 5 to 10. Reviewer: Ann Sanger (Children's Literature).
Acclaimed singer/songwriter pens what's sure to be a classic in answer to his grandchildren's question as to his favorite Christmas. Grandpa Francis launches into a reminiscence of one memorable night during his time as a World War I soldier, surrounded by other young soldiers "lonely and frightened, trying to be brave." Deftly, McCutcheon sets the mood: "The skies were clearing and frost covered No Man's Land, the field that separated us from the German soldiers.... Between the bombs and the battles, war is mostly waiting. Waiting to see who will make the next move." That's when the Germans start singing a Christmas carol, and the allies respond by singing their own. Soon soldiers from both sides are clambering from their trenches, mingling in No Man's Land, sharing candy, playing ball--till dawn sends them "back to the trenches. Back to the waiting." Back to the war. Author's and historical notes describe McCutcheon's careful research into the Christmas Truce of 1914. Powerful watercolors portray the loneliness and dreariness of war while managing to convey the joy to be found in unexpected acts of kindness and connection. With our country now at war, this is an especially timely tale. 2006, Peachtree, $18.95. Ages 6 up. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Books About Holidays, 2006; Association for Library Service to Childrern; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Comstock Book Award Honor Book 2007 Read Aloud Book Award United States
Grammy Award Nominee 2007 Best Spoken Album for Children United States
SIBA Book Award Nominee 2007 United States
ISBN: 1-56145-374-9
ISBN: 978-1-56145-374-0
The Civil War
Anne Devereaux Jordan with Virginia Schomp
The coming of the Civil War was a direct result of the institution of slavery. While some historians have debated this fact for many years, the authors of the fourth title in the "Drama of African-American History" series present a compelling argument that it was slavery that wrought the bloody and divisive conflict that cost over 630,000 American lives. In The Civil War readers are first shown the tangled political pathway that led from compromise to compromise until no more Union-saving agreements could be cobbled together. The splintering of the Union triggered by the attack upon Fort Sumter led to massive social changes in American history. The gradual defeat of the South, coupled with progressive emancipation of the slaves, spawned a new society far different from any that the American nation had seen before. As the authors of this fine study describe, African-Americans played many roles in the Civil War. Approximately 200,000 freedmen and escaped slaves served in the Federal armies and navy. Blacks in the South both bulwarked and then subverted the Confederate economy as they first labored for it and then fled its controlling authorities. Individual African-Americans served as spies, intelligence operatives, and sources of clandestine information for the advancing Union armies. By war's end, it could justly be said that the final result of battle had a great deal to do with the roles taken on by African-Americans. This proud story is well told in this excellently written and engaging historical work. 2007, Marshall Cavendish, $23.95. Ages 12 up. Reviewer: Greg M. Romaneck (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Children's Catalog, Nineteenth Edition, Supplement, 2007; H.W. Wilson; United States
ISBN: 978-0-7614-2179-5
ISBN: 0-7614-2179-3
Cracker!: The Best Dog in Vietnam
Cynthia Kadohata
Willie, a twelve-year-old boy, moves to an apartment building and must give up his purebred champion German shepherd, Cracker. He tries to pretend that Cracker is going on a vacation and she will return to him but deep down inside he knows he may never see her again. Cracker is taken to the army to be trained as a bomb-sniffing point dog responsible for the lives of the many soldiers who rely on her nose. Rick Hanski, a middle-class high school graduate joins the army to get out of his humdrum life in Minnesota and finds more adventure and danger than he ever expected. What he hadn't expected was to fall in love with Willie's dog, Cracker. He relied on her, trusted her, and put his life on the line for her. When he was wounded and MedEvac-ed from the field, he felt he had abandoned her. He spent days recuperating and writing letters to help find the dog. Cracker had a great memory and instinct for survival. After being separated from Rick, starving and dehydrated, on the verge of dying she believed she would find him once again and made her way across Vietnam back to the original base of deployment where she found Cody, one of Rick's friends. Cody notified Rick that Cracker was returning to the States. Rick wrote to Willie to help him greet Cracker at the airport. Willie understood that Cracker didn't belong to him anymore, but Rick said he could visit Cracker whenever he could. The story is compelling. It definitely brings an understanding of the role our soldiers and dogs played in the Vietnam War to today's children, and to adults who lived through that time, but never fully understood the conditions and dangers our soldiers faced each day. 2007, Atheneum/Simon and Schuster, $16.99. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Gail C. Krause (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Book Sense Children's Picks, Spring 2007; American Booksellers Association; Top10; United States
Booklist Book Review Stars, Feb. 15, 2007; United States
Children's Catalog, Nineteenth Edition, Supplement, 2007; H.W. Wilson; United States
ISBN: 978-1-4169-0637-7
ISBN: 1-4169-0637-1
Douglas MacArthur: America's General
Brenda Haugen
The son of a highly decorated soldier, there was never any doubt about Douglas MacArthur's path in life: he was a military man to the core. Trained at West Point, he distinguished himself in every major skirmish from World War I to Korea. Among his accomplishments: he helped established the Army's renowned 42nd Division in World War I, commanded the U.S. Army in the Far East during World War II, accepted the Japanese surrender aboard the USS Missouri to end the Second World War, and led the successful landing at Inchon, Korea. In keeping with its young audience, this is a wholly positive and therefore relatively sanitized look at MacArthur's life. Always one to do things his own way, little is made of some of the controversies MacArthur created in political and sometimes personal circles. Regardless, none can deny that this book does a wonderful job in describing the historic impact this complicated man made with his unique brand of military leadership. The book includes a timeline of MacArthur's life, a list of additional resources, a glossary, an index, and source notes. Part of the "Signature Lives" series. 2006, Capstone Press/Compass Point Books, $30.60. Ages 10 to 13. Reviewer: Kris Sauer (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-7565-0994-7
ISBN: 978-0-7565-0994-1
H Is for Honor: A Military Family Alphabet
Devin Scillian
Illustrated by Victor Juhasz
This alphabet book about the Armed Services and military life is written in verses of four lines, and each page has sidebar text that explains each concept in more detail. The verse for the letter A is about the American Armed Forces, and the sidebar text relates more information about the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, and the Coast Guard. Each letter depicts different aspects of the military, from an explanation of the term "military brats," to a listing in the sidebar of the special phonetic alphabet system for communicating over the radio or phone. Both personal situations and technical explanations are addressed. The realistic drawings reveal interesting details, as in the intricate illustration of a submarine alongside an aircraft carrier and a helicopter. Another picture shows a soldier reading a letter from his child. This serious and respectful text provides important information in a unique approach. 2006, Sleeping Bear Press/Thompson Gale, $17.95. Ages 7 to 12. Reviewer: Vicki Foote (Children's Literature).
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Oklahoma Book Award Finalist 2007 Children/Young Adult United States
ISBN: 1-58536-292-1
ISBN: 978-1-58536-292-9
The Harlem Hellfighters: When Pride Met Courage
Walter Dean Myers and William Miles
The 369th Infantry Regiment distinguished itself in World War I more than most other U.S. fighting units. America's fighting role in the Great War was relatively short, but the 369th's story is exceptional because it was a black regiment in an era of segregation when blacks were usually regimented to jobs as laborers. The 369th fought as part of the French Army and saw lots of combat. Some of the battles were so horrific that newspapers dubbed the 369th Hellfighters. By war's end it was one of the most decorated American regiments of WWI. Myers and Miles have done an excellent job retelling this dramatic story--one of the previous books on this subject, now out of print, was by yours truly--which undercuts popular arguments for segregation in America. Miles is the 369th's historian and his contribution has enhanced this attractive and engaging book with personal accounts and photographs. 2006, HarperCollins, $16.99. Ages 9 to 12. Reviewer: Michael L. Cooper (Children's Literature).
Since its colonial days, America has been a nation that has been dogged by the scarring effects of racial prejudice. In this title readers are given a chance to see both another example of this theme of racial bigotry and the way in which one group of African-Americans strove to overcome it. The subject matter of this fine book is the 369th Infantry, dubbed "The Harlem Hellfighters." The 369th was originally the 15th New York National Guard Regiment. Once America entered the First World War in 1917, the 15th became a fully-vested part of the American Army. In France, the 15th was renamed the 369th and was assigned to fight under French command. In the trenches of the Western Front, the 369th became a hardened combat infantry unit. Several of its members received the highest French decorations for bravery while the entire unit was also recognized for valor. However, as the two authors of this insightful book note, these accomplishments did not impress American bigots either at home or in the military. In the end, the accomplishments of the 369th were noteworthy as was the bravery of its membership. This is a well-written and compassionate book that tells the story of African-American soldiers who stood up and tried to be "race men" at a time when doing so was a grave risk. 2005, Harper Collins Children's Books, $16.99. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Greg M. Romaneck (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2007; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Children's Book Sense Picks, Winter 2005-2006; Independent Booksellers Association; United States
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog 2006 Supplement to the Ninth Edition, 2006; H.W Wilson Company; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Book of the Season Spring 2006, 2006; Nominee; Children's; New York
ISBN: 0-06-001136-X
ISBN: 978-0-06-001136-9
ISBN: 0-06-001137-8
ISBN: 978-0-06-001137-6
On the Wings of Heroes
Richard Peck
Newbery Award winning author Richard Peck begins his new historical fiction book with the words, "Before the war the evenings lingered longer, and it was always summer when it was not Halloween or Christmas." This line sets the stage for a coming of age story of Davy Bowman who is growing up during World War II and watching his older brother go off to war. Peck manages to make this book funny, gripping, and thoughtful all at the same time. In addition, since Davy's brother is serving in World War II, Davy's father was injured in World War I, and one of his elderly acquaintances can remember the Civil War, this novel offers a provocative commentary on the meaning of war in general. Peck's signature quirky-but-wise older characters help Davy make sense of a chaotic time and grow toward maturity. The author uses actual war slogans of the time, a realistic small town Illinois settings, and believable dialog to make a by-gone era come alive and have poignant relevance for young readers of today. This is a wonderful book for pure enjoyment, and could also be useful in social studies classrooms studying United States history. 2007, Dial Books/Peguin, $16.99. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Sheryl O'Sullivan (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Book Sense Children's Picks, Spring 2007; American Booksellers Association; United States
Children's Catalog, Nineteenth Edition, Supplement, 2007; H.W. Wilson; United States
Kirkus Book Review Stars, January 1, 2007; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, January 8, 2007; Cahners; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, April 2007; Cahners; United States
ISBN: 978-0-8037-3081-6
ISBN: 0-8037-3081-0
Primary Source Accounts of the Vietnam War
Kim A. O'Connell
Books in the MyReportLinks.com imprint offer the reader a background on the subject and also send them to recommended Web sites for further research. Each volume begins with a page explaining the MyReportLinks.com Web site, where links to the sites referenced in the text are available, and provides a password to the site. This page is followed by an explanation of primary sources. In Primary Source Accounts of the Vietnam War, a history of the Tet Offensive precedes a brief account of the war beginning in 1954. Obviously intended to inspire immediate interest in the war, if read out of sequence, the book could be confusing to a student. Later chapters cover soldiers' stories (U.S., North and South Vietnamese), the words of nurses and Vietnamese civilians, popular songs in both the U.S. and Vietnam, and a particularly interesting chapter on the press, both its possible influence on the American mood and the experience of American reporters in Vietnam. Interspersed throughout the text are quotes and colorful photographs and illustrations from the period. Many illustrations in these volumes are reproductions of the homepage of an approved Web site, directing the reader to the MyReportsLinks.com site. Written at a middle school level, the books in this series obviously are not for students without Internet access. Although some might find it disheartening to see books leading students to the Internet-they will probably go there anyway, but will the students come back to the books or just keep surfing? - the recommended Web sites in these volumes are exceptional collections of primary sources and are not sites that students would find immediately using Google. Other volumes in the series discuss the War of 1812, the Mexican American War, the Spanish American War, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, and The Korean War. ("America's Wars Through Primary Sources" series) VOYA CODES: 3Q 2P M J (Readable without serious defects; For the YA with a special interest in the subject; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2006, MyReportLinks.com Books/Enslow, 128p.; Glossary. Index. Illus. Photos. Maps. Source Notes. Further Reading. Chronology., PLB $33.27.. Ages 11 to 15. Reviewer: Angela Carstensen (VOYA, February 2007 (Vol. 29, No. 6)).
ISBN: 1598450018
ISBN: 9781598450019
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Natalie M. Rosinsky
Of all the wars throughout U.S. history, none has sparked more controversy than the Vietnam War. Unlike previous wars, soldiers who fought in the Vietnam War were not welcomed home as heroes; the politics that sparked controversy regarding this war spilled over onto the soldiers and their actions during the war. Vietnam veterans were made to feel ashamed about what occurred in Vietnam and for years were reluctant to express how they felt about the war. That all changed in the late 1970s and early 1980s when a group of veterans began to work together for a memorial for those who had died in the war. But just as controversy surrounded the war itself, controversy also surrounded the memorial. Many thought the wall was an ugly and unfit tribute to those who served during the war. But in the years since it was built, there have been few who have not been moved by the simplicity of the memorial. Rosinsky has presented a brief overview of the Vietnam War and offers a great deal of information behind the design of the memorial and the controversy surrounding it, as well as a brief history of the memorial after its completion. This title is part of the "We the People" series. 2007, Compass Point Books, $25.26. Ages 7 to 10. Reviewer: Danielle Williams (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7565-2032-8
ISBN: 0-7565-2032-0
When the Horses Ride By: Children in the Times of War
Eloise Greenfield
Illustrations by Jan Spivey Gilchrist
This compelling collection of free-verse poetry is a stirring testament to children's ability to rise above horrific circumstances. When papa comes home, broken and battered from the war, the children hug him and look forward to days of peace and rest. When sirens pierce the air, the children run to the bomb shelter. They dream of a time of freedom and happiness; a time when there will be no more wars, no more fear, no more hatred. The children in this book inspire mankind to put down the weapons of war and take up the gifts of music, laughter, and friendship. The full-page illustrations, rendered in mixed media collage, capture the emotions that children around the world experience in times of war: fear, sadness, and hope for a better tomorrow. Selections from the book could be recited for a Memorial Day program. An excellent read aloud. Useful for generating discussions about war, peace, grief, loss, etc. An author's note provides expanded information about historical periods and events featured in the book. 2006, Lee & Low Books, $17.95. Ages 7 to 10. Reviewer: Cheri Stowers (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Children's Catalog, Nineteenth Edition, Supplement, 2007; H.W. Wilson; United States
Choices, 2007; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States
ISBN: 978-1-58430-249-0
ISBN: 1-58430-249-6
For Veterans Day book reviews from the previous year, click here.
Updated 9/21/07
To stay up to date on new books on this topic, consider subscribing to The Children's Literature Comprehensive Database. For your free trial, click here.
If you’re interested in reviewing children's and young adult books, then send a resume and writing sample to marilyn@childrenslit.com.