The ANZAC Day Parade by Glenda Kane

26 Apr 2019 Leave a comment

by Amy in 4 Stars, The Picture Book Corner Tags: , , , ,

Published: March 29th 2010Goodreads badge
Publisher: Puffin Books NZ
Illustrator: Lisa Allen
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book
★   ★   ★   ★  – 4 Stars

On Anzac Day an old man, a former member of the 18th Battalion, and a young boy meet – the young boy wide-eyed and wanting to hear the glories of war and death – the old man quietly sad to remember the reality of what was faced.

“Age won’t weary him, he said, but boy, it’s wearied me”

This is a solemn story that has heart but also packs a punch with importance. The ANZAC Day parade brings out the young and old, to honour those who fought in the war, those who came home, and those who did not.

The perspective is of a young boy who has attended the parade, whose eye catches an elderly man, a straggler after the ceremony. He asks for him to tell of the glory of the war, what it was like to fight. The answer the man gives is not one filled with glory, but it is one filled with truth and heartache.

The innocence of a child is a naïve but ignorant voice against the veteran. This was a story I was not expecting; it shoots down the idolisation of war and what those who have never been expect. I was surprised that there is not much of a narrative, but each page has beautiful words about the pain and suffering, but eloquently expressed.

The education of the boy is the perfect framework for this story, but it isn’t the focus either. As the veteran gets lost in his memories so do we as a reader looking at illustrations of the age, the youth, and the memories.

There is no violence shown, there are beautiful drawings by Allen as she captures the gravity of Kane’s words. I liked the solemnity that the boy depicts, a contrast from the spark before, not to diminish him, but to show that the conversation with the veteran has had an impact. Understanding of the day.

There is as much emotion in the illustrations as there is in Kane’s simple words. I found myself impacted by Kane’s words, as well as Allen’s illustrations. Knowing what ANZAC Day means to Australians and New Zealand and the marches that grow yet diminish each year. The beautiful drawings accompany the powerful words and you can see the tone Allen is conveying. The realistic depictions of the man and boy, as well as the surrounding areas puts you there with them. At the memorial, in front of the list of names. It is a reminder of being at these parades and the meaning they hold.

There is information about a WWII battle in Crete at the back which reminds readers it isn’t just WWI that ANZAC honours. It is every war, every war and battle Australians and New Zealanders fought in. As depressing as it can be to read these stories, I enjoy that there are still so many beautiful ways we can tell the stories of these brave men and women of history. How they are not just names on a wall, not just people who march. They have had a huge impact on our world and to honour them, even in a picture book, is simply wonderful.

You can purchase ANZAC Day Parade via the following

QBD | Booktopia

For The Fallen

25 Apr 2017 Leave a comment

by Amy in General Tags: ,

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children
England mourns for her dead across the sea,
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,
There is music in the midst of desolation
And glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow,
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again,
They sit no more at familiar tables of home,
They have no lot in our labour of the daytime,
They sleep beyond England’s foam.

But where our desires and hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the night.

As the stars shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain,
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.

– by Robert Laurence Binyon (1869-1943)

Published in The Times newspaper on 21st September 1914.

A Soldier, A Dog, and a Boy by Libby Hathorn

24 Apr 2017 1 Comment

by Amy in 5 Stars, Australian Women Writers, The Picture Book Corner Tags: , , , , ,

Published: 22nd March 2016
Goodreads badgePublisher: Lothian
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book
Genre: Children
★   ★   ★   ★   ★  – 5 Stars

A moving story, told completely in dialogue, about a young Australian soldier in the battle of the Somme. Walking through the fields away from the front, he finds what he thinks is a stray dog, and decides to adopt it as a mascot for his company. Then he meets Jacques, the homeless orphan boy who owns the dog. The soldier realises that Jacques needs the dog more – and perhaps needs his help as well.

With stunning illustrations from Phil Lesnie, this is a deeply moving celebration of friendship in times of war.

Look, who doesn’t love a good cry at a picture book. I am usually so worried when there’s a ‘serious’ style picture book with dogs because it’s always going to make me sad and this was no exception, but it was also so beautiful.

I loved this story, and as a note in the back tells you, it’s based off a picture and Hathorn’s own family history. I was so worried when one combines dogs and ANZACs, but Hathorn has told a beautiful story that makes you emotional and feel all the feelings while not being too sad.

Hathorn tells the story about the ANZACs and war without being too detailed for younger audiences. She mentions the ruined towns and orphaned children, but the words are so lyrical and so lovely that it’s almost like a dream reading them. The story follows a soldier who finds a lost dog and who then tells him about coming back to camp, how he’ll make him their mascot and protect his ears from the fireworks at night. Along with the dog he also finds a young boy and their conversations are some of the most beautiful things I’ve read.

I don’t want to ruin the story because it’s so so wonderful and heartwarming, but it is a beautiful tale to read and one that will delight children and adults alike. With so many ANZAC stories out there I think this is one of my favourites. It’s lyrical and honest and beautiful. It brings out the emotional content with respect and with restraint and with joy. A must read.

aww2017-badge

You can purchase A Soldier, A Dog, and A Boy via the following

Booktopia | Hachette

Kinokuniya | QBD

Dymocks | Angus and Robinson’s Bookworld

ANZAC Day: Lest We Forget

25 Apr 2014 Leave a comment

by Amy in Rambles Tags: , ,


Ode of Remembrance

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

 

 

As I woke up this morning at 3am to a spectacular thunderstorm outside my window my thoughts soon turned to those who would  be marching today, or attending the dawn services. I felt sad for those who chose to stay home because of the severe weather, and I felt sad for those who would still attend that this day of remembrance would be hinder by the weather, even if it was not as heavy or severe there.

But today isn’t just about the dawn services and the march, and there is a lot of power in ANZAC Day, so much can be said by so little. One of the things that always had the most impact on my was The Ode that is recited at every ANZAC or Remembrance Day. The Ode is taken from For the Fallen, a poem written by Laurence Binyon, an English poet and writer who published it first on September 21 in The Times then later in The Winnowing-fan: Poems of The Great War. The title comes from another of his poems The Fourth of August, and while people know For the Fallen, there are many other excellent poems in his book about the war and impacts from it.

Binyon wrote For the Fallen against the background of the early weeks of war. In September, less than seven weeks since war broke out, there were already severe casualties with a long list of dead or wounded appearing in newspapers. It was from this that the poem came to be, written, according to Binyon,  not long after The Great Retreat (also known as the Retreat From Mons) and the victory from The Battle of the Marne. The Ode comes from the fourth stanza, and is a simple yet powerful message that reminds us what war can bring about, and what it can take away, while still having the power of honouring all those who came before and sadly no doubt will come again.

For those who have fought in our wars, from the ANZACS until now, thank you.

Binyon’s complete poem is below if you’d like to read it.

 

For the Fallen

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children
England mourns for her dead across the sea,
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,
There is music in the midst of desolation
And glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow,
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again,
They sit no more at familiar tables of home,
They have no lot in our labour of the daytime,
They sleep beyond England’s foam.

But where our desires and hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the night.

As the stars shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain,
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.