In Flanders Fields by Norman Jorgensen. Illus. by Brian Harrison-Lever

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The Larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below…
(John McCrae 1872-1918)

In 2003 In Flanders Fields, was awarded the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Picture Book of the Year. This beautifully written and deeply poignant story, inspired by a true event, offers a small yet powerful glimpse of humanity in a war of unforeseen horror and brutality.

This anniversary edition is ready for a new generation of readers to gain an understanding of the devastating impact of war. It recounts a moment on Christmas Day 1914, when both sides stopped firing as a young soldier risked his life by venturing into no man’s land to rescue a robin caught in the barbed wire. Both sides watched and waited as he warmed the robin in his hands and set it free. Soon after ‘Silent Night’ was heard from both sides, sung in English and German.

The depth of the illustrations beginning with the striking cover in muted tones of black, brown and grey with the pop of red from the robin and the title, are continued throughout the book. The front endpapers depict the Allied forces in the trenches while the back endpapers mirror the same with the German forces. With the rich and detailed illustrations on each page telling their own unique story, there is much to be learnt from this recount.

With its renowned striking imagery and moving narrative, this new edition once again captures of a snapshot of wartime history, enabling readers to gain an appreciation of a moment of compassion that tells a different story from more distressing World War One accounts. Teacher's notes are available.

Themes: World War One, Christmas Day 1914, Flanders Field, Battlefields, Humanity, ANZAC DAY, History, Soldiers.

Kathryn Beilby