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Summary: The story of McCrae's "In Flanders Field"...lest we forget
Review: "In Flanders Fields" is the most celebrate poem dealing with the subject of war written in the 20th century. The poet was John McCrae, an idealistic army doctor who wrote the "In Flanders Fields" during the terrible Second Battle of Ypres in 1915. The poem derives its simple but potent power from combining a respect for the fallen soldiers with a longing for peace. It is, in simple terms, an anti-war poem. Author Linda Granfield breaks McCrae's 15-line poem into three parts, each line illustrated by Janet Wilson's paintings. In between Granfield provides information about World War I and details on what life was like in the trenches for the soldiers, as well as McCrae's experiences in his field hospital and the story of how the doctor came to write "In Flanders Fields." This book is also illustrated with archival posters, postcards, photographs, and other artifacts that put the poem in historic context. McCrae's poem is short, but by giving each line its own page and illustration, Granfield and Wilson insure that the poem itself is not overwhelmed by background information. In fact, more pages in the book are devoted to the actual poem than the story behind it. The result is a book perfectly composed to provide young students with an appreciation for both the poem and the fallen soldiers it memorializes. It would certainly be nice to see this idea extended to other poems, but it might not have the same effectiveness as this nice little book.
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Summary: Every child should know this poem
Review: Growing up in Canada, I and every other child knew this poem inside and out. Every Rememberence Day[Nov.11th], we recited it, wore our poppies and then walked down to the cemetery to commemorate all the soldiers who died during the different wars. We talked about it in class for a few weeks.I gave it to my children after I found the book at a Canadian bookstore the week of it's release. They in turn took it school and their teachers read it to their classes. As a education major, I will use it in my studies and then as a teacher for my class to learn about the World Wars. The art work is beautiful and the story enclosed is lovely too, if ever can be of a book about war. It's too bad this isn't used over here in the States.
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Summary: In Flanders Field
Review: I read this book while resting my feet at Book Expo 2000. At least three people stopped to ask me about it because they were so taken by the illustrations. This picture book for young people intersperses breathtaking illustrations for the poem "In Flanders Field" with background on World War I and the story of the writing of this poem. A deeply affecting and touching book, it will give young people a personal view of war, particularly this war. Unfortunately, many children as well as adults know nothing about World War I. This book is a fine introduction and a good war to broach a painful topic. By any standard, it is well-well written and thoughtful.
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