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Rating: 
Summary: Reality and Poetry
Review: I first learned of the Battle of Dunkirk when I read 'The Snow Goose' at the age of 11. I am sick of Harry Potter and its ilk and want my grandson to learn about stories that last. I realized he neither knows nor cares about history, nor is he so a precocious reader as I was at his age (pre-television). I decided this would have to be a gradual process, and that he will have to know about one of the great heroic events in our history before 'The Snow Goose' would be meaningful to him.To this end, I discovered 'The Little Ships' and found myself with tears in my eyes over the beauty of the writing. For example, when the little girl is relating what she sees in the water (broken planks, army coats and boots) as she and her father are ferrying the soldiers, she sums it up by ' . . . and everything soldiers leave behind when they can take only themselves.' The 'Snow Goose' will have to wait - although I certainly enjoyed reading it again. He's simply not old enough, but he's ready for 'The Little Ships.' The beauty of the writing and the wonderful illustrations will capture him. Best of all, the basic story is true. I'm buying two more copies - one for my library and one for the grade school. Children should know that, while we humans are capable of hideous acts, we are also capable of breathtaking acts of bravery, and they should be moved as they read about them.
Rating:
Summary: Reality and Poetry
Review: I first learned of the Battle of Dunkirk when I read 'The Snow Goose' at the age of 11. I am sick of Harry Potter and its ilk and want my grandson to learn about stories that last. I realized he neither knows nor cares about history, nor is he so a precocious reader as I was at his age (pre-television). I decided this would have to be a gradual process, and that he will have to know about one of the great heroic events in our history before 'The Snow Goose' would be meaningful to him. To this end, I discovered 'The Little Ships' and found myself with tears in my eyes over the beauty of the writing. For example, when the little girl is relating what she sees in the water (broken planks, army coats and boots) as she and her father are ferrying the soldiers, she sums it up by ' . . . and everything soldiers leave behind when they can take only themselves.' The 'Snow Goose' will have to wait - although I certainly enjoyed reading it again. He's simply not old enough, but he's ready for 'The Little Ships.' The beauty of the writing and the wonderful illustrations will capture him. Best of all, the basic story is true. I'm buying two more copies - one for my library and one for the grade school. Children should know that, while we humans are capable of hideous acts, we are also capable of breathtaking acts of bravery, and they should be moved as they read about them.
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