Remembrance Day: Why by Nikolai Popov
Wednesday, November 11th, 2009
This week many countries will be honoring their war dead. Called Veterans Day in the U.S., November 11th is referred to as Remembrance Day in Canada and Armistice Day in the UK. Although there are many fine books for children on the subject of war, the wordless picture book Why by Nikolai Popov is a compelling allegorical meditation on the subject. It depicts an encounter between a mouse and frog that becomes suddenly fraught with tension and unexpected violence that leads to a massacre. The book is beautifully illustrated by Popov whose own memories of the war from his perspective as a young Russian boy (he was born in 1938) are recounted in the author’s note in the back.
Following the “War & Peace in children’s books” tag will lead you to some of the other excellent books we have highlighted on the PaperTigers blog. Are there any books about war that you share with your children? Do share them with us!
