Books for Kids to Understand Veterans Day
And now the Torch and Poppy red
We wear in honor of our dead.
Fear not that ye have died for naught,
We’ll teach the lesson that ye wrought.
In Flanders Fields.
Moina’s Pledge
My kids’ elementary school has been celebrating Veterans Day for the past few years by asking the kids to create a card for a Veteran. They supply a blank card and envelope and the kids supply their creative energy. The card get mailed off and inevitably, every year, a touching letter will be sent back in return from a Vet. Reading his handwritten card usually sends chills up my spine. He is grateful for the effort the kids made and for the fact that someone appreciates the horrors and sacrifices that he made for his country.
We don’t talk about war much at home. I find the idea of war to be terrifying and can’t read about it or watch movies depicting war. Even children’s books. But I am happy to celebrate Veteran’s Day as a way to appreciate our troops out there fighting.
In honor of our Veteran’s, I have found two great children’s books. The Poppy Lady is a picture book biography. Postcards from Pismo Beach is a chapter book for ages 8 and up that reminds me of our Veteran’s Day card project. How do you celebrate Veteran’s Day?
My son made this poppy project at school. He used red and black construction paper, a brad, and a pipe cleaner.
p.s. There was a 3 cent commemorative stamp created in honor of Moina Michael.
p.p.s. Here is an Art Project on Poppies inspired by Emile Nolde.
p.p.p.s. I found these great Veterans Day crafts from the Laughing Kids Learn blog.
p.p.p.s. This is a video of an art installation, Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red, as it continues to grow throughout the summer until the moat is filled with 888,246 ceramic poppies, each poppy representing a British fatality during the First World War.
The Tower of London remembers the First World War, 1914 – 2014.
Celebrate Veterans Day with Books with Kids
The Poppy Lady: Moina Belle Michael and Her Tribute to Veterans by Barbara Elizabeth Walsh, illustrated by Layne Johnson
The Civil War ripped Moina’s hometown in Georgia apart, leaving a wake of poverty. At fifteen in the year 1885, Moina is well-educated and decides to start a school for the neighbors’ children who otherwise would not be able to attend school. By 1917, Moira’s school was well established, but the United States was on the brink of war. When the U.S. joins WWI, Moina is moved to help — these are her ex-students who are going off to war! We Shall Not Sleep, a poem by Lieutenant Colonel Dr. John McCrae, written after the battle of Flanders, inspires her to use the poppy as her pledge to soldiers. Her relentless efforts pay off, and the poppy becomes a symbol and talisman to help veterans around the world!
In Flanders Fields
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.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Author Barbara Elizabeth Walsh has a personal story about Moina. In her attic, there is a box with poppy pinned to a handwritten postcard. It was sent to her mother, then the fiancée of her father, by Moira. He was one of many, many soldiers whom she lent a kind ear. Can the kindness and caring of one person ripple through the world from one century into the next? The story of Moina Belle Michael, not a household name by any means, proves that it can! [advanced picture book, ages 6 and up]
Operation Rescue Dog by Maria Gianferrari, illustrated by Luisa Uribe
Alma’s mother is away in Iraq, and it’s been three months since she’s heard her voice. Lulu is a rescue dog that Alma’s abuela thinks will be the perfect addition to their family. After each has a small mishap getting to the Operation Dog Rescue stop, it’s clear that Lulu has found a forever home. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
The Goode Life: Fort Goode by Winsome Bingham, illustrated by Colin Bootman
Author Winsome Bingham is a military veteran, and her series gives readers a glimpse of life at Fort Goode, a military base. For the children of active military personnel, there are adventures to be had that include finding puppies and a base-wide celebration with outdoor games. Lang and his friends are close-knit, but what happens when someone gets transferred? Picking up and starting over is part of military life. [chapter book, ages 7 and up]
Postcards from Pismo by Michael Scotto
10-year-old Felix Maldonado has a school project to write a letter to a soldier fighting in Afghanistan. To his surprise, his soldier, Marcus, writes him back, and soon Felix begins to rely on him for life advice, especially after he gets bullied and his older brother enlists in the military. Told entirely in letters, emails, and postcards from Felix to Marcus, Postcards from Pismo is a coming-of-age story that tackles what it means to be brave, both at home, in school, facing bullies, and on a battlefield. [middle grade, ages 8 and up]
A Galaxy of Sea Stars by Jeanne Zulick Ferruolo
Review by Ms. Yingling Reads:
“Izzy loves living in Seaside, Rhode Island, but there are challenges. Her father has returned from military duty in Afghanistan with some injuries as well as PTSD, and the family has had to leave their home and is now trying to run the local marina. Her mother is living on a nearby island, helping her family run a diner. Izzy is angry that her mother is not at home, and it doesn’t help that her two best friends, Zelda and Piper, are acting strangely. They’ve all managed to get into the same homeroom since they are all doing the school video announcements, but something is off. Izzy starts to spend more time with Sitara, whose father was a doctor and an interpreter in Afghanistan and had to leave because of threats to the family. Sitara wears a hijab to school and is forthright about it, even mentioning on the school announcements that if anyone has questions, she would rather be asked them to her face. This doesn’t stop some of the jerky students from giving her a hard time about it. When this includes Zelda, Izzy is distraught that her best friend is so mean. Combined with her father’s difficulties and the absence of her mother, she becomes overwrought, but eventually learns to take to heart the idea that her courage should be bigger than her fear.” [middle grade, ages 8 and up]
Storm Dog by L. M. Elliot
Review by Ms. Yingling Reads:
“This was such a vivid description of spring in a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains that I could smell those apple blossoms. Very atmospheric! Ariel’s family dynamics are interesting, and her friendship with Sergeant Josie is touching. I especially appreciated the unfortunate but illuminative scene where Josie is targeted by people who want her to “go back to her country”; she’s from Puerto Rico. Teaching Duke to dance was fun, which nicely balances out her well-warranted anxiety about George. I was also glad to see that the father was described as older when his involvement in Vietnam protests was mentioned.” [middle grade, ages 9 and up]
Birdie’s Bargain by Katherine Paterson
Review by Children’s Books Heal:
“Paterson’s keen sensitivity, compassion, and penetrating sense of drama bring readers a moving story about Birdie’s father’s third deployment to the Middle East and her fear for his safety. Separation is tough on military children and their families both emotionally and financially. Birdie’s mad at the world, refuses to go to the airport to say goodbye, and fears her dad’s luck has run out and he won’t return home this time. So she is angry and has big questions for God — if there is a God. Readers will go through Birdie’s crisis of faith with her.
Paterson creates realistic and memorable characters readers will love spending time with. Birdie is caring and resilient. She isn’t popular in her new school and longs for a friend. She is befriended by Alicia Maria Suggs (Alice May) who claims to have a famous mother who is an actress. Their relationship is exhausting for Birdie. Alicia is bossy, obnoxious, and controlling. Birdie suspects something is seriously wrong at Alicia’s house and that her mother may be abusive. That would explain Alicia wearing make-up. So Birdie has to make some hard decisions about how she can help Alicia. Thankfully she has Gran who is the rock in their family and is always ready to listen. She’s kind, patient, and tough when she needs to be. Her teacher Mr. Goldberg is another kind and positive influence for Birdie.
I love that Birdie finds a diary her father gave her for Christmas. It’s been buried in an unpacked box. She calls it “Betsy Lou.” There’s a note inside from her dad that moves her. So she begins to write down all of the things that she’s doing so she can share everything he misses while he’s deployed. It also helps her count down the days until he returns. Readers will be able to explore Birdie’s deepest thoughts, anguish, and fears. It helps Birdie cope during some challenging moments in the story. (Sorry, no Spoilers.) But readers are going to cheer for Birdie.” [middle grade, ages 9 and up]
p.s. More books and art projects for Veterans Day and Memorial Day.
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p.s. Other Veteran’s Day Posts:
Remembering the Veterans in my life: A book list honoring the 442nd
Emil Nolde Poppy Art Project for Kids
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jennifer munro
another great book for younger kids is ‘proud as a peacock, brave as a lion’. i have been reading it to my kids every rememberance day since my son was just 2 years old.
Great list – and not a topic I’ve seen a blog post on. Thanks!
Hi Maryanne,
It was happenstance. A publisher had given me The Poppy Lady just in time for Veteran’s Day but then I found a book I read over the summer, Postcards from Pismo Beach, that I had unpacked but left (for MONTHS!), lying around on the living room coffee table. It’s such a pile of junk on that table that I didn’t even notice it. It has a perfect message for Veteran’s Day so I guess it was meant to be! Thanks so much for your kind words!
That is a great thing your school does! I bet the kids are so excited to get a letter back! The Poppy Lady sounds great!
Hi Ann,
I’m glad that there is a great picture book for Remembrance Day/Veteran’s Day. I had no idea that poppies were a symbol of Veteran’s Day and it’s my favorite flower. I am also grateful to my elementary school for incorporating a project that lets the kids appreciate the soldiers and veterans who fight on their behalf.
You captured THE POPPY LADY perfectly as an ‘advanced picture book’ and I hope it spurs a deeper, broader connection between children and veterans. My daughter enjoys purchasing poppies from auxiliary members on Veterans Day and Memorial Day, but it is actually getting harder to find them being sold in the suburbs! I love the idea to move remembrace into the schools with art, music and literature activities.
Hi Cathy,
I agree. I hadn’t heard of the connection between poppies and veterans and it always seemed like we didn’t know quite what veteran’s day was all about, not having a veteran in the immediate family. I was happy that my school’s Social Outreach parent volunteers came up with a way to honor veterans and connect the kids with a personal experience for Veteran’s Day.
That poppy art is so lovely! Thanks for sharing at The Children’s Bookshelf.
Thanks Mom and Kiddo!
What a wonderful post! Your crafts are really wonderful.
Thanks so much JDaniel4’s Mom!
Our school continues to send letters to Veterans every year in celebration of Veteran’s Day and it’s wonderful. Sometimes the Vets write back and they are touched to receive letters from kids. I’m so glad we do this!
I am also trying to start this type of project with my 2nd graders. I want them to be able to send letters to vets and current troops. How did you go about getting the addresses or knowing where to send them? I have found a couple of websites, but I’d love to know how you went about it. Thanks! Great post!
Hi Gabby,
Our school librarian knew someone who was in the military and we got addresses that way. It is a wonderful project and several soldiers wrote back really lovely letters. Let me see if I can help you find out how to get addresses as well. I’ll ask at my school.
Okay, that would be wonderful! Thank you! We are starting our rough drafts tomorrow! If you could check into that for me in the next day or so, that’d be lovely! Thank you so much.
Hi Gabby,
I just emailed our school librarian and the previous chair of our social action committee. I’ll let you know as soon as I hear back!
Hi Gabby,
My school librarian emailed her contact so she is waiting to hear back from that person, hopefully soon.
I wonder if our school will celebrate Veteran’s Day – so far I haven’t heard anything from daughter about it. However, she put “people protecting our country” on her gratitude list, so perhaps, after all, little ears have been listening and learning. I want to get Poppy book next year!
Hi Natalie,
I love that your daughter is thinking about “people protecting our country.” You might be able to find the poppy book at your library.
So great to be reminded of this important holiday that can be forgotten in the weeks before Christmas. Thanks for your post!
Hi Anna,
Veteran’s Day does seem like just a day off from school. I’m glad that The Poppy Lady picture book exists to give us all some context around Veteran’s Day as well as a symbol of it.
I am trying hard to make a better effort at making every Holiday memorable for my kids. I recently read a great book titled, “Little Things Long Remembered: Making Your Children Feel Special Every Day” by Susan Newman, Ph.D . The book points out the importance of making memories with your children (she points out that family traditions are the glue that keeps a family together), so have been working diligently on trying to find something for every Holiday! In addition to creating traditions, I feel it is important to teach children about what each Holiday represents. So happy that I found your blog. I am definitely going to implement the card to a veteran in our yearly Veteran’s Day tradition- I know several people who have served our country, including my brother, and the book is a great example. I am so grateful to the service men and women who have fought and who are currently fighting for our freedoms- it is time to make this Holiday bigger than ever!
Hi Becky,
My kids did end up enjoying writing to a veteran and a few wrote back to the school which made it even more special. It’s great that you know veteran’s to write too; that was the hard part for our school. How wonderful that you try to make every day special for your kids! You are awesome!!