WHAT WE REMEMBER
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How do we ensure that young Canadian children understand the significance of Remembrance Day? How will they learn to appreciate the sacrifices that have been made for our freedom? What will whet their interest in Canada's history and heritage? The answer is What We Remember - a collection of non-frightening, true stories about children who were affected by the war. Children aged 4 to 9 can learn about the price paid for our freedom through the eyes of children.
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By Lesley Anne Airth
Illustrated by Mervyn Finch, MBE
ISBN#1-897113-21-8
ISBN#9781897113219
What We Remember is a collection of non-frightening, true stories written to introduce children to the significance of Remembrance and to whet their interest in Canada's history and heritage. Children aged 4 to 9—an audience that has traditionally been deemed too young to learn about war—learn through touching stories based on children's war time experiences in What We Remember.
As the daughter of the Military Attaché to Belgium and Luxembourg, Lesley Anne Airth spent many years living in Europe and witnessed first hand how in countries such as Belgium and the Netherlands, stories of war are shared with very young children. Children in these countries are exposed to personal accounts of how brave Canadian soldiers came to their rescue. The author shares the belief that if we fail to teach children about the atrocity that is war, we will be doomed to repeat a horrific nightmare. She also believes that we need to pay tribute to the brave Canadians who sacrificed and who continue to sacrifice everything for peace.
Mother of three children and professional educator, Lesley Airth has a keen understanding of children's sensibilities. The subject of war is certainly one of the most difficult subjects a teacher or parent ever has to address. To educate children without fear, she has written a collection of six true short stories.
Each story has a child as the central character and describes how war had an impact on his or her life. The stories are simple with simple messages: children were in danger; some fathers were gone for a long time; some fathers never returned; some fathers were never healthy again; women made a significant contribution to the war effort; and, we must remember and appreciate the sacrifices that were made for our freedom.
"Remembrance is important—and not just once a year. Lesley Airth's carefully crafted stories lead the youngest readers through Canada's wars of freedom by showing how children faced dangers and reacted to their parents' absences."
J.L. Granatstein, former Director; Canadian War Museum
"I knew Gene Bawden, the father in The Photograph. He and I served together in the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada. We who went to war for Canada, and those who died doing so, were beautiful young Canadians. Not just numbers, there were sons, daughters, husbands, wives, and good friends. I'm not ashamed in the slightest to admit that I cry thinking about those who are gone, nor should anyone be. Lesley Airth's stories bring out the personal part of wartime experience, something important to the understanding our past."
Barney Danson, former Minister of National Defence
"There are no easy answers to explain war to a child. Lesley, through her short stories, has offered a gentle, personal reference to begin these important conversations. My hope is that the stories resonate with the children who read them, not only to find a way to break this cycle of human nature, but also to honour the suffering and sacrifices made by all who are touched by war."
Stephanie Goodwin, Teacher; Ottawa-Carleton Catholic School
"Lesley Airth has produced a work that fills a void in the teaching of Canada's military history and its importance."
General (retired) Paul D. Manson, former Chief of Defence Staff
About the Author
Lesley Airth is a professional educator with a Masters Degree in Education. She is also the mother of three children. As a Canadian living in Europe for nearly a decade, Lesley attended ceremonies and visited many sites where Canadians are honoured. The profound impact of hearing the stories and seeing the tears of those who were liberated, and their liberators—Canadian veterans who returned to re-visit the people and lands where they had fought and their comrades had died—proved indelible. What We Remember is the result of Lesley's passion to ensure young Canadians know that the peace and freedom they enjoy today is the legacy of courage and sacrifice.
About the Illustrator
Mervyn Finch was born in Wolverhampton, England. He developed a passion for painting and artistic creation at an early age. This passion has remained a constant throughout a varied career that included twenty-two years in the British Army. Merv has settled in Canada where he paints, sculpts, writes and dabbles in the world of high tech training.
Other works include:
Cameron's Capital Adventure
Cameron's Colouring and Activity Book
A Gift from Graham
