Growing a Reader: Kids' Books, Tips and More

My grandfather served in the British Army and was evacuated from the beaches of Dunkirk during the Second World War. Like so many veterans, he never spoke of those years. He died when I was too young to know about war, or to have any questions to ask.

My questions were answered primarily through books. For this Remembrance Day, November 11th, read a book with your child. Discover the meaning of the poppy – a symbol of remembrance for those who lost their lives in war. Learn about John McCrae, the field surgeon in the Canadian artillery, and poet, who tended to his fellow soldiers during the First World War and wrote the memorable poem, In Flanders Fields.

Have your child listen to a live recording of a veteran’s story through The Memory Project. Since 2001, veterans who have served, and who are still serving in the Canadian Forces, have recorded their stories. Pilot Officer Sam Garnet, a Canadian wireless air gunner on loan to the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, and a volunteer with The Memory Project, spoke to school children visiting Toronto Public Library. He shared his stories and photographs and answered many questions from curious students and teachers. 

Pilot Officer Sam Garnet (second from left) stands with fellow crew members and their B-24 Liberator.

Below are a few reading suggestions. Browse through the catalogue for more books, movies, and Remembrance Day images.    

Recommended Reads for Ages 6+

A Poppy is to Remember by Heather Patterson

A good first book to begin explaining war to children. The history of the poppy and Remembrance Day are included in this spare but informative summary of the First World War. 

Remembrance Day and the Poppy by Helen Cox Cannons

A simple introduction to the history of the poppy that answers questions children might ask: What is Remembrance Day? When is Remembrance Day? Why Poppies?

Recommended Reads for Ages 9+

In Flanders Fields: The Story of the Poem by John McCrae by Linda Granfield

John McCrae, poet and war surgeon, wrote the enduring poem that has become a call to remembrance. The words from In Flanders Fields are interwoven with historical detail to present the First World War and the life of a dedicated doctor. 

Remembering John McCrae: Soldier, Doctor, Poet by Linda Granfield

Who was John McCrae? From his birth in 1872 in a small stone house in Guelph, Ontario, to his death 10 months before war ended in 1918, McCrae’s life is presented through photographs and personal accounts.  

 We’ll Never Forget by Jean Miso 

Jean Miso dedicates her book to all “Canadian Forces men and women, both past and present, who have voluntarily given of themselves to serve our country with pride and fortitude.” Within are interviews with military men and women who share their personal stories and perspectives on war.

Where Poppies Grow: A World War I Companion by Linda Granfield

Original photographs, postcards and memorabilia create a backdrop for this summary of the First World War. The book begins in 1914 with a grade eight graduation photo of youth who do not know that their lives are about to change with the onset of war. It concludes with two different endings: the soldier who returned home and the one who didn't.     

Two Minutes of Silence

On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month – November 11 at 11 am – we pause for two minutes of silence in memory of the Canadian men and women who sacrificed their lives in military service. On this Remembrance Day, help your child understand why we pause and the significance of the bright, red poppy.