Posted by Amy in PA on 18:40 Jan 7
We just started WWI unit. It's been difficult finding books about this time period for my dc (9,7,5,3). Anyway, I found a children's book telling the story of Christmas morning 1915 when the Allies and Central Powers came out of the trenches and celebrated the holiday on No-Man's-Land by exchanging gifts, singing carols and playing soccer. What a beautiful image and the illustrations that accompany the book are lovely too.
But then the last two pages tell how the heros of the story (three British friends) are sent to sneak attack the enemy and are shot and killed in the same NoMans' Land where just a few days earlier they celebrated.
I was so not expecting this ending (that's what I get for not pre-reading). My 7 yo ds was teary eyed and my poor 5 yo coped by making up his own ending. Still, what a way to end an otherwise touching children's book.
It'll be one of those things my dc will talk about when they're older "remember how you read us that book that made us all cry, mom?" lol.