Remembrance Tales

The Halloween costumes are packed away, and now the red poppies are cropping up everywhere. Children are asking questions about what they mean and sometimes it’s hard to help them understand what ‘Remembrance’ is all about.

That’s why we were delighted to discover A Bear in War (Key Porter, 2008), co-authored by Stephanie Innes and Harry Endrulat, and beautifully illustrated with original oil paintings by Brian Deines.

Told from the perspective of Teddy, a stuffed bear that was sent to the front lines of World War I, A Bear in War is the tale of ten year old Aileen Rogers who lived with her family on a farm in Quebec. Aileen’s father, Lawrence Browning Rogers, enlisted in the First Canadian Mounted Rifles in 1915 and went to Europe to serve as a medic. In an effort to cheer him up, Aileen parted with beloved Teddy and sent it to her father, who kept it with him in his pocket as he was tending to wounded soldiers. Sadly, Teddy wasn’t enough to protect him, and he died at the battle of Passchendale on October 30, 1917.

85 years later, Lawrence’s granddaughter found the hundreds of letters the family had exchanged, Teddy and other war memorabilia packed away in a large briefcase, and was able to delve deeper into the story of how one Canadian family lived through the war. Inspired by the incredible story of Teddy’s experiences, her daughter, Lawrence’s great-granddaughter, took the discovery further and co-authored this wonderful book.

It’s tough telling a story to children about someone dying in battle but somehow A Bear in War manages to do so in a way that is gentle, fascinating and educational. Our savvy testers (who included teachers and children) found themselves wanting to read the story again and again. It’s a wonderful addition to the learning resources for Remembrance Day and the story and the beautiful illustrations provide a great tool to help parents talk to their children about war, service to country, and losing a loved one (the book is best suited for ages 5 – 10).

As for Teddy, he was discovered in Lawrence’s uniform pocket by another soldier and sent back to Canada to be reunited with Aileen. He now sits in the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa and loves when children visit him so he can share his story.

A Bear in War helps remind parents and kids alike about the sacrifice and commitment Canadian soldiers made in the First World War, and the impact their loss had on so many families who lost loved ones.

That’s worth remembering.

More information on the book and other learning resources can be found on www.abearinwar.com. Available to buy at Indigo.ca and Amazon.ca

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