The War

My daughter stumbled upon this book during a trip to the library. Over the past 7 years, this treasure has been taken out of the library countless times. Each time I read it, I am amazed and thankful for its existence. I finally purchased it for my daughter. "The War" is one of her most prized possessions. The beautifully, melancholic images reinforce the book's simple message. It takes courage, and intelligence, to NOT continue a tradition of violence. Prince Fabien is my anti-war hero!

I have read this book aloud to several groups of kids in Kindergarten through 3rd grade, who were visiting my library over the past year. Each time, there is a hush in the group when the red prince dies in the duel. The blue prince, blameless, nevertheless heroically deals with the consequences. At the end of the story today (with war on the news every minute), one third grader responded by saying, "I wish it were really like that." It has had a similar response among each group.It is a very simple book, that clearly expresses the futility and avoidability of war. Not an easy topic, but this brief story takes a topic that is on everyone's mind and shows what we all want: for no on else to die for a reason that no one can remember.