A Bear in War

Gr 1–3—Aileen was a 10-year-old Canadian whose father fought in Europe during World War I. She had a small teddy bear that she treasured and carried with her everywhere until she sent it to her father in Belgium, where he served as a medic. He carried Teddy with him, just as his daughter had. In fact, Teddy was with him when he died on the battleground. Eventually the bear was returned to Aileen. This tender story is punctuated throughout with newspaper cuttings, photos, medals, and other realia from the time period. The endpapers are old family letters and the illustrations are evocative of a time when life was simpler but perhaps not as easy. The palette is muted and soft, which makes the story seem comfortable and safe. Nevertheless, the ending is not a happy one, which complicates identifying the appropriate age range. The death of a parent might place this book in the upper elementary age range but the story is told by a teddy bear, which seems suitable for a much younger audience. The history, the illustrations, and the story itself combine to make a wonderful testimonial to a family who made the greatest sacrifice for their country in World War I. Nevertheless, librarians should be aware of the mismatch between story and the way in which it is told before adding this lovely book to their collections.—Joan Kindig, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA