Glyn Harper

This is the fifth picture book about World War I that Glyn Harper and Jenny Cooper have collaborated on and all have been excellent. This book tells the true story of Bobby, a canary used by the Royal Engineer tunnellers to detect poisonous gas. It is also the story of Jack, his handler, and the other men who worked in tough conditions to dig tunnels under the German trenches. Bobby saves the tunnellers on seven occasions and finally receives his freedom.
Glyn tells the story simply and well. He does a good job of portraying the dangerous and unpleasant conditions without making it too graphic for its young target market. Jenny's illustrations are superb. Bobby provides a bright splash of colour on each page with Jack's fair hair being a more subdued echo of Bobby's plumage. Jack's facial expressions, along with those of the other men, speak of apprehension, fear, melancholy and wistfulness along with times of delight and joy. Adding to the story, the final page gives more information about the tunnellers of World War I. Using stories of animals to tell young children about war is a great way of making the subject accessible and interesting for children and Glyn and Jenny are experts.… (mehr)

A young girl named Sarah has been warned not to bring up the subject of her beloved grandfather's service in the Vietnam War in this poignant picture-book from New Zealand, but her curiosity about the subject, and her concern for her Grandpa's sadness lead her to ask questions anyway. Sitting together at the kitchen table, he shares his experiences with her, both the horrors of the war itself and the devastating effect of returning home to a country and people unappreciative of his service in an unpopular conflict...

A professor of War Studies at Massey University in Palmerston North, New Zealand, author Glyn Harper has written a number of studies of his country's involvement in various 20th-century conflicts, particularly World War I. He has also authored a number of children's books about the subject, many of them - Jim's Letters, Gladys Goes To War, Le Quesnoy: The Story of the Town New Zealand Saved and Roly, the Anzac Donkey - illustrated by artist Jenny Cooper. My Granfather's War is another collaboration between these two, although it addresses a more recent conflict that WWI. I found the story here poignant and powerful, and thought that Harper made a difficult subject matter - the brutality of war, and its psychological after-effects on soldiers - accessible and emotionally resonant for young children. The artwork is lovely, capturing the emotional significance of each scene beautifully. An afterword gives more information about the Vietnam War. Recommended to anyone looking for thoughtful children's stories about veterans and the effect that their service has on them and their families.… (mehr)