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Children's Nonfiction Military & Wars

Les chênes de Vimy

La route vers la paix

by (author) Linda Granfield

illustrated by Brian Deines

Publisher
Scholastic Canada Ltd
Initial publish date
Mar 2017
Category
Military & Wars, Post-Confederation (1867-)
Recommended Age
8 to 12
Recommended Grade
3 to 7
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9781443148511
    Publish Date
    Mar 2017
    List Price
    $10.99

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Description

See below for English description.

La bataille de la crête de Vimy est un des moments les plus marquants de l'histoire du Canada. Ce livre documentaire met en lumière le geste symbolique qui fut posé par un enseignant, fermier et soldat du Corps expéditionnaire canadien. En avril 1917, le jeune lieutenant Leslie H. Miller récolte les glands de chênes décimés parmi les décombres des champs de bataille. À son retour en Ontario, il les plante sur sa propriété en l'honneur des combattants. Cent ans plus tard, des chênes majestueux se dressent à la ferme des Miller. De ces arbres, on a recueilli de jeunes plants. Ils seront rapatriés en France et seront plantés à Vimy en mémoire de la contribution du Canada lors de la Première Guerre mondiale.

 

The images from World War I of death, ravaged landscapes and decimated villages are hauntingly familiar. Imagine a young soldier standing in the midst of that horror and destruction pocketing a handful of acorns from the blasted trees and posting them home. That's exactly what Lieutenant Leslie H. Miller, a teacher, farmer and soldier with the Canadian Expeditionary Force, did after the battle at Vimy Ridge in April 1917. Over the following one hundred years, those acorns became majestic oaks, standing at the site of Miller's family farm in Ontario. In April 2017, seedlings from these oaks will be repatriated to their original territory at Vimy Ridge in France as part of the ceremonies to mark Canada's contribution to the War.

The Battle at Vimy Ridge took a devastating toll but it is regarded as Canada's greatest World War I victory, both on the battlefield and in terms of Canada's birth as a nation. The story of one ordinary soldier's quiet but extraordinary act, an almost unimaginable gesture of hope and renewal at the time, serves a century later as a living memorial to those who served.

Original title: The Vimy Oaks: A Journey to Peace

About the authors

Linda Granfield has won many awards for her non-fiction/history titles for young readers and adults including the Vicky Metcalf Award for a Body of Work. Her books include In Flanders Fields: The Story of the Poem by John McCrae, Pier 21: Gateway of Hope, Canada Votes and America Votes. She lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Linda Granfield's profile page

BRIAN DEINES has illustrated numerous books for children, including SkySisters

 

(written by Jan BourdeauWaboose), Dragonfly Kites (written by Thomson Highway),

 

and One Hockey Night (written by DavidWard). He has been nominated for

numerous awards, including the Governor General’s Literary Award, the Ruth and

Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Literature Award, the Martha Baillie Picture Book

Award, and the Lillian Shepherd Memorial Award. A native of Red Deer, Alberta,

Brian lives in Toronto.

Brian Deines' profile page

Editorial Reviews

DANS LES MÉDIAS : Sur la route de l'Afghanistan

« Un très bel album à découvrir, tant pour le texte que pour les illustrations. » ~ Julie Morin, Lurelu, hiver 2014

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