Pidge's Poppies by Jan Andrews illustrated by Timothy Ide

Pidge and Henry (a pair of pigeons) live near the Canberra War Memorial. Henry explains:

"It's where people remember those who died in wars."

Pidge remembers stories from her ancestors about the war in 1939 and the war in 1914 and the way one of his long-ago family members received the Dickin Medal.

"If the telegraph lines from the battlefront were bombed, the pigeons could still carry messages from soldiers back to headquarters. They saved many soldiers' lives."

Pidge and Henry hear the guide talking about war heroes and poppies. It is time to build their nest and the scattered poppies left by visitors are perfect. Is this a true story? It certainly feels like one and the back cover says yes, it is so here is a missed opportunity - this book would be so much better with some back notes and more details about these true events at our Canberra War Memorial. Luckily it was easy to find this information.

Photo from the Australian War Memorial

Each day the pigeon has been flying down to the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier to steal poppies, carefully crafting a nest in the lead-up to Remembrance Day in an alcove above the stained-glass window of a wounded Australian soldier. Read more here.

Watch a video from Channel Seven (23 seconds).

The illustrations in this book by Timothy Ide are terrific. I especially like the way the war memory pages are presented in sepia. He is the illustrator of another wonderful book - Tom the Outback Mailman. 

Here are a set of teachers notes from the publisher. Further reading from the Australian War Memorial.

I wonder why/how this 2024 book was missed by the CBCA 2025 Book of the Year judges. This is a book that could be shared with your youngest students who are sure to be amazed at the contribution of pigeons in many past wars.

Ide’s illustrations show a deep understanding of the text. The multi-layered illustrations create the visual story with much skill. The illustrations really shine a light on the story. The pigeons are lifelike in appearance and movement. The colours used vary according to the time frames. I love the sepia effect when the story travels through the world wars. The vivid red of the poppies sing and pop on the spreads they appear. Buzz Words

Look for these books too:

Lofty's Mission

Spies in the Sky

This final one might be hard to find in Australia but I saw it at the splendid D Day Museum in Portsmouth.

Spies in the Sky by Beverley McWilliams illustrated by Martina Heiduczek

 

Before you read this book I suggest you might try to find these picture books and also do some reading about the Dickin Medal. 

32 pigeons received the Dickin Medal–the animal equivalent of a Medal of Honor–for their service in World War II.

Here is my post about War Animal Remembrance Day - 24th February. 

Lofty's Mission

And after reading Spies in the sky try to find this one:

I Spy A Bletchley Park Mystery

And for a different perspective on animals and war this is another terrific story:

The Umbrella Mouse

Royal Blue is a racing pigeon. He comes from a long line of champions but he is living through the dark days of World War II and so his destiny is to do more than race, he is needed for the war effort. Blue is taken from his comfortable loft and sent to an army base where he is given training from aircraft. He will be used to take messages back to the UK if a plane crashes or lands in enemy territory and later he is used in Fance as a way to gather intelligence about the movements of the German army. 

"Between April 1941 and September 1944, pigeons were parachuted in baskets into the occupied territories of France, Belgium and Holland. Attached to their baskets were questions to gather information from those living under occupied rule. This scheme was called Operation Columba. Of the 16,000 used in this campaign, less than one in eight returned."

You can read chapter one here. Here is a link to the teachers notes. 

I adopted a rescued pigeon around 10 years ago and while I was searching for a name, I came across a list of pigeons awarded the Dickin Medal for their service during World War Two. I knew pigeons had played a part in the war, but until then I was unaware of the National Pigeon Service or how many lives were saved by these remarkable birds. The more I looked into the history, the more fascinated I became. I wrote an article called ‘Feathered Heroes’ for The School Magazine, and I knew then that I would love to develop the ideas into a children’s book. Beverley McWilliams (Novel Insight subscription needed to read this article). 

Spies in the Sky is another moving and eye-opening tale based on a true story, this time focussing on the brave pigeons tasked with carrying messages during World War II. The story is told directly from Royal Blue’s perspective, immersing readers in his experience and inspiring deep empathy for the bird. McWilliams clearly has a sincere love for her subject, and it’s brilliantly contagious in this compassionate tale. You can’t help but come away with a heightened respect for and understanding of pigeons and the enormous sacrifices they have made to aid humans in need. Better Reading

It is clear Beverley McWilliams did a huge amount of research for her book. I recently listed to a radio program where they talked about the way Pigeons were launched out of planes high in the sky inside paper bags. This is not mentioned in Spies in the Sky but I found it fascinating. 

Even though the Army had designed special drop boxes for pigeons, it was discovered that they could be released from planes in thin, paper-like bags and survive just the same. A slit was cut into a bag, the pigeon placed headfirst, and then thrown from high altitudes at 375 miles per hour. The bird would emerge from the bag and fly down to a better altitude before returning home. Military Person.com

Image Source: National Air and Space Museum

I wonder why Martina Heiduczek is not named on the cover or title page.  She has added some terrific illustrations to this book.

In 2022 I read another book The Reindeer and the Submarine by Beverley McWilliams (Pantera Press). I found Spies in the Sky was easier to read and more engrossing and I think Beverley McWilliams newest title we see listed as a CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) Notable title for 2024 - Younger Readers. 

Tamburlaine's Elephants by Geraldine McCaughrean

Rusti travels with the Mongol Horde as it sweeps over the land, crushing whole cities in a quest for power. 

"The tajiks of India did not stand a chance against Timur the Lame, Conqueror of the World. ... the Horde travelled by moonlight, storming towns and citadels by day, slaughtering thousands and taking prisoners by the tens of thousands."

Now they have arrived in Delhi. Rusti is only twelve but today he will ride out with the army.  What no one expects it that this city will be defended with elephants. Tamburlaine's army do win the battle and then they loot Delhi and murder most of the inhabitants. They took away some of the remaining elephants and this is the basis of this story. Britannica list this as 90 elephants.

In this retelling by Geraldine McCaughrean, Rusti is ordered by Tamburlaine to bring him an elephant. Rusti meets the mahout or elephant handler Kavi, Rusti spares his life and together they march with the army onto Samarkand. Kavi has to be disguised as a girl slave and renamed Kavita. There is one person, however, who knows the truth - Shidurghu, the Royal Chronicler, writer-down of History for the Lord of the Fortunate Conjunction. Rusti is summoned to Shidurghu's tent and he is told a shocking story of women and children locked in a makeshift tower, of a baby and a bracelet thrust through the bars by a desperate mother, and most shocking of all Rusti begins to realise everything he knows about his father and brother are untrue.

This story is based on a real man who set out to conqueror Persia, Northern India, the Ottomans and China. His name was Timur i Lang (1336-1404). Scholars estimate that his military campaigns caused the deaths of 17 million people, amounting to about 5% of the world population at the time. In a play by Christopher Marlow, which inspired Geraldine McGaughrean, he is known as Tamburlaine the Great and that is the name used in this book along with terms such as Great Emir, Gungal Emir, and The Lord of the Fortunate Conjunction. His goal was a restoration of Genghis Khan’s great Mongol Empire. Timur was injured by arrows while stealing sheep in his twenties, and this left him lame in the right leg and caused his right arm to be stiff for the rest of his life. Hence, his Persian name, Timur-i lang (Temur the Lame).

Once again this multi-award-winning author brings history to life by combining meticulous research with a focus on the individual and a very personal story. Set in the war-ravaged arena of fourteenth century India, this fascinating tale will give youngsters a real insight into a way of life which is so very different from our own. Book Trust

The truths Rusti learns are eternal: love, truth, peace; respect for others who are different, for animals, for life. On the surface, this is an epic tale of man’s inhumanity to man, but it is redeemed by the small acts of courage and kindness through which humanity shines. Historical Novel Society

From the cover you might think this is a book for an upper primary reader but there is so much dreadful (but necessary) violence I am going to say this book is for ages 12+ and also add a warning there are some very distressing scenes of battles and harm to animals. Tamburlaine's elephants was first published in 2007 and so sadly it is out of print but I found a copy at a charity book sale. 

Take a look at my review of The Kite Rider also by Geraldine McCaughrean.

On a completely different note, I was so excited to read, in the back notes, that Geraldine McCaughrean loves the junior novel Jeremiah in the dark woods by Allan Ahlberg. She says: I think (this book) ... is literally 'perfect' - not a word wrong, not a comma out of place."

War Animal Remembrance Day 24th February

Tomorrow (24th February) is War Animal Remembrance Day.  There are some terrific picture books you can use to explore the animals who were heroes of various wars and conflicts. My interest in this topic began when I read Lofty's Mission by Krista Bell illustrated by David Miller.  I was so interested to read about the Dickin Medal which began in 1943. It has been awarded to 32 pigeons, 31 dogs, 4 horses and one cat.

Here are some books you might like to hunt out:

People are asked to wear purple poppies to commemorate this day.

The purple poppy is often worn to remember animals that have been victims of war.

Animals like horses, dogs and pigeons were often drafted into the war effort, and those that wear the purple poppy feel their service should be seen as equal to that of human service.

In particular, many horses were killed or injured in World War One.

Lofty's Mission by Krista Bell illustrated by David Miller

Today is ANZAC Day here in Australia and I have been reading books to share with my classes. I have decided to focus on winners of the Dickin Medal and in particular pigeons.  We have two splendid books which look at the war service of pigeons.  Lofty's Mission and Flapper, VC.

There are extensive notes at the end of this book and I have now done a lot of reading.  The Dickin Medal began in 1943 and is named after Maria Dickin.  It has now been awarded 67 times to 32 pigeons, 31 dogs, 4 horses and one cat.  The cat was called Simon and you can read more here.

Taking a close look at the medal.

The PDSA Dickin Medal is a large, bronze medallion bearing the words “For Gallantry” and “We Also Serve” all within a laurel wreath. The ribbon is striped green, dark brown and sky blue representing water, earth and air to symbolise the naval, land and air forces.

Lofty's Mission begins with  the lines "No, Dad! Please don't take Lofty. I bred him to be a champion racer!' Tears trickled down Harley's cheeks."  Dad explains Lofty, or Number 371, is needed for war service in New Guinea. Lofty is taken to the jungle and given training. He is wounded but safely delivers his message across the battle lines.  Meanwhile little Harley contracts polio.  One day a parcel arrives containing the Dickin Medal.  Lofty is a hero. The ending of the book is so joyous as Lofty returns to his family in Australia and we see his son Nifty take flight.

Lofty's Mission has amazing paper sculpture illustrations by the talented David Miller.

Flapper, VC also explores the story of a brave Pigeon.

"Flapper, VC was inspired by the true story of Australian carrier pigeon D D43 Q879, who was awarded the Dickin Medal for 'Conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty'. It is the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for bravery."

Here are the teachers notes for Flapper, VC and Lofty's Mission.  You might also enjoy the movie Valiant.