The Wall [Hardcover]

Eve Bunting (Author), Ronald Himler (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

A young boy and his father visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A boy travels to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial with his father to seek out his grandfather's name. The well-matched text and illustrations are soft but stirring. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-4-- A boy and his father have come to the Vietnam War Memorial to look for the boy's grandfather's name among those who were killed in the war. They find his name surrounded, but far from lost, in the rows of print that "march side by side, like rows of soldiers." "I'm proud that your grandfather's name is on this wall," says the boy's father. The boy agrees, adding, "but I'd rather have my grandpa here." Before this powerful book is half finished, readers will be deeply moved. Bunting's understated prose captures the meaning of the memorial to the American people, especially to those who lost loved ones, without being maudlin or heavy-handed. Himler's gauzy watercolors are a perfect accompaniment: impressionistic enough for the characters to appear as everymen. A sensitive and moving picture book, and a great discussion book as well. --Catherine vanSonnenberg, San Diego Public Library, CA
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Clarion Books; 1St Edition edition (April 23, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395515882
• ISBN-13: 978-0395515884
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 9.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #479,640 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #32 in Books > Children's Books > History > Canada

More About the Author

Eve Bunting has written more than 200 books for children, many of which can be found in libraries around the world. Her other Clarion titles for very young readers include My Big Boy Bed, which was also illustrated by Maggie Smith, and Little Bear's Little Boat, illustrated by Nancy Carpenter. She lives in Pasadena, California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Powerful, Quiet and Sad Story for Veteran's Day, November 1, 2000

By 

Volkert Volkersz (Snohomish, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Wall (Reading Rainbow Books) (Paperback)

Eve Bunting masterfully captures a somber, quiet visit to "The Wall" from a young boy's perspective. With deceptively simple language, Bunting paints a cold barren day, as father and son go to visit "grandfather's wall." The boy's youthful curiosity is carefully balanced against his dad's sobering pilgrimage.

For many years, this has been my read-aloud of choice for primary grade classes in our school library just prior to Veteran's Day. The children always sit in thoughful stillness, often asking insightful questions about the wall, the war, the wheelchair-bound soldier without any legs in the story, or the grandma and grandpa aged couple tearfully hugging each other.

Not all stories that children hear need to be happy, silly or simply for entertainment. Sadness, loss of a loved one, and unfortunately war, are a part of reality. This exceptional short story is a slice of life that can be meaningfully shared with children, to explore the emotions surrounding this part of reality.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely powerful, November 18, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Wall (Hardcover)

The Vietnam Memorial as seen through the eyes of a child. No one I knew fought in Vietnam--until I was married. My husband was born while his father was recovering from wounds in a Red Cross Hospital in Vietnam. Until reading this book, it never occurred to me that it could have been my own father-in-law's name on the Wall (beside many of his friends) and that it could have been my children standing there confused, looking for the name of the Grandfather they never knew. What a powerfully moving experience. This book should be shared with both children and adults.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Remember., March 24, 2004

By 

tvtv3 "tvtv3" (Sorento, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Wall (Reading Rainbow Books) (Paperback)

Over a quarter of a century has passed since the U.S. involvement in Vietnam came to an end, yet the effects of that conflict are still etched throughout the fabric of our modern day society. But another generation has been born in the time since the fighting ended. Many have never heard of Vietnam let alone the fighting that went on there. How does one introduce a child to a subject that is still as electrified as the Vietnam War? Perhaps by reading THE WALL with them.

THE WALL is simply a story about a young man who takes his son to the Vietnam War Memorial to find the name of his dad. The young boy's grandfather died in the conflict and at the end of the book the reader knows the boy's head is full of questions. The story doesn't answer these questions, but allows children to verbalize these questions themselves: Why are there flags all around here? Why did that teacher say the Wall belongs to all of us? Why does that soldier not have any legs? The story can also be used as in introduction for not only the Vietnam War, but to also talking about war in general. The illustrations and the story are molded together perfectly into one beautiful harmony. Sometimes kids will be anxious during a story, but when reading this story most kids will remain completely still, taking in the simple, yet profound story. This is a great book to read to children not just during Memorial Day, Veteran's Day, or Independence Day, but at any time during the year.