Customer Reviews

The War (Carolrhoda Picture Books)

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My daughter stumbled upon this book during a trip to the library. Over the past 7 years, this treasure has been taken out of the library countless times. Each time I read it, I am amazed and thankful for its existence. I finally purchased it for my daughter. "The War" is one of her most prized possessions. The beautifully, melancholic images reinforce the book's simple message. It takes courage, and intelligence, to NOT continue a tradition of violence. Prince Fabien is my anti-war hero!

I have read this book aloud to several groups of kids in Kindergarten through 3rd grade, who were visiting my library over the past year. Each time, there is a hush in the group when the red prince dies in the duel. The blue prince, blameless, nevertheless heroically deals with the consequences. At the end of the story today (with war on the news every minute), one third grader responded by saying, "I wish it were really like that." It has had a similar response among each group.
It is a very simple book, that clearly expresses the futility and avoidability of war. Not an easy topic, but this brief story takes a topic that is on everyone's mind and shows what we all want: for no on else to die for a reason that no one can remember.

THE WAR (1998) is another commentary for young children against war. Of course, Dr. Seuss was ahead of the curve back in 1984 with THE BUTTER BATTLE BOOK, which is an effective, humorous AND serious commentary on the arms race.

This book pretends that war is really unnecessary, but we know some are, even if most are not. I don't find it particularly interesting, although it does have surprising turns. If you happen to be a conscientious objector, then this is a book you will want to share with young children and students. Or if you believe children should be temporarily fooled about life--sort of like the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus and Halloween (regardless of your religious or non-religious convictions)--then you'll consider this a rather harmless book, even as enjoyable as, say, Old Saint Nick (which children eventually wise up to).

I just think the author could have dealt with the subject of war more frankly at a level that a child can appreciate, but not necessarily "enjoy." (Children CAN take the truth, you know.) There are myths (not all are so, of course) about the valor of war and this book is about the valor of non-war. The former might think war and fighting exciting (until reality finally sets in); the latter can be shattered by the thought of it. I hoped the book was going to come down the middle, but its ending was as ideal as those fairy tale lived-happily-ever-after dismissals.

Who knows, maybe children should be sheltered from reality. If so, this book narrowly shows the (too often) evil of war and succeeds in the (untrue) idea that there CAN always be an alternative if one is clever enough--at least in a picture book.

Note: As you will see (if you buy the book) from the more famous reviewers' comments on the back cover--William Steig, Publishers Weekly, The Horn Book, Booklist and UNESCO--my opinion is in the minority. But that never bothers me; nor should it.

The Creative Teacher: Activities for Language Arts (Grades 4 through 8 and Up)