Description
When the Horses Ride By: Children in Times of War is a powerful picture book that can be used effectively in the classroom to introduce discussions about war and peace. Through the eyes and words of children, the author and illustrator approached the themes of dreams and aspirations, and overcoming war by having the words spoken by children in 17 free verse poems. Each two-page spread tackles a period of military history such as the American Revolution or the second war in Iraq through the eyes of children affected by the war. While soldiers march by the children dream that this is only a parade or the soldiers are on their way to rescue someone. Jan Spivey Gilchrist's art images use mixed-media collage to combine with the text to evoke the fears, dreams, and courage of children caught in war-time situations. An author's note provides details about the historic conflicts that range from the displacement of Native Americans by American soldiers to the Vietnam War and the release of Nelson Mandela from a South African prison. These poems focus attention on the resiliency of children and their ability to find joy in playing and to draw on the love of parents even in times of conflict. Multicultural images of children throughout historical conflicts make this book suitable for all classrooms. Guided Reading: Level Q; DRA: 40; Intervention: 25