This serves as both a Remembrance Day read and an advent book

The wondrous combination of Michael Morpurgo and Michael Foreman take us back to Christmas 1914

In the trenches of the Western Front

And something wonderful has just happened …

This is a beautifully written and stunningly illustrated retelling of a true Christmas story

The story of The Christmas Truce.

It is a story that should not ever be forgotten

One that should be shared with generations to come

To ensure that we truly understand what our ancestors did for us in the world wars

What was given up that we may live

And so that children understand the true spirit of Christmas

Michael Morpurgo retells this story through a forgotten letter

Written by a young soldier to his girl at home

The letter tells of Christmas morning ‘as cold and frosty as a Christmas morning should be’

It tells of how in the middle of war young soldiers from both sides were making friends

Making peace

It tells how the men from both sides were so very young

With families and ordinary jobs, musicians, teachers …

I find this book a moving way of making children understand just a little

Of what it must have been like for these young men

These boys

Who gave up their lives for us

So many of the men featured in this story would never have made it home

The letter tells of the now famous football match

That the soldiers shared on this magical Christmas Day

The end of this book is so moving

The letter long lost and forgotten is returned to it’s rightful recipient

The now very old lady who was the young soldier’s girlfriend

A heartbreaking story yet one of hope

One of peace and goodwill among men

A must read with children aged 9 and over

Especially at this time of year when it is all too easy to take our own peace for granted

We will remember them x

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Today I am sharing one of my favourite books. The Best Christmas Present in the World. Written by Michael Morpurgo and illustrated by Michael Foreman. Published by @egmontbooksuk I bought this book long before I had my children. I adore Michael Morpurgo’s compelling storytelling and I love stories from the first and second world wars. This book serves as a remembrance read and a Christmas story. Dedicated to all those who served on both sides in the First World War, this is the story of The Christmas Truce 1914. It is a humbling emotional read and I read it through tears every year at this time. It is a book that will stay with me by whole life and I hope with my children too. Written in the first person the author finds an old roll top writing desk that he buys to restore. In the desk he finds a box, in the box he finds an envelope and in the envelope a letter. “Jim’s last letter, received 25th January 1915.” The letter is addressed to Connie and with the letter is a note that says she wants this last letter to be buried with her. The letter tells of Christmas Day 1914. When German and British soldiers came together on No Man’s Land. They shared food and drinks and stories of home. They realised that they were not so different from one another after all. They shared a love of literature and marzipan among other things. The story is poignantly told and incredibly emotive. Those poor young men far from home fighting because they were ordered too when all they wanted was to go home to their families and their sweethearts. The soldiers played a game of football together. Out there, between their trenches and they all felt alive, they felt hope and snatched at some peace and happiness for Christmas Day. Jim ends his letter to Connie saying that he is sure the war will soon be over now he knows how much both armies long for peace. Of course, we know that peace did not come quickly and we know that Jim never did make it home to his Connie. I cannot even type this review without crying. The author traces Connie and finds her, 101, in a nursing home. She is old and confused and as the author reads the letter aloud to Connie she thinks her Jim has come home.

A post shared by Jennie Bookish Play & Learning (@edspire) on Nov 5, 2020 at 2:05am PST