Remember: Lest We Forget

by J.E. Miller

'Remember' tells the story of a child at an Anzac Day march, who steps into the shoes of people they see, to find out why they are there.

'I wish I could say thank you for the sacrifice they gave,

Imagine if superheroes were ever half as brave.'

44 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 31, 2019

Reviews

[Dee Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an emotional read when reading this to my daughter, can never keep a dry eye. Truly depicts what it's like in a defence members shoes, and is such an important point to share with your children. Helped my daughter have an understanding of why we march every ANZAC day, and what we remember on Rememberance Day.
Do yourself a favour and buy this book for your little ones.
I cannot wait to see what's next for J.E. Miller!

[Lellie Lopter · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Remember: Lest we forget’ is such a gorgeous reminder of the courage and sacrifice of the brave individuals in our armed forces throughout history and throughout the world. I love how this book encourages children to be curious about special days like ANZAC day and Remembrance day. The illustrations are gorgeous and the common theme of the boots is such a subtle way to inspire empathy and understanding.

[Becca Wang · Rating 5 out of 5]

J.E. Miller’s Remember: Lest We Forget is a children’s book that depicts, both through art and words, the stories of those who served in war. The narrator is a child witnessing the ANZAC Day parade who decides to “step into the shoes” of those affected by the war. The book follows the journeys of these soldiers, nurses, and veterans, and explores the courage, suffering, and loss that military conflict brings. Throughout the book there are moments of courage, camaraderie, and the essence of the Australian spirit which balance out the melancholic themes of war-related grief and trauma.
Remember: Lest We Forget is a visually compelling work. Its immersive illustrations depict highly detailed characters and settings that place the reader in the centre of the action. The illustrations are taken from an open competition Miller held for the book and as a result features art of different mediums (such as watercolour, pastel, and coloured pencil) from people of varying ages and skill. Miller accompanies the artworks with prose that reads like a poem, integrating alternate rhyme to give the text an engaging rhythm. She also uses literary imagery to deliver narrative details that complement the illustrations. Her discerning word choices deliver the stories with impact, evoking strong emotions of sympathy, sorrow, and pride in the reader.
The stories in Remember: Lest We Forget are woven together seamlessly – the journey of the narrator, and subsequently the reader, flows from one character and setting to the next in a way that feels natural and easy to follow. The commentary is earnest and appropriate and the reactions from the young narrator are authentic and never sensationalised. Miller connects each story with clear motifs, one of them being the use of the pervasive shoe (“walk a mile in their shoes”) motif when jumping from one story to the next – a motif and image easy to understand for young readers.
Miller’s characters tap into the raw experiences of those who served in wars. She represents them as real, regular people who have experienced and overcome different hardships, instead of unrealistic, invincible heroes. She represents men and women who served in the war, family members related to veterans or victims of war, and veterans with PTSD. We learn about the different ways war affects people and gain valuable insight to the aftermath of military conflict. The book honours those that served in wars and educates young readers on how people react and live with the effects of war, trauma, and loss. Miller’s illustrations paired with the poetic text creates an approachable, earnest work of education and reflection on Australia’s military history for children.

[Shayla Morgansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book! A child's perspective on ANZAC and Remembrance Day marches is interwoven with a recurring motif of shoes walked in by heroes past and present. A melodic rhyme, ideal for reading aloud, takes the reader through a poignant journey, touching gently on the usual important wartime narratives of soldiers but also those sometimes overlooked: those of returned services, nurses and medics, carers of veterans, families of the currently serving and the issues of guilt, homelessness and mental illness for veterans. The inclusion of images donated by different artists adds to the charm of this beautifully made book. Highly recommended as a conversation prompt on this important topic for children aged 4-10.

[Rahchell Cornish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another beautiful addition to my bookshelf. Picked it up in at The Pink Flamingo in Yarraman.

A touching reminder to never forget the sacrifices made for the freedoms we are supposed to have. Freedom to disagree without hate.

I am beginning to sense a tangible loss of this freedom as relativism and soft totalitarianism take over the West.