What do you think?
Where Poppies Grow: A World War I Companion
Finalist for the Silver Birch Award Winner of the 2002 Information Book Award When World War I began in 1914, no one knew that millions of young people would die in the agonizing years ahead. No one imagined the effect it would have on family life, or that whole villages would disappear, or that entire nations would be changed forever. They believed their sons and daughters, mothers and fathers would be home by Christmas. They were tragically mistaken. With photos, memorabilia, and anecdotes, Linda Granfield brings us face-to-face with people from all walks of life who risked everything for their country. These painstakingly-gathered bits and pieces are remnants of conflict on a scale never before witnessed. Hastily-penned letters, notes written in code, and prayers for deliverance form an eloquent portrait of humanity, and a startling comment on the devastation of war.
32 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2001
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 24, 2022
This is an excellent work and appropriate for children with a sober and correct view.
October 9, 2020
5 stars & 5/10 hearts. This was a very good book. I loved all the pictures and the fact that each page focused on one aspect of the war. There were some very good quotes, and it was really very well done.
A Favourite Quote: “Into the nightmarish terrain of the Western Front stepped thousands of soldiers from many countries. As you gaze upon the faces of some of these people, pause for a moment and consider who they were. Linger on their heart-felt words written home. How many of them returned to their families? Their faces are our faces, their deeds our inheritance.”
A Favourite Quote: “Into the nightmarish terrain of the Western Front stepped thousands of soldiers from many countries. As you gaze upon the faces of some of these people, pause for a moment and consider who they were. Linger on their heart-felt words written home. How many of them returned to their families? Their faces are our faces, their deeds our inheritance.”
March 4, 2016
Photographs, newspaper clipping, cartoons and other period images complement concise text describing the various experiences of World War I, from the soldiers who fought on the front lines, all back to the home front.
Although the encompassing nature and harsh reality of total war are described, care is taken to keep the text appropriate to students. Overviews of soldier training, soldier transport, trench warfare, battles at sea, emerging air power, nursing, propaganda & patriotism, encouraging each other, perspectives of children, vocabulary changes "mums the word!", "the poppy poem", ideas people held onto, spies & traitors, profiles of returning soldiers and memorials are all discussed.
The somewhat melodramatic section on animals in the war is more reflective of modern proclivities than their overall importance to the war itself. "Some of the most upsetting photographs of the First World War are those that show the unbelievable loss of animal life," begins the section full of cute images of horses, pigeons and dogs. Really? No mention is made of the incongruity of the times with these sentiments, nor the upsetting photographs of the brutal demise of sons, husbands and fathers that is common to war.
Also, the text is aligned over photographs. This appears to be a mistake, but happens several times, making it appear intended. However, to someone trying to follow the mind of the author, it lingers as an error marring the presentation.
Oddly, while the Armistice is mentioned as occurring, the agreement itself is not discussed. This withholding of information combined with inclusion of the story of a soldier who dies juxtaposed with a narrative of a soldier who survives, but is broken by his war experience, contributes to a pervasive sense Twentieth Century nihilism, which didn't emerge until after the war. It also gives the text a distinctly anti-war bent. Perspectives of a soldier who returned and had success in life/ overcame an injury, an outline of the agreement negotiated, and an illusion to the unresolved matters that lead to the next world war, would have made the otherwise solid narrative a more comprehensive resource.
Although the encompassing nature and harsh reality of total war are described, care is taken to keep the text appropriate to students. Overviews of soldier training, soldier transport, trench warfare, battles at sea, emerging air power, nursing, propaganda & patriotism, encouraging each other, perspectives of children, vocabulary changes "mums the word!", "the poppy poem", ideas people held onto, spies & traitors, profiles of returning soldiers and memorials are all discussed.
The somewhat melodramatic section on animals in the war is more reflective of modern proclivities than their overall importance to the war itself. "Some of the most upsetting photographs of the First World War are those that show the unbelievable loss of animal life," begins the section full of cute images of horses, pigeons and dogs. Really? No mention is made of the incongruity of the times with these sentiments, nor the upsetting photographs of the brutal demise of sons, husbands and fathers that is common to war.
Also, the text is aligned over photographs. This appears to be a mistake, but happens several times, making it appear intended. However, to someone trying to follow the mind of the author, it lingers as an error marring the presentation.
Oddly, while the Armistice is mentioned as occurring, the agreement itself is not discussed. This withholding of information combined with inclusion of the story of a soldier who dies juxtaposed with a narrative of a soldier who survives, but is broken by his war experience, contributes to a pervasive sense Twentieth Century nihilism, which didn't emerge until after the war. It also gives the text a distinctly anti-war bent. Perspectives of a soldier who returned and had success in life/ overcame an injury, an outline of the agreement negotiated, and an illusion to the unresolved matters that lead to the next world war, would have made the otherwise solid narrative a more comprehensive resource.
November 2, 2023
This Canadian classic picture book is written by one of our premier children's historians. With Remembrance Day just around the corner and two wars in brutal progress, this twenty year old book is frighteningly timely. I urge you to pick it up from the library and sit down with your kids and read it. More approachable than the news, it will give young readers a way to express their worries and thoughts about Ukraine, Israel and Palestine.
February 25, 2025
I am using this book as part of a 6th grade homeschool curriculum for my son. I highly recommend this book for those teaching about WWI - it is beautiful and every page has primary resources (photographs, letters, postcards, examples of propaganda of the period) that really helped bring home the scope and magnitude of the Great War.
June 3, 2026
An excellent little book to read along with our studies of WWI! It focuses heavily on Canadian soldiers, propaganda, etc. and contains plenty of post cards, real photographs, letters, contemporary paintings, etc. There were a few times I was moved to tears by the true stories of the war and aftermath!
April 3, 2018
This was a scrapbook, of sorts. Lots of valuable pictures and clear narrative. Recommended. Purchased at the National WWI Memorial and Museum.
September 24, 2019
Talk about world War 1. What was happening all round the world and how young men were away from their families. Small detail are found in this books, beautiful letter that were written for young men.
September 24, 2019
Very nice book it shows you the picture of World War I And you can imagine. It’s a fun book overall.
September 24, 2019
History about WW1 but describe is fun manner but still sad to read!!
January 20, 2022
Great homeschool resource, the kids liked having visuals to go along with what we studied.
January 22, 2023
From well-known, historical non-fiction author, Linda Granfield.
October 24, 2023
A nice review of a selection of source materials (photographs, postcards, letters, newspapers, books) from WWI. Presumably a Canadian book because that's the focus of many of the people discussed.
September 8, 2014
A picture book outlining various aspects of World War I, particularly focusing on things that affected soldiers and civilians regularly during this time.
Another resource bought to have on hand as WWI's centennial arrives. The contents of this book are somewhat random, covering all sorts of aspects of the war. I did find it valuable first of all for the Canadian viewpoint it frequently provides (which is rare), and for all the photographs, memorabilia and anecdotal examples it provides. As the subtitle says, it fits the bill well as a companion resource along with other texts on WWI.
Notes on content: No language issues or sexual content. Violence is alluded to, but not described much in text or pictures.
Another resource bought to have on hand as WWI's centennial arrives. The contents of this book are somewhat random, covering all sorts of aspects of the war. I did find it valuable first of all for the Canadian viewpoint it frequently provides (which is rare), and for all the photographs, memorabilia and anecdotal examples it provides. As the subtitle says, it fits the bill well as a companion resource along with other texts on WWI.
Notes on content: No language issues or sexual content. Violence is alluded to, but not described much in text or pictures.
April 19, 2012
We read this slowly, 2 to 3 pages a day. It's set up in a scrapbook type format so it didn't hold our attention like a story would have. The information is sound, the pictures add and it covers a good variety of material. The book was very well done, just not as personable as some of the other books we've read.
A solid book for a time period which has few children's books, but not our favorite.
A solid book for a time period which has few children's books, but not our favorite.
June 26, 2012
Notes:
nothing too graphic
'scrapbook' style photos and captions
lots of good info and real first-hand history
use for age 10+
nothing too graphic
'scrapbook' style photos and captions
lots of good info and real first-hand history
use for age 10+
May 7, 2014
A good starting point for research
May 9, 2021
explicit scenes: 0/5
violence: 2/5
language: 0/5
alcohol/drugs/smoking: 0/5
intense scenes: 0/5
age rating: 10+
violence: 2/5
language: 0/5
alcohol/drugs/smoking: 0/5
intense scenes: 0/5
age rating: 10+
Read
October 29, 2010gard2 n up
March 28, 2017
Some interesting accounts and artifacts about WWI
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews