In Times of War

At the close of the 20th century, children’s literature has seen a dramatic increase in books on the theme of war. There is, perhaps, a feeling that records need to be set straight and passed on to the generations of the 21st century–and more importantly, that children must learn about war and its consequences. “In Times of War” is an anthology of extracts, short stories, and poetry from children’s literature on the theme of war and peace; contributions include the work of distinguished writers and artists: Michael Foreman’s “War Game,” Judith Kerr’s “When Hitler Stole the Pink Rabbit,” Michael Morpurgo’s “War Horse,” Art Spiegelman’s “Maus,” as well as pieces on more recent conflicts in Bosnia and Rwanda. This compelling anthology is the result of a collaboration of educators in Belgium, Britain, and Portugal; known collectively as the Comenius Project, they have chosen these books not only for their instructive value but for the sheer pleasure of their reading.