Best Little Stories from World War II 14 August 2016 (1923)I finished reading this book earlier today and am astounded by the unique history and perspective shared within the pages. Each portion, though brief, shares a detailed account of some of the most memorable events from throughout the Europe Pacific theaters. The personal narratives take the reader upon a journey of experience. It was an amazing, engaging read. Too, the attempts upon humor stood out in my mind as evidence of a victorious nation recounting its accomplishments.
That said, not all of the stories are pleasant to know, but even then, especially then, the dirty and nasty truth of war is a great reminder which allows us to appreciate the past more fully, and more so, to inform our present thinking about costs of violence. The stories tell of our past but inform our present.
Despite the obvious bias of the writing and remembrance from a victorious nation, the stories are enlightening and entertaining. Any reader will appreciate the variety of stories and tones of each. Everyone will learn something about the experiences of the people who came before us, and too, these stories contain perspective for us now. This is a highly recommended read for individuals, parents, and teachers a like. I read several of these stories children. I challenged them to close their eyes and imagine what I was reading to them. After, I would ask them questions to assess their understanding, and other questions to get a feel for what they had imagined.
Furthermore, as a teacher, there are several short reads which hold a great potential for engaging students with specific learning opportunities and content topics. I may use some of these short stories (cited of-course) in future lessons related to topics such as Pearl Harbor, the Holocaust, Blitzkrieg, D-Day, Nuclear Bombs, the invasion of Japan, etc.
I am excited about this book! You should be too!
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