The Good Son by Pierre-Jacques Ober & Illus by Jules Ober and Felicity Coonan

This book, based on a real event, breaks your heart. 

And since it is based on WWI, where Veteran's Day began, it seemed fitting for today.

Created with hobby store miniatures arranged into WWI sets and then photographed, it doesn't sound like the kind of book that would move you to tears. 

But it does.

The book opens with a French soldier, Pierre, awaiting sentencing for desertion. 

His solitary meal. 

Waiting.... hoping there will be leniency since he came back of his own accord....

He thinks back to the beginning of this war. 

It was meant to be over soon. And as they walked across the French countryside in spring, it didn't seem like too much. 

(I like this plane)

But then the war dragged on. And there were horrors that young men had not been able to imagine when they headed out. 

There was so much this young soldier wanted to do with his life. Things he would never get to do if he was condemned to death by his own army.

And then the lieutenant lets him know that nameless higher-ups had decided he had to be made an example of. They didn't necessary think he was horrible and deserved to die, but he had left for a few days and even though he came back to finish his job, they were too worried other soldiers would try to take leave. So it was death for Pierre. Death so the army could terrify other men into not leaving. 

As he waits for his execution at dawn, he writes to his mother. And then you find out more about his desertion. He had promised his widowed mother that he would be home for Christmas. Since everyone said the war would be done by then. 

Not wanting to break his promise, even though the war was not done by Christmas, he went home, spent two days with his mother and came back. 

On his travels, he met the enemy--the young Germans the French were fighting against. He learned that they were tired and homesick too.  

And all the savagery of that war was more than most young men could bear. 

The ruination of human life, of spring, and of the countryside. 

Writing to his chere maman on his last night on earth.  

"I didn't want you to be alone for Christmas and now I am leaving you alone forever."

He remembers Christmas with her. "The best two days of the war."

And then the morning came. "I will wear your new socks tomorrow. You'll keep me warm, Maman." 

The war would eventually be over and won.... But not by Christmas. And not by Pierre. 

Oh my, This book just broke my heart. Trying to be a good son and good soldier and apparently failing at both and dying because of it just so a heartless official could make an example of him to keep demoralized soldiers from heading home. 

It is such a powerful book to talk about the sacrifices made by soldiers. Definitely for older readers though.... 

The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree by Gloria Houston & Barbara Cooney

I love this book. More than a Christmas book, this is a book about sacrifices families make for the military and about good old fashioned pluckiness. 

And strength. I love how strong this momma is. 

Ruthie's house in the valley of Pine Grove. Coming on to Christmas. 

Earlier that year, her father told Ruthie it was their turn to provide a Christmas tree for the town, as each family did. He and Ruthie set out to find just the right one. 

The one they found was out on a craggy rock. They tied Ruthie's hair ribbon to the top of the tree so they would remember which tree it was when the mountains were all changed by winter and snow. 

Unfortunately, her Daddy was called up to fight in the first World War not long after that. Ruthie and Momma kept things going. 

The war was finished that November, but Ruthie's daddy wasn't on the train of returning soldiers. 

They didn't know when he would return. 

The day before Christmas Eve, the minister comes to say they will just get a tree from someone else, since they know Ruthie's father is still away. Ruthie's momma won't allow the family honor to be tarnished in that way, so she politely declines the easy way out and heads out into the moonlight with Ruthie and Old Piedy the horse to find the chosen tree. 

After a lot of walking, they finally see the tree. Away up over there. 

I may have laid down right there and died. But not these hardy women. 

They get things done. 

As the sun is rising, they drop the tree off at the church and head home. For a reason I don't really understand, the mother doesn't claim the tree. The minister comes to say it is a miracle--in the land of cedars and pines, a balsam tree was left outside the church last night. And Ruthie's momma says Imagine that! 

But whether everyone else knew or not, Ruthie and her momma would know they had done her Daddy proud. 

Ruthie goes to sleep. Her mother stays awake all day sewing Ruthie the perfect angel costume. Because whatever family gives the Christmas tree gets to have the angel part. 

Isn't this cozy? It actually was probably freezing cold. But I like the quilt.

Ruthie's tired mother sews an amazing dress. One that looks suspiciously like her wedding dress. 

The tiny angel on the top of the tree was made to exactly match Ruthie in a dress that was suspiciously similar to the silk stockings Ruthie's Daddy sent home for her Momma. 

Old Saint Nick gives her the beautiful doll. 

And that is when her Daddy comes home. 

I feel like this part is somewhat anti-climatical. It could have been so much bigger. But maybe it is just meant to be Momma and Ruthie's story. After all, they were tough enough to keep things going.

Brave Like Me by Barbara Kerley

Remember how I once said I didn't like books with photograph illustrations? Well I lied. I LOVE THIS BOOK. I seriously can't get through it without tearing up.  

This book is a collection of photographs about children who have to be brave when their parent(s) go off to fight war or are stationed overseas. 

When someone is serving their country

 far from home, they have to brave. 

Their families have to be brave.

Even their kids have to be brave.

Like me. 

Before leaving, they spend a lot of time together. 

And then they say goodbye. 

Seriously, how can you not be a little weepy at these pictures? 

And then they're gone.

The house is too empty.

Who is going to take care of me? 

Yep. Teary. 

Sometimes I'm scared Mom will get hurt.

But I know she's really careful. 

Letters, skype, calls. 

At least we live in the age of Skype.

Doing their best so their parents can be proud. 

Aaagh! Writing to his kids. 

And this one. Gets. Me. Every. Time. 

Partly because I know a girl with that same dress. Which makes it that much more real. 

The homecoming. 

And then, at the back of the book, we see a little map of all the people in the pictures and where they lived and where their parents went on duty around the world. I love that they used real kids and tell their real story.

I love that this book exists.