Pidge’s Poppies – Jan Andrews/Timothy Ide

Ford St Publishing

April 2024

ISBN: 9781922696380

RRP:$26.99

It is often strange how the planets align themselves at times. It was only a few months that I took The Kid to Canberra and we spent quite a bit of time at the War Memorial discussing points of interest such as her great-grandfather, Lancaster Bombers, the animals in war and red poppies.

Then there was my recent post on the National Day for War Animals. And last night (05/03/24) on Antiques Roadshow a marvellous and moving piece about pigeons in war with the astonishing valuation of a Dickin Medal (do watch it – it was wonderful).

All these plus the fact that this beautiful new picture book was sitting patiently waiting for me to review it. With ANZAC Day only weeks away, this will be another wonderful title to add to your commemoration activities with your Smalls, and even the littlest of them will grasp the intent and emotion of this narrative.

In 2019 a beautiful episode of life unfolded at the Australian War Memorial which is now transformed into this wonderful picture book. Read about the pigeons who chose to nest in the Shrine of Remembrance and the real Winged Warriors.

Pidge and Henry choose to visit the AWM as Pidge recalls those of her ancestors who were heroes in past conflicts. And appropriately, this pigeon pair decides the Shrine is the perfect place to build a nest and raise a family. For nesting material they constantly ‘borrow’ from the artificial red poppies so many of us leave as tokens of remembrance.

Both text and illustrations are sensitively and poignantly rendered, and it will be hard for some people to remain completely unmoved by this uplifting new book. Don’t delay, put it on pre-order now as my prediction is that it will be in short supply once released.

Huge recommendation from me – it’s both beautiful and very suitable for all age groups from Prep-Year 6, and you will have much rich discussion unfold from its reading. Should you need new resources especially on animals in war, refer to my earlier post for some.