The language is rich small creatures scuttle, the trees stir in a breeze, the soldier slips into the shadows that slide over him. It pays tribute to ANZAC day, the protests and acknowledges the Covid pandemic that prevented mass gatherings. It is a striking picture book that highlights the realities of war and the significance of statues that honour its victims.
This is Where I Stand is superb and is a book that I highly recommend sharing with children of all ages. He remembers the battlefield and its victims. He hears and sees the sights and the sounds of the port as he boarded the ship and his journey to Gallipoli is as clear as if it were yesterday oceans, deserts, busy streets, beaches and war torn villages.
His mind thinks back to the time he was the soldier heading off to battle. The solider does not just see, he remembers. They have come to join him, to remember, to pay tribute to those that have given their lives for their country. Once a year, the solider is joined by others who proudly display war medals and light up the dawn skies with their candles and torches. Curious children reach out to touch and to feel, their eyes drawn to the gun that hangs from his shoulder. Some people stop and stare, others pass by as if he wasn’t there. Ever awake, he witnesses the seasons as they change, the people as they visit and the nocturnal animals that awaken from their daytime slumber. No matter the weather a soldier stands proudly on his plinth. This is Where I Stand is told from the viewpoint of a statue of a World War I soldier who narrates to the reader what he has witnessed from his years on his pedestal before recounting his memories of the war. As today is ANZAC day, I wanted to share with you a beautiful new book that I picked up from my local library.
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