Product Review:  The Wall (Reading Rainbow Books) [Paperback] (Age 4+)

A Young Boy and His Father Visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial

I am a proud wife of an Army veteran and daughter-in-law to a 100 percent service connected disabled Vietnam veteran.  The Vietnam War, which my father-in-law left while serving his third tour, has been etched in his brain and affects every part of his being to this day.  He lost many comrades and his stories get more insightful and powerful as he puts them into words for his children with each passing year.  Some stories are horrific and some funny, but all are very wistful in the end.  I am so grateful and happy he is still here with us on earth and yet I know he thinks about his friends who passed away in front of his eyes on a daily basis.  He will always be a proud American but thinks about the lives wasted in the effort.  He actually championed and won bringing the traveling Vietnam Wall to our small home town years ago and it is the little things he does that show me how much his life is defined by the war and how much the Vietnam Wall means to him.  Those are his comrades and those are his soldiers.  Bob and I visited the wall a few years ago and the thought that his dad could be among those names was not lost on us.  Let’s remember our troops who have served and died for this country and let it not be in vain.  Let’s teach our children that the loss of the loved ones and the act of war is part of our history and let us never forget the ones who died for us.

The Wall is a children’s book about a young man who makes a long journey to take his son to the Vietnam War Memorial to find his dad’s name.  It is somber, but very poignant and meaningful and simply explained so that a young child can relate.  Even though the boy will never meet his grandfather he will not forget him and the memorial is there so no one will forget those who died in Vietnam.  The boy etches his grandfather’s name on a piece of paper as a keepsake and comes away from the experience with more understanding.  He said he would like a grandpa like other boys, but he is also very proud that his grandfather served his country.  This is an excellent read for younger children to teach them of the sacrifices made by our military.

Note:  Today is Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, and it is an annual holiday in the United States in honor of our armed service veterans.

The Wall (Reading Rainbow Books) [Paperback] (Age 4+)

www.hmhbooks.com

List Price: $ 6.99