On Juno Beach: Canada’s D-Day Heroes. Hugh Brewster. Markham, ON: Scholastic Canada/Madison Press, 2004. 48 pp., pbk., $10.99. ISBN 0-439-96728-7. Subject Headings: World War, 1939-1945-Campaigns-France-Normandy-Juvenile literature. Canada-Canadian Army-History-History-World War, 1939-1945-Juvenile literature. Grades 3-6 /Ages 8-11. Review by Tom Chambers. ***1/2 /4

excerpt:

In the chilly darkness before dawn on June 6, the mightiest invasion force in history began cutting its way through the waters off the coast of England. An armada of 5,000 ships, carrying 130,000 men, was accompanied by 700 warships--including six monstrous battleships. Sixteen Canadian minesweepers helped clear the path as 126 ships and 10,000 sailors of the Royal Canadian Navy carried Canadian troops into battle.

As the soldiers headed toward the beach in their landing craft, they were surrounded by explosions and gunshots. Behind them, hundreds of ships blasted shells at the German guns on the shoreline. Above them, the fighter pilots dropped bombs and fired at targets. The sea was rough and many of the men were violently sick as their landing craft tossed and rocked in the two-metre-high waves. When the soldiers arrived at the shore, underwater mines ripped apart landing vessels around them, throwing many of them into cold water. Shivering and wet, the men crawled onto the beach amid machine-gun fire.

This is a timely book. June 6, 2004 marks the 60th anniversary of the D-Day invasion to liberate Europe from the control of Adolf Hitler and the German army. Canada's participation in this invasion was the landing of soldiers on Juno Beach in northern France in the face of fierce German fire. On Juno Beach dramatically recreates that eventful day.

     Hugh Brewster, the author of On Juno Beach, has written several books for children including Anastasia's Album: the Last Tsar's Youngest Daughter Tells Her Own Story and Inside The Titanic: A Giant Cut-Away Book. The former won the Silver Birch Award for nonfiction in 1998. The targeted audience should have little difficulty with his style.

     The introduction to Brewster's book was written by well-known historian Jack Granatstein, author of many Canadian history books and former CEO of the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. Granatstein's comments put the D-Day invasion in the wider context of the Second World War and explain its relevance to Canadians today. Younger readers should have no trouble with his style either.

     On Juno Beach is a good, basic history text. It gives an introduction to the allied landings, including the unfortunate Dieppe raid, explains why they were necessary and deals with the experiences of the soldiers during their first day on land. The book also shows just how momentous D-Day was to the small nation of Canada. The country's casualties were higher, on a per capita basis, than those of the other participants: 9,000 Canadians lost their lives on June 6th, a huge number for a country of only 11 million people. This is a story of bravery and heroism of which all Canadians can be proud.

     The book has no chapters but bold headlines, such as “Planning Operation Overlord” and “Tending the Wounded,” are used to introduce each new topic. Interspersed throughout the book are quotations from some of the invasion's participants. Described as "Eyewitness" accounts, these personal reminiscences complement the author's factual history and make the story very real. On Juno Beach is well illustrated throughout the book, mainly with photographs (the majority in black and white), but also with drawings, paintings, war posters, maps and regimental badges. All the illustrations are functional. In addition, it has valuable teaching aids that include an index, glossary, bibliography, and a list of suitable web sites. The book should stimulate a child's interest in Canada's role in the war and could be used as an introduction to conflict in the world today.

Highly Recommended.

Thomas F. Chambers is a retired college teacher who lives in North Bay, ON.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

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Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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