Pistes d'exploration

Turn to the illustration where Tom is at the helm of the boat. What is he thinking about? What is he feeling? Use a graphic organizer (such as a word web) to illustrate your understanding of the story.

Identify one of the big ideas or themes (e.g. heroism) in the story. Write an explanation of what the word means to you in the context of the story. Look up the meaning of the word and see if it matches your definition.

Write a letter to Bunny and his riders, thanking them for their contribution to Canada’s freedom. Provide examples of how their brave efforts have impacted us today.

Read the author’s note. Discuss what you think might have happened to Bunny after he was sold. What adjectives would you use to describe Bunny and Tom? 

Discuss the emotions portrayed in this story and add them to an ongoing anchor chart. 

Use a graphic organizer to sequence the story. 

In the author’s notes, three battles are noted in the map. Work with a KWL graph. Research these battles to learn more about them. 

Remembering John McCrae, A Poppy Is to Remember

Mots-clés

Picture book , animals and war , courage , horses , human-animal relationships , perseverance , Remembrance Day , World War I

Commentaire descriptif

Veteran history gains a new perspective in this creative non-fiction story about Bunny, a horse that served in World War I with Canadian forces. Storytelling language describes Bunny’s journey overseas, and the affection he inspired in his handlers, brothers Bud and Tom. Together, Bunny and Bud survive a gas attack, deliver messages and carry the wounded to safety: “‘That’s it Bunny,’ Bud said, as they charged forward. ‘We’ll both pretend to be brave.’” Mannered illustrations have a quaint, old-fashioned air, while accurately depicting the world of early 20th century warfare: a biplane soars, wagon axels lie bereft of carts, and soldiers wear archaic clothes. In one image, Tom stands before his commanding officer to receive the news of Bud’s death. In another, he strokes Bunny’s nose, offering a precious handful of oats to the horse. In the end, readers will learn that Bunny was sold to a Belgian farm—the fate of most working horses that survived World War I. “But Tom never forgot Bunny, the brave war horse.” An author’s note and map offer background information on this touching true story that reminds us of the important roles animals have played in history.