a children's literature monthly | Volume II, Issue 3
March 2007 |
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:: poetry |
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Review by Andi (Cloudscome), A Wrung Sponge
When the Horses Ride By; Children in the Times of War
Poems by Eloise Greenfield, illustrations by Jan Spivey Gilchrist
This collection of poetry for children ages 6–11 explores the themes of childhood during wartime. Poems set in historical
periods from Ancient China to the modern conflict in Iraq show children hanging onto their dreams in the most terrible of
situations. The voice of the child rings clear; they are missing fathers, wondering why everyone's mad, flinging wishes
across the hills. Greenfield speaks from her own child's heart and reveals the treasures of innocent hope: "When the horses
ride by/with men on their backs/we pretend they're going/anyplace, but war./We tell each other stories:/They're on their way
/to save somebody lost..."
Jan Spivey Gilchrist's illustrations are a collage of photographs mixed with line-and-wash paintings and charcoal sketches.
The children's faces show joy, wonder, sadness and fear. They say "Wherever we are,/we search for a place/to be unafraid./
Wherever we are." The children in your life who are watching the daily news of our current war will want to pour over these
poems and illustrations within the comfort of your lap. There are no answers here, but we are given openings for wonder and
mourning and hope. This is a book to pull out and share in the difficult times, when war news is all around us and songs
are needed.
When the Horses Ride By; Children in the Times of War, poems by Eloise Greenfield. Illustrations by
Jan Spivey Gilchrist. Lee & Low Books, 2006. ISBN: 1-5843-0249-6.
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