The Wall

The Wall by Eve Bunting

Controversial Picture book

Grades K-5

Four stars

                A young boy and his father travel to Washington D.C. to visit his “grandfather’s wall.”  Bunting never says that it is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial during the story; only at the end does she give a little description of it.

                I found this book to be nowhere near controversial.  It may discuss a somewhat controversial topic, but Eve Bunting covers it well to make it accessible to young children.  I found the muted watercolor instructions a perfect fit for the story.  And, it shows how war affects everyone.  When the father says, “He was just my age when he was killed,” makes your heart go out to those with family members who died at war.  The little boy was having a hard time connecting to this person who he never met.

                I would use this book in my classroom with no question.  The Wall, does a nice job covering the impact war can have on us and its consequences that we deal with.  It might be a touchy topic, but to ignore such a thing would be insane.  It is a great book to read on Veterans Day or Memorial Day, and also when you would be discussing Vietnam War and its aftermath.  It might be hard or more challenging if there was a student in your class that has lost a relative or a loved one in war, but as the teacher we should not ignore it.