I recently bought this book to add to my classroom library with a view to looking at the effects of the Second World War on children. Although year 6 children usually consider themselves 'above' picture books; this (along with the equally beautiful Rose Blanche) has to be an exception. this is not a picture book for young children - it is that rare thing; a picture book aimed at 9 year olds and above. (Children younger than that would find the content disturbing and hard to understand.)
The illustrations, typical of Shirley Hughes, are wonderful; and the story line is great, helping to clarify the children's insight into life during the Second World War. The child's emotions are captured well, and the story is very well written. I shall be using it to begin our mini unit on evacuation, and I'm sure it will help the children to understand better what life was like then.