See below for English description.
La bataille de la crête de Vimy est un des moments les plus marquants de l'histoire du Canada. Ce livre documentaire met en lumière le geste symbolique qui fut posé par un enseignant, fermier et soldat du Corps expéditionnaire canadien. En avril 1917, le jeune lieutenant Leslie H. Miller récolte les glands de chênes décimés parmi les décombres des champs de bataille. À son retour en Ontario, il les plante sur sa propriété en l'honneur des combattants. Cent ans plus tard, des chênes majestueux se dressent à la ferme des Miller. De ces arbres, on a recueilli de jeunes plants. Ils seront rapatriés en France et seront plantés à Vimy en mémoire de la contribution du Canada lors de la Première Guerre mondiale.
The images from World War I of death, ravaged landscapes and decimated villages are hauntingly familiar. Imagine a young soldier standing in the midst of that horror and destruction pocketing a handful of acorns from the blasted trees and posting them home. That's exactly what Lieutenant Leslie H. Miller, a teacher, farmer and soldier with the Canadian Expeditionary Force, did after the battle at Vimy Ridge in April 1917. Over the following one hundred years, those acorns became majestic oaks, standing at the site of Miller's family farm in Ontario. In April 2017, seedlings from these oaks will be repatriated to their original territory at Vimy Ridge in France as part of the ceremonies to mark Canada's contribution to the War.
The Battle at Vimy Ridge took a devastating toll but it is regarded as Canada's greatest World War I victory, both on the battlefield and in terms of Canada's birth as a nation. The story of one ordinary soldier's quiet but extraordinary act, an almost unimaginable gesture of hope and renewal at the time, serves a century later as a living memorial to those who served.
Original title: The Vimy Oaks: A Journey to Peace
About the Author: Linda Granfield est l'auteure de pr's de trente livres documentaires pour jeunes lecteurs et adultes. Elle est laur?ate de nombreux prix et mentions d'honneur pour ses oeuvres qui abordent des th?mes tels que la guerre, l'immigration, l'esclavage et les ?lections. Elle a publi? Le soldat inconnu et Sur la route de l'Afghanistan chez les ?ditions Scholastic. Linda habite ? Toronto.
Brian Deines est illustrateur de livres jeunesse qui a ?t? finaliste pour le prix du Gouverneur g?n?ral dans la cat?gorie illustrations, le prix Ruth et Sylvia Schwartz et le Lillian Shepherd Memorial Award. Il a aussi sign? les illustrations des albums Hockey sur le lac, Sur la route de l'Afghanistan et Une belle soir?e de hockey. Originaire de Red Deer, en Alberta, Brian habite maintenant ? Toronto.
Linda Granfield is the author of nearly thirty non-fiction titles for young readers and adults. She has received more than forty honours/awards for books that cover themes such as war, immigration, slavery and elections. Her books published with Scholastic Canada are Le soldat inconnu, an OLA Best Bet, and Sur la route de l'Afghanistan, shortlisted for the Libris and Shining Willow awards. Linda lives in Toronto.
Brian Deines is an acclaimed children's book illustrator who has been nominated for the Governor General's Award for Illustration, the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Award and the Lillian Shepherd Memorial Award, among others. He has illustrated such varied titles as Hockey sur le lac, Sur la route de l'Afghanistan and Une belle soir?e de hockey. A native of Red Deer, Alberta, Brian how lives in Toronto.
