Picture Books (for all ages)

Australian Writer & Illustrator

Mark Greenwood, illustrated by Frane Lessac

Midnight

Walker Books  2014  $29.99hb  32pp

ISBN 978 1 9219 7771 8

Themes:         ANZACS/ Charge at Beersheba/ Horses in wartime/ World War 1 1914-1918

 

Lieutenant Guy Haydon  loved his mare, Midnight from the time she was born. Together they went off to join one of the Australian Light Horse Regiments – regiments destined to take part in one of the last great cavalry charges at Beersheba in the Middle East in 1917.  Short, tense text  (sometimes reflecting the beating of the horses’ hooves) makes for dramatic reading aloud and the orange and brown illustrations mirror the desert sands.

This story is based on memories of the Haydon family who have bred horses, including Midnight, in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales since 1830.   

A poignant (hard to read aloud for horse lovers) and useful resource to add to the growing collection of books for ANZAC Day. Remember when we really had to scratch around to find anything on the topic? 

Year 2 up/ Age 6 up