Originally each of these books was intended for other blog posts: women at war, dogs, and Veteran's Day. That is, until they all arrived on my shelf at the same time and I noticed they were all about World War I. It's always interesting when one of my 'trails' gets rerouted like this. :-)

They were soldiers, nurses, ambulance drivers, spies, and more but for many years no one knew. Finally we are learning just how much women did that was unexpected (well, to some)(!). Women Heroes of World War I: 16 Remarkable Resisters, Soldiers, Spies and Medics by Kathryn J. Atwood is a collection of short biographies about just such women. I liked that it was broad in it's scope, included are women from all over Europe as well as Canada and the U.S.

I've said before that dogs can do amazing things, and Stubby was no exception. Named for his docked tail, he was a mascot (among other things) for a regiment of soldiers in World War I. With his keen senses he could alert to incoming gas and shell attacks, he would lead medical aid to wounded soldiers, and he kept the rats in the bunkers under control. Stubby, the War Dog: the True Story of World War I's Bravest Dog, by Ann Bausum is his story.

In Flanders Field just might be the best known poem from WWI. The casualty count was high, and an army doctor was tired, but he noticed that even with all the mud and debris on a battlefield, the poppies were blooming. Dr. John McCrae had just lost a close friend when he wrote his poem. A Poppy Is To Remember, by Heather Patterson and Ron Lightburn tells when and how wearing the poppy came to honor the men and women who have died in service to their country (especially in Canada, in this book).

Where Poppies Grow: a World War I Companion, by Linda Granfield. A moving collection of photos, snippets of letters, and descriptions of what it was like to live in the trenches and on the home front. A good, informative, overall look at WWI.

Winnie: the True Story of the Bear Who Inspired Winnie-the-Pooh, by Sally M. Walker and illustrated by Jonathan D. Voss came as a nice surprise. I'm not sure I was aware that there was a real Winnie! It started when Harry Colbourn bought an orphaned bear cub in Winnipeg. Harry was a veterinarian taking care of horses for the military. When the war heated up and his regiment was sent to England, Winnie went along. (Harry was seasick the entire voyage, Winnie was not). When orders came for France, Harry donated Winnie to the London Zoo. That's it, for the rest of the story you'll want to read the book. :-)

Reading Hermit With Dog