On Juno Beach: Canada's D-Day Heroes

Ian A. Andrews is editor of the New Brunswick Teachers’ Association’s Focus and co-author of Becoming a Teacher.

The Allied invasion of Europe started in Normandy on June 6,
1944—D-Day. This excellent documentary-style picture book provides a
chronological treatment of Canada’s preparations for and participation
in what would become one of the 20th century’s most important events.
The book’s double-page picture spreads feature dozens of scenes
showing Canadian servicemen and servicewomen engaged in wartime
activities. The pages also include maps, posters, and photographs of
artifacts. Variety in the size, colour, and position of the graphics
draws the reader to both the visual and written story.

Acclaimed military historian J.L. Granatstein’s introduction gives
the book context. This is followed by an exposé of the 1942 Canadian
losses at Dieppe. Planning, deployment, and military engagements are
covered in the text and supported with contemporary quotations and
visuals. The closing scene features a saluting veteran of the
invasion—one who appeared in an earlier photo as a young paratrooper
private—juxtaposed with poppy-laden tombstones in a Canadian War
Cemetery in France.

Young readers of this book might get the impression that the Allied
victory was achieved shortly after securing the Normandy beaches, rather
than nearly a year later after much more fighting. Nonetheless, On Juno
Beach is a superb book that should be in every school and public
library. Highly recommended.