All Those Secrets of the World

Janie and her family see her father off as he departs on a large ship for the war. Later that day while down at the bay with her cousin she spies specks in the far distance that at first she thinks are birds. Her cousin reveals "a secret of the world" that the specks are ships and appear to be so

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small because they are in the distance. When her father returns, Janie employs this secret anecdote with her father to explain how she's grown in his absence. A beautiful and poignant memoir.

In the classroom: memoirs; recording memories; storytelling;

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Another Yolen book that is just beautiful. It's for younger readers in one sense, but is something that any reader can take something from. The wartime element might be something to consider when sharing this with a student. It has a memoir-like tone.

Janie is very young when Daddy goes off on his ship to War. Mommy has a hard time readjusting. By the time Daddy gets back he is slightly injured , but so happy. Everyone has grown. Everyone acts in their own way to his return including his brother who never really knew him.
Age:3-6
Source: Pierce

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College Library

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This was a decent book, but it was not my favorite. All Those Secrets of the World is the author’s recollection of when she was 4, and her father shipped off to World War 2. Her 5 year old brother and mom’s lives are interrupted by their father’s absence, and she misses him more and more each

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day until he returns. This book shows how wars are bad even when they aren’t “horrible”; her father came back, but was gone for years. It is written from her perspective as a four year old.

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I have no idea why I was so very moved by this. Though nothing exceptionally horrible happens, and in fact there's lots of love and joy, I did cry. Of course, Yolen is a talented author, so maybe one of you who writes can understand what is so very well-done in this magical book.