Faith lessons from poppy tale

A new children’s book is helping the next generation understand the meaning of the Remembrance poppy – and it’s already striking a chord with parents, teachers and pupils alike.

The Remembrance Poppy, written by Silvano Griffith-Francis and illustrated by Mx2creative, tells the story of Kala, a curious schoolgirl who discovers the history of Remembrance Day through a visit from a Second World War veteran.

At 11am the whole school observes two minutes’ silence. For fidgety Kala it feels like forever, but she begins to understand the importance of stopping to remember. 

In a whimsical twist, Kala then meets Mrs Poppy, a talking flower who explains why the poppy has become such a powerful symbol of remembrance and sacrifice. The conversation soon turns to faith, with Mrs Poppy telling Kala about the story of Jesus and a different kind of courage.

By the end of the story Kala rushes to tell her father all she has learned – about soldiers who gave their lives for peace, and about Jesus who, as Mrs Poppy explains, sacrificed his life for us all.