Vlad and the First World War

Vlad and the First World War Synopsis

In 1918 as the First World War dragged on, one crucial animal was responsible for carrying messages and saving lives.

Our narrator Vlad Flea and his friend Crisp VC the carrier pigeon are about to risk their lives taking secret messages over enemy lines. It is not the first time they have flown the dangerous journey and it probably won't be the last. Along the way they will encounter the Australian doctor Phoebe Chapple, 2nd Lieutenant Walter Tull, the Indian Cavalry and encounter the Red Baron.

As they take in the zeppelins, zigzag ships and armed fishing boats, they see some of the breadth of the war and the people caught up in it. Vlad and the First World War is a beautifully hand-illustrated story that transforms museum artefacts, memoirs and historical documents into a story.

Research shows that stories are many times more memorable than cold facts, which is why we created the Flea in History series, so children learn history through stories.

Each book is meticulously researched and show how pigeons were transported, and returned, as well as how many ways people were involved. In Vlad and the First World War the story features the different branches of the forces as well as the many nationalities and roles they undertook. It throws a light on the bigger picture at the Western Front rather than focussing on the trenches. All the information, including the individuals featured, is based on the true events at this crucial time.

Vlad and the First World War is a story that can be read repeatedly revealing layers of information and providing a resource for learning about history and how we research it. As with all Vlad Flea books it is a perfect springboard for extending the topic in literacy, art and beliefs as well as history. Learning materials for parents and teachers can be found on the Reading Riddle website.

The book finishes with a fact file that includes information about the history and research behind the story.