"Need a good kids' introduction to WWII, especially N. Africa" Topic
13 Posts
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Fireymonkeyboy | 23 Nov 2015 5:34 a.m. PST |
Hi all, Bit of an odd request. My 9-year old is becoming increasingly interested in both WWII and miniature gaming. We played his first game of Bolt Action on the weekend to great success, and he's putting together Americans – specifically, he wants to paint them in "desert camo". I'm hoping for recommendations for a good kid's introduction to the war in general, ideally one that covers North Africa well. He's an excellent reader, well above his grade level, but is 9, so while his comprehension is good, I'd like to avoid anything that's gets a little too accurately gruesome, if you take my meaning. He's also very much into material history, so something with good, accurate pics and representations would be great. What I'm really hoping for is something along the lines of the old Peter Connolly books covering ancients, but for WWII. Is there such a thing, or something equivalent? |
Blutarski | 23 Nov 2015 5:47 a.m. PST |
I enthusiastically suggest this oldie but goodie: "Tank Battles in Miniature – A wargamer's guide to the Western Desert Campaign 1940-1942" by Donald Featherstone (who actually served there). I still have my copy. B |
ubercommando | 23 Nov 2015 5:52 a.m. PST |
Sometimes you can find decent Osprey books on the subject: They contain lots of photos, bite sized bits on equipment, tactics and history plus you get those nice colour pictures in the middle to give ideas. If you can get a copy, Andrew Mollo's "The Armed Forces of WW2" is another good read for, I'd say, reading ages 12+. Again, uniform details aplenty. Great thing about WW2 Americans is that what they wear in the Desert in '42-43 is what they wear in Europe 1944. One army fits all! |
genew49 | 23 Nov 2015 6:28 a.m. PST |
You may find some of these appropriate. The Callery book does have some references for North Africa in the index. Eyewitness: World War II (Eyewitness Books) by Simon Adams Scholastic Discover More: World War II by Sean Callery World War II Days: Discover the Past with Exciting Projects, Games, Activities … by David C. King , Cheryl Kirk Noll GREAT WORLD WAR II PROJECTS: YOU CAN BUILD YOURSELF (Build It Yourself) by Sheri Bell-Rehwoldt
World War II: An Interactive History Adventure by Elizabeth Raum You may also want to take a look at the old Landmark book series. A number of WW2 titles. I believe you can find them on Amazon. My brother was around your son's age (I was a little older) when we started reading them around 1959/1960.
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Extra Crispy | 23 Nov 2015 6:58 a.m. PST |
Ballantine Books had a whole series of books on WW2. Each was about 200 pages but loaded with photos, and appropriately "sanitized." I had dozens of them at that age and a little older. They can be found in used book stores, at HMGS flea markets etc. I especially loved the Long Range Desert patrol volume. Here are some on E-bay so you know what they look like: auction |
thosmoss | 23 Nov 2015 7:33 a.m. PST |
"Going Solo" by Roald Dahl talks about his time as a pilot in WWII. The account is very personal, not an overview. He mostly centers around being in Greece. And he's a pilot. So I've sort of missed your request by a mile. But it's a very good read, and accessible by youngsters. My first thought for an intro sort of game would be Memoir '44, with the British Desert expansion. If you're already playing Bolt Action, this might be a step in the wrong direction. But it's a great game, and stepping through scenarios is another way to absorb some history. |
panzerCDR | 23 Nov 2015 7:37 a.m. PST |
I grew up with: Desert War in North Africa by Stephen W Sears link This may be beneath your son's reading level but it is relatively inexpensive, well written and has some pretty neat pictures and vignettes (one from Brazen Chariots IIRC). It is a decent overview but has less detail on wargaming scenarios. |
normsmith | 23 Nov 2015 8:49 a.m. PST |
Osprey have a Kasserine Pass title in their campaign series. |
Gaz0045 | 23 Nov 2015 10:31 a.m. PST |
Get him some Commando 'comics' for inspiration and light relief………worked for me! Second the vote for Featherstones Tank Battles in Miniature, keep an eye out for the Airfix booklets on WW2 gaming too. |
GatorDave | 23 Nov 2015 10:54 a.m. PST |
I second Extra Crispys comments on the Ballantine Book series. Still have the one's that got me started as a child. Quick reads with lots of pictures. |
Fireymonkeyboy | 24 Nov 2015 5:05 a.m. PST |
Thanks, gang, I'll look into these. |
lilbow73 | 25 Nov 2015 1:09 p.m. PST |
Same as Gaz0045 for me.Commando,war picture library and battle comics.It worked in the 70s!!Airfix DAK and 8th Army.Great days. |
GuyG13 | 25 Nov 2015 3:35 p.m. PST |
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