(Kingston, ON) – A new children’s book is helping teach remembrance through storytelling, by helping young Canadians understand what it means to serve one’s country – and why remembrance matters. The book explores Canadians’ contributions to the world during times of war, conflict and peacekeeping, while celebrating the nation’s shared values of respect, freedom and belonging.
Created to appeal to children from preschool to grade 7, the book presents an engaging, age-appropriate way to explore Canada’s military history and the meaning of remembrance. It also 
includes more detail and context for older children, families and teachers. The story honours those who have served in the Canadian Armed Forces – from the First and Second World Wars, the Korean War, through to more recent conflicts – and highlights the sacrifices made by Veterans, service members and their families.
Developed in collaboration with The Royal Canadian Legion, the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research (CIMVHR), Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS) and Canadian Veterans from across the country, the project reflects a shared national commitment to remembrance and learning.
“This project is about helping children see the connection between the freedoms they enjoy today and the sacrifices of those who came before them,” says author Amy Doyle, who developed the Canadian book from the original Australian story We Remember: Australia Story by Dr. Marg Rogers, a Doctor of Early Childhood Education and Senior Research Fellow with the Manna Institute, University of New England, Australia.
“It’s about helping all children see themselves in this story – and feeling pride in being Canadian.”
A uniquely Canadian story of remembrance
Inspired by We Remember: Australia’s Story, the Canadian edition is a complete reimagining of the original. It focuses on Canada’s own stories – from the courage of those who took part in the World Wars, and served in Korea and Afghanistan, to the strength and sacrifices of peacekeepers and the military families at home.
Told through the eyes of diverse Canadian children, the story reflects the country’s regional and cultural diversity, including children of many backgrounds and abilities. Historical photos, many featuring children, appear alongside modern images of service members, Veterans, and their families, helping young readers connect the past to their own lives.
The book honours military history and explores remembrance and the poppy symbol. It encourages children to think deeply about empathy, respect and peace and it explores how remembrance rituals – from wearing a poppy to attending ceremonies – help honour Canadians’ sacrifice and foster understanding.
“This book reminds children that peace begins with small acts of kindness, caring and acceptance,” says Doyle. “By learning about our shared past and the importance of remembrance, they can build a future rooted in respect, empathy and unity.”
“The Legion has long been focused on sharing the importance of remembrance with Canada’s youth,” says Berkley Lawrence, Dominion President. “They are the ones who will carry forward our country’s tradition of showing gratitude for our veterans, and this new book will help them do that.”
The book is being released online as a classroom and family resource and is now available in both English and French as a free eBook at www.cimvhr.ca and www.cfmws.ca.
Printed editions are available for purchase at cost through The Legion’s website (https://www.poppystore.ca/).
This book is published under a creative commons licence, so there will be no profit made from book sales. Work is also underway to translate the book into one of Canada’s most widely spoken Indigenous languages – Cree or Ojibway – in collaboration with language speakers and Indigenous community partners.
A lasting resource for schools and families
Released online in time for Remembrance Day 2025, the book is designed to become a classroom and family resource across Canada. It can help teachers introduce difficult topics such as war, service and sacrifice through age-appropriate language and discussion prompts, while also supporting lessons in history, geography and citizenship. Evidence-based concepts are employed to provide educators and parents with guiding information and activities which can be found in the back pages of the book.
By connecting remembrance to everyday values like empathy, kindness and belonging, this story helps children see that peace isn’t just something we remember – it is something we build, together.
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About The Royal Canadian Legion
Founded in 1925, the Legion is Canada’s largest Veteran support and community service organization. As a non-profit organization with a national reach across Canada as well as branches in the U.S. and Europe, it has close to 270,000 members, many of whom volunteer an extraordinary amount of time to its branches, and its strength is in its numbers.
About CIMVHR
Founded in 2010 by Queen’s University and the Royal Military College of Canada, the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research (CIMVHR) has built a network of 46 Canadian universities that have agreed to work together to address the health research requirements of the Canadian military, Veterans and their families. The institute acts as a conduit between the academic community and research funding organizations. On behalf of funding organizations, CIMVHR distributes requests-for-proposals to researchers through its network of universities and manages the task through the scientific peer-review process to the completion of the project.
About CFMWS
The Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS) is a not-for-profit social enterprise that provides programs and services to help Canadian Armed Forces members, Veterans and their families build self-reliance, resilience and readiness by enhancing their mental, social, physical and financial wellbeing. Working on behalf of the Chief of the Defence Staff and under the authority of the Defence Minister, CFMWS is a trusted partner in the Defence enterprise, operating under the Non-Public Property framework, expending Public and Non-Public funds in a unique operating model that creates real value for the CAF Community.
For media interviews contact:
Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research
AND Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services
Communications Manager, CIMVHR: Lauren Hanlon
+1-613-276-6107 or by email: lauren.hanlon@queensu.ca
The Royal Canadian Legion
Public Relations / Media Inquiries: Nujma Bond
+1-343-540-7604 or by email: PublicRelations@Legion.ca
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