The Poppy Lady

Have you ever received a handmade tissue-paper poppy in exchange for a donation to the American Legion outside of a store on Memorial or Veteran’s Day? Have you ever stopped to wonder, “Where did that practice come from?”

The Poppy Lady: Moina Belle Michael and Her Tribute to Veterans, by Barbara Elizabeth Walsh, paintings by Layne Johnson. Calkin’s Creek, 2012. Age/interest level 6-9.

Moina Belle Michael cared about people and had a passion for service. Although her relationship with God is not distinctly described in this story, her faith is put into practice as she sees the needs of poor neighbors, frightened students, and soldiers going off to war. She wanted to help. Her theme was summarized in the verse “Whatsoever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might,” and she always wanted to do more.

Moina taught school. She prayed when war threatened. She did what other ladies did, rolling bandages and knitting socks. She offered hospitality, encouragement and a listening ear to soldiers. She cared about their lives and found a space where they could come during their free time, then brightened the gloomy days with fresh flowers. When she read a well-known poem titled “In Flander’s Field,” a tribute to soldiers that had been published in a magazine with an illustration of white crosses and red poppies, she was inspired.

One thing led to another, and soon her passion for appreciating soldiers led to the poppy being used as a symbol of remembrance to honor veterans. Today, these flowers are handmade by veterans as part as their rehabilitative therapy, and sales help raise money to support them.

The author, Barbara Walsh, was inspired by her father to tell the story, as he had once met Moina and kept one of her poppies. She shared with me the following:

“When she was in her late teens, Moina constantly worried about what she would do with her future, what path she would follow. One day, she opened her sister Laney’s college book and read “To a Waterfowl,” by William Cullen Bryant. In the poem, Bryant described how God guided the bird along a path to safety.

“In her autobiography, Moina said the poem gave her ‘spiritual insight.’ She saw ‘all good things as supported by His all-powerful hand.’

“The words also gave her courage. ‘If He could, and He did, care for the flight of that bird—the flight of all birds in the illimitable air, surely He would “guide my steps aright”.’”

Good application of Truth into life.

•  Worldview/moral value: 4
•  Literary/art value: 3.5

For more Memorial Day book ideas, see In Memory or a Veteran’s Day post by Janie which cover more picture books.  Or see this post on World War II books for chapter book and Middle Grade readers.