Remember D-Day: The Plan, the Invasion, Survivor Stories

by Ronald J. Drez

Overview

Remember D-Day combines compelling narrative, dramatic archival photographs and memorabilia, detailed maps, and a timeline to bring readers the exciting story of one of the world's most daring invasions. This landmark book will provide children with valuable insight into the significance of the invasion and help them understand D-Day in the overall context of the war.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781426322457
Publisher:	Disney Publishing Group
Publication date:	07/14/2015
Series:	Remember
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	64
Sales rank:	342,285
Product dimensions:	9.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.20(d)
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

About the Author

Ronald J. Drez has a master’s degree in history from the University of New Orleans and is an assistant director and research fellow at the university’s Eisenhower Center. He worked closely with the late Stephen Ambrose to interview D-Day veterans for Ambrose’s Band of Brothers and for his own book Voices of D-Day, which as awarded the George Washington Honor Medal from Freedom’s Foundation at Valley Forge. He is also the author of Twenty-Five Years of War and has written and edited numerous magazine articles about World War II. As President of Stephen Ambrose Historical Tours, he regularly leads tours to Normandy and other World War II battle sites. A highly decorated marine combat veteran of the Vietnam War, Drez lives in New Orleans with his wife. He has four children and eight grandchildren.

Editorial Reviews

A companion to Remember Pearl Harbor, Remember D-Day: The Plan, the Invasion, Survivor Stories by Ronald J. Drez recounts the months leading up to and the details of the Allied invasion at Normandy. Though the "survivor stories" appear mainly as brief quotations interspersed throughout the narrative, photographs of the young soldiers to which the quotes are attributed often run alongside, lending a personal quality to the text. Timelines, numerous photographs and illustrations contribute to an accessible design, and an introduction by David Eisenhower adds further depth to the volume. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

Gr 5-8-This volume is one of the finest of its genre for this age group to appear in some years. In the foreword, David Eisenhower introduces his grandfather, Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Supreme Commander of Allied Forces, as a real person, and not just a historical figure. In the first chapter, Drez describes the progress of the war in Europe. Four more chronologically arranged chapters cover the problems, tactics, strategies, deceptions, and the actual day of the invasion. An epilogue sums up its role in the end of the war. The book's format is dignified yet eye-catching. The text is printed on backgrounds in subdued pastel shades, leaving white margins on each page. Most of the vintage black-and-white photos are commonly seen in other titles. A few of them are in color. The captions are informative. Personal anecdotes from and portraits of soldiers on both sides are included as part of the narration. While most of the book focuses on the planning and execution of the invasion, the tremendous loss of lives is not overlooked. Although no new ground is covered here, this well-organized, clearly written account provides a solid overview for readers unfamiliar with the subject. A first-rate purchase.-Eldon Younce, Harper Elementary School, KS Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

A weak beginning and questionable ending flank a riveting account of the D-Day invasion of Normandy, 60 years ago. After an introductory chapter that sets up WWII to 1944 so sketchily it might as well not be there, Drez plunges into his subject with gusto. From the diversionary tactics designed to fool the German army into thinking the invasion would be anywhere but Normandy to the construction of two portable harbors the Allied forces would take across the Channel with them, he presents the preparations for D-Day in fascinating detail. The coverage of the actual invasion is peppered with first-person accounts by not only American, but British, Canadian, and German soldiers as well, providing "you are there" immediacy. The epilogue makes the categorical assertion that had D-Day not proven successful, Hitler would have prevailed, a melodramatic point that, however clearly seen in hindsight, is still nevertheless unprovable. The strength of the main narrative, and a design that includes archival material, modern photographs, and a splendid chart of the invasion, makes this offering a good addition to WWII collections. (Nonfiction. 9-14)

Kirkus Reviews