Lofty’s Mission (Krista Bell, illus. by David Miller, Lothian, $28.99 hb, ISBN 9780734409812, March) ***

Harley has bred Lofty to be a champion racing pigeon, but the army needs strong pigeons to help them win the war. Krista Bell’s heart-warming story of a pigeon sent to join the army and be trained as a messenger pigeon is based on true events during the Second World War. Lofty is taken to New Guinea, where he serves bravely and accepts the challenge presented to him. During Lofty’s absence Harley is presented with a challenge of his own and he pines for Lofty. The news of his pigeon’s brave exploits arrives in the form of a medal for bravery. Lofty had saved an entire platoon of soldiers, was wounded and will not be able to fly again. All ends well, with Lofty home and Harley training his offspring to become champions. David Miller has made his mark on Australian picture books with his stunningly detailed paper sculptures. They impart depth and texture to the page and an almost tactile sense of realism. The addition of a glossary provides useful background information with an acknowledgement to Australian home breeders who donated pigeons to help the war effort, some actually winning the Dickin Medal for bravery.

Margaret Hamilton is a former children’s publisher. She now provides freelance publishing services and reviews

This review from Australian Bookseller & Publisher magazine is reproduced by kind permission of Thorpe-Bowker, a division of R R Bowker LLC. © Copyright 2008, Thorpe-Bowker