Gladys goes to War - a very special picture book

 Gladys goes to War

Glyn Harper & Jenny Cooper

A stunning picture book from the award-winning team of Glyn Harper and Jenny Cooper, bringing us the incredible true story of Gladys Sandford – mechanic, First World War ambulance driver, New Zealand’s first woman pilot and a trailblazer ahead of her time . . .

Gladys loves nothing better than tinkering with car engines and driving at top speed. She also dreams of learning to fly a plane. But it’s 1914 and people, especially her mother, keep reminding her that women are not supposed to be adventurous. When war comes, Gladys offers her services at the front as an ambulance driver. She receives an infuriating response from the War Office:

‘This will be a short war and women will not be needed. If you want to help the war effort you should stay at home and knit socks and balaclavas.’

But Gladys is not the kind of person who stays home and knits. She is determined to go to war.

Glyn Harper discovered Gladys’s story and his account of her exciting life will captivate children of all ages. Brought to life with Jenny Cooper’s exuberant illustrations, Glady goes to War will cause readers to wonder why they haven’t heard of Gladys before now.

More about Glyn Harper & Jenny Cooper

Glyn Harper is Professor of War Studies at Massey University in Palmerston North, New Zealand, and General Editor of the Centenary History of New Zealand and the First World War. A former teacher, he joined the Australian Army in 1988 and after eight years transferred to the New Zealand Army, where he rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel. Glyn was the army’s official historian for the deployment to East Timor, and is the author of numerous history books. He has written a number of best-selling children’s books, including Le Quesnoy, Jim’s Letters and Roly, the Anzac Donkey.

Jenny Cooper is an award-winning and prolific illustrator of more than 70 children’s books noted for being exceptionally versatile, characterful and exuberant.The judges of the 2015 LIANZA Children and Young Adult Book Awards praised Jenny for the ‘multitude of talents in her basket of goodies . . . her command of emotional drawing is also superb.’ Jenny’s recent work includes Roly, the Anzac Donkey, Jim’s Letters and Le Quesnoy. In October 2015 Jenny was honoured as one of New Zealand’s foremost illustrators with the presentation of The Arts Foundation Mallinson Rendel Illustrators Award.

Published: 28 March 2016 | Picture Puffin | RRP $19.99