“When Aubrey was seven, his brother Casey joined the army.”
Aubrey lives in Brooklyn, New York. Casey is fighting in the Great War in France. Aubrey writes letters to his brother and waits and waits for an answer. It takes a long time for mail to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Casey waits for packages Aubrey sent two months ago.
Casey does what soldiers have always done.
Aubrey does what boys in Brooklyn do.
One day, Aubrey and his mother and father go to Coney Island. While standing on the beach, Aubrey asks his father if Casey is on the other side of the ocean. His father says yes, France is over there. So Aubrey waves to Casey from Coney Island.
When three months go by without a letter from Casey, Aubrey writes a letter to Uncle Sam asking if he is done with Casey yet. Aubrey’s father is afraid Uncle Sam might be too busy to answer letters, but Aubrey doesn’t think he could be much busier than Santa Claus at Christmastime, and Santa answers his letters.
When the mailman comes to the door one day, Aubrey’s mother almost faints, because a telegram would probably mean Casey had been killed. But it isn’t a telegram, it is a letter for Aubrey from Woodrow Wilson replying to Aubrey on behalf of Uncle Sam. He says Uncle Sam isn’t quite done with Casey, but when he is, he imagines he, Woodrow Wilson, will be the first to know.
Until then, I wish you and yours peace of mind. And, for all of us, a world at peace that is safe for democracy once more.
There is still nothing for Aubrey to do but wait and do what boys in Brooklyn do.
Finally, after nearly a year, the Armistice is signed and Casey can come home.
This picture book is a gentle introduction to World War I for young readers from the perspective of Americans waiting for news of their loved ones “over there.” In the scenes of war, there is no blood or death. When Casey comes home, he is thin and has a limp, but we know he will be fine now that he is with his family again.
Casey Over There appears to be out of print, but used copies are reasonably priced at Amazon and other used book sites. It is also available at Internet Archive.