‘The Silver Donkey’ by Sonya Hertnett

The website www.lovereading4kids says: Set in France in the the First World War this is a stunning piece of timeless and inspirational storytelling for younger readers from the 2002 Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize-winning author of Thursday’s Child.

It’s the story of an injured young soldier found by two young children one morning. As they help him to recover from some of his injuries the soldier tells the most evocative and at times painful stories all linked to The Silver Donkey, a keepsake in his pocket.  As the days pass and they struggle to help the soldier reach home, the sisters learn the truth behind the silver donkey and what the precious object means: honesty, loyalty and courage.  First published in 2008 and for readers aged 7+.