Dianne Wolfer (text) and Brian Simmonds (illustrator), The Last Light Horse, Fremantle Press, March 2022, 80 pp., RRP $24.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781760991302
The Last Light Horse is the final book in the award-winning Light series of World War I stories, by Dianne Wolfer. It recounts the life of Sandy, the only Australian World War I warhorse to return home. Her life was indeed eventful and interesting, seeing great cities and famous sights and undertaking important work, including as horse of the Commander in General of the Australian Forces. But there were also enormous challenges and discomforts, especially the terror of battle.
I enjoyed how Wolfer’s concise, clear writing style weaves dialogue and vivid descriptions of events, places and Sandy’s several owners, to develop characters and create a short, engaging narrative with accounts of World War I battles and military conditions.
Each double spread page includes Simmond’s images of either charcoal drawings or a photo album format with reproductions of old, black and white photographs, newspaper clippings and military horse grooming manual excerpts, darkened with age. The images evoke a sense of the era and denote fascinating details about places, military camps, people and events. The newspaper clippings provide interesting insights into attitudes about the war.
The Last Light Horse brings Australia’s military engagement in World War I to life in a thought provoking, heartfelt, short story. It’s an excellent resource for 9-11 years old to learn about the first World War.
Reviewed by Barbara Swartz
