The Peach Pit Parade: A World War I Story (Tales of Young Americans)

When Polly’s father goes to fight in WWI, the African American child wonders what she can do to help. After Polly’s teacher tells the class about chemical warfare and the need for peach pits to make charcoal filters for gas masks, Polly has the idea to organize a parade among her Black-presenting community to collect peach pits for the troops, and the result is a success. Bookended by historical photos of pit mounds, Lucas’s largely domestic illustrations include a basic gas mask graphic. Their age-appropriate realism echoes Keller’s matter-of-fact storytelling, which balances Polly’s fictional experiences with historical facts. Info about the science behind charcoal gas masks, an author’s note about segregation, and the story’s basis in history help make this a unique introduction to the Great War and related scarcity measures. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 7–8. (Apr.)