This early chapter book, based on the childhood of Tomie DePaola, shares the experiences of a second-grade boy during World War II.  Many of the events are common events of growing up in any time (e.g. having a big brother who is a bully, performing in a play, taking music lessons, etc.), and yet sprinkled the ordinary experiences of growing up are the effects of war on those at home:  grieving for a cousin who died, the flags with stars that people hung in the window to indicate sons or daughters who were fighting, gas rationing, etc.  Because it is all told from the perspective and in the voice of a young student, it is a wonderful way to expose young children to history in a way that makes it something they can relate to. Because it is based on the author’s actual experiences, it really rings true in the telling.