Lofty's Mission.

Krista's most recent title is Lofty's Mission (Lothian, 2008) a picture book illustrated by David Miller and launched at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. This fictional story, suitable for the whole of primary, is set in the early 1940's and follows the exploits of Lofty, a pigeon that has been bred by young Harley to be a champion racing pigeon. Harley is distraught when Lofty is taken from him to be trained as a messenger pigeon for the Australian army in New Guinea during World War II. Will Lofty ever come home?

• Download the teachers' notes for Lofty's Mission
• Download the OZ KIDS IN PRINT article
  This article appeared in the Oz Kidz in Print magazine in March 2008
• Download the Pigeon Journal article
  This article appeared in the Pigeon Journal in April 2008.

LOFTY'S MISSION a picture book by Krista Bell, illustrated by David Miller to be published by Lothian Books, an imprint of Hachette Livres Australia, in March 2008.

STORY SYNOPSIS

This wartime story is set in the early 1940s in suburban Australia. Frank McNamara and his young son Harley breed racing pigeons. When the Army asks Frank to supply carrier pigeons for active service in New Guinea, he gives them Harley's special baby bird, Lofty, a six week old squeaker. Harley is devastated because he has bred this bird to be a champion racing pigeon. His dad insists that 'everyone has to make sacrifices for the war effort'.

Lofty heads north to be trained by the Army to fly behind enemy lines in New Guinea. Months later, when his platoon is ambushed, Lofty bravely carries a message through heavy enemy fire, sustaining major injuries, but reaching headquarters so that the entire platoon is saved.

Meanwhile down south, there is a parallel story. Harley has suffered a mild case of infantile paralysis and been hospitalised. Finally back home, Harley has no motivation to walk again and spends each day in bed reading books like The Secret Garden.

It is only when Harley learns, not only has Lofty won the Dickin Medal for bravery, but that he is safe, can be decommissioned and returned home, that Harley finally gets out of bed and walks again, so he can make preparations for his hero's return. Lofty's mission has been twofold: to save his platoon of soldiers up north - and down south to motivate Harley to walk again. After Lofty returns to Harley they create a new dynasty of champion racing pigeons.

There is a glossary explaining historical pigeon and army terms.
The illustrations are David Miller's superb paper sculptures.