Tail-End Charlie by Mick Manning

by Mick Manning

As a boy, Mick Manning listened in awe to his father’s hair-raising tales about life as an RAF airgunner during the Second World War. Now, years later, he has recreated his father's stories, writing them down as if his dad were speaking the words. These stories tell of the human confict behind the war's headlines, capturing what it’s like to undergo rigorous RAF training, soar through the skies in a bomber, face a comparably skilled and implacable enemy, endure food rationing, and more. Author Manning collaborated with his wife Brita Granström in illustrating this story, combining artwork with letters and mementos that evoke this turning point in history.

Genres: History, Picture Books, World War II, Historical, Nonfiction

Hardcover

First published April 28, 2009

About the author

Manning went to school in Keighley and then studied at at Bradford College. He studied illustration and graphic design at Newcastle Polytechnic (now the University of Northumbria) 1979 - 82 and then illustration and animation at the Royal College of Art London 1984-87 . Later he devised and ran the BA honours Illustration option at the Glasgow School of Art while maintaining a freelance career. In 1998 he resigned to concentrate on writing and illustrating children's books full-time. British artist-illustrators Xavier Pick, Helen Stephens and Mark Hearld number among his ex-students. Manning's first book A Ruined House was chosen by Quentin Blake in The Laureate's Party (Red Fox) as one of his personal top 50 children's books of all time. Manning is known for his collaborations as author and co-illustrator with partner Brita Granström. Books from their young non-fiction series "Wonderwise" won the TES, Silver Smarties and English Association Awards and were also shortlisted for the Royal Society Science Book Prizes (then called The Rhone Poulenc) on three occasions. They won The English Association award again in 2005 with Voices of the Rainforest and again in 2008 with Greek Hero. Their book Yuck! is referenced in the Mike Leigh film Happy Go Lucky. Tail End Charlie, a picture book about his father's Second World War experience as an RAF air gunner during 1944 was shortlisted for, and televised on, the Blue Peter Book Awards 2010. It was also shortlisted for the ALCS Award and was nominated for the Carnegie Medal 2010. Manning is a direct descendant of 18th Century Italian artist Bonifacio Musso, and Musso's London-born son Charles Muss who was himself, among many other things, a British illustrator. In 2011 Mick and Brita won a fourth English Association Award with the follow up to Tail-End Charlie; Taff in the WAAF a fascinating book about his mother's war including her experiences as a Chicksands 'Y' station listener for Bletchley Park. In 2011 he was elected a Fellow of The English Association.

Manning's other children's non fiction picture books include science titles such as: How Did I Begin? (this book looks at the amazing development of a human baby from fertilised egg to birth and was shortlisted for the Rhone Poulenc Prize in 1996) Woolly Mammoth (with the NHM, London), Dino Dinners (with the NHM, London), Nature Adventures and 'What Mr Darwin Saw, (this book about the life of Charles Darwin and his discoveries was shortlisted for the Royal Society's science book prize in 2011.)

Reviews

[Kirsty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the history in this

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for Veteran's Day, 2015. A sweet tale of by Manning and his wife Brita Granstrom based on stories his Dad told him of his service in WWII, which for him proved ultimately lucky in a few ways. The stories and the art are well done. Feels both personal and informative and not overly sentimental.

[Laura Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book wasn't what I was expecting but it was still good. Gives lots of information about WW2 so would be good to use in a History lesson about this. Has a comic book vibe to it.

[Samantha Resner · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found only one reason to like this book - it teaches kids various terminology of WWII, but that's all. It portrays war in an unrealistic light. The book was too carefree and happy for a war story, I know it's for kids but you can be real about war in a kids book without scaring them. This is the quote the book ends with, "My war ended with peace and love - and that's how all war should end." Give me a break.

[M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author’s account of his father’s time as a British tail gunner during WW II. Told in scrapbook form with very good illustrations. Upbeat, but not fatuous in dealing with the day-to-day life of a tail gunner including good things but also the deaths of friends and co-workers. Probably better for older 4th and up.

[Hillvan]

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