War Boy: The acclaimed illustrated children’s picture book about World War II

by Michael Foreman

A special new edition of Michael Foreman's award-winning memoirs about his wartime childhood. 'I woke up when the bomb came through the roof. It came through at an angle, overflew my bed by inches, bounced up over my mother's bed, hit the mirror, dropped into the grate and exploded up the chimney.' The Second World War is an exciting time for a young boy growing up in a small town in Suffolk – sometimes far too exciting! Life during wartime is vividly brought to life in this personal story filled with childhood memories – from hiding in air-raid shelters to playing in the bombed-out ruins and the arrival of American soldiers. War Boy is a modern classic that combines a touching personal story with factual information and wonderful illustrations, from the author of War Game , After the War Was Over , Farm Boy and Billy the Kid and the illustrator of the upcoming Platinum Jubilee picture book There Once Is a Queen .

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Biography, Picture Books, World War II, War, Memoir

96 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1990

About the author

Michael has worked on magazines, book jackets, animated films, TV adverts, and even for the police, sketching criminals described by witnesses. As well as illustrating many of his own books, Michael has illustrated over a hundred books for authors such as Shakespeare, J. M. Barrie, the Brothers Grimm, Charles Dickens and Oscar Wilde. Michael has travelled widely - to Africa, Japan, the Arctic Circle, China and Malaysia, the Himalayas, Siberia and New Zealand - to research his books. "I do a lot of research when I'm travelling - I find it thrilling to discover the particular 'art' of different landscapes and work them into a book. But I find I have to travel by myself, otherwise I'm constantly getting involved in other people's impressions of a place... I try to be invisible when I'm travelling, so I tend to listen in on conversations rather than participate in them - I just want to look and draw."

Reviews

[Leonard Gaya · Rating 4 out of 5]

War Boy is a collection of memories of an Englishman about the time when he, a little boy, was living in a small village of East Anglia, during the Second World War. This village, on the coast facing the North Sea, was, at the time, constantly suffering air raids and bombings from the Luftwaffe, as troops of British, Czech or American soldiers were posted around to strike back.

One would think that an account on a child’s experience of the war would be a rather dark and sorrowful thing. But Michael Foreman in this beautifully illustrated book (there are quite a few stunning drawings and watercolours in there) manages to give us a very different view, throughout everyday life stories of his childhood. If fact, it is a picture of wartime as most children probably would perceived it: a time of danger, but also a time of play and fun and a time of tenderness.

The air raids, the shelters, the gas masks they never used, the barrage balloons, the sailors and foreign soldiers drinking tea in his mother’s shop, the Scottish military parades, the going outs on the town with other children, the schooldays that had to be interrupted during raids, the football games in the ruins, le first movies, the first bananas in town, the grass and the harvest and the chasing of rabbits and the bonfires at the end of the war, all these things convey a lively and endearing picture of what growing up was like at the time. Personally, it brought back some memories of John Boorman's Hope and Glory. In the end, it is both a valuable document on the period and a very stirring book on childhood with its moments of sadness and joy.

[Vcmc · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely memoir of a childhood in wartime Lowestoft. Full of warmth and poignant vignettes.

[Isobel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good class read to teach children about world war two. The book could be read to children in Year 2-6. The book introduces soldiers, the battlefields and fighting.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful book! Extraordinary illustrations and a wonderful reminiscence of a childhood during wartime in Britain. Quick read but one you'll want to linger through.

[Sarah Bowling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this picture book memoir of a little boy who grew up on the coast of England during WWII. It’s interesting to read the perspective of a child and to see how even though so much has changed, so much has stayed the same.

CC: bombs, cigarettes

[Madeline Coyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book the life a Michael growing up during World War II. It documents the bombings in Suffolk England. Micheal's father died before he was born however he has two older brothers, a mother and an aunt, all of whom Michael lives with. It is a collection of childhood memories of boys playing football in the ruins of the bombings, the American Soldiers coming in and taking over, the gas masks they wore and about the men at the front lines. These stories are told in small parts that collectively make a larger story. Some stories are rather funny and make light of such a dark period of history. This is due to the fact we are following a young boy and his experience of the war. Boys at a young age are sometimes looking for trouble and just to have fun! It is a personal account that students would be more able to connect with. It has lots of information throughout the book however, it is done in a way that does not bog the student down with information. This can be extremely beneficial for students that are less likely to read a textbook. This also gives a more personal approach to explaining World War II.
The illustrations in this book are absolutely stunning. They are watercolored pictures that allow the reader to visually see what is going on. It is done in bright colors that do negatively impact the reader. It is easily visible and comprehensible to the reader. I believe the illustrations add much depth to this personal account of living during World War II. The book is definitely geared toward an older audience. I would use this for 5-7th grade. It allows the reader to get a personal account of what it would be like to live during a war. This book will definitely be on my History bookshelf! Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book and believe my students would enjoy it as well.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

read for school

[Katharine Snyder · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book, War Boy, was about a young man growing up in Lowestoft, England during World War 2. This was about the author's experiences with the war, starting out with an incendiaries shooting through the roof. It is only he, his two brothers, Bernard aka Pud and Ivan, and his mother. His father died before he has been born. This book takes place in 1941, and goes through all of the experiences of this boy enduring the war. This would absolutely have to be a read aloud. There is so much that is time-specific, and would be geared towards older readers, 5th grade or higher. You would need to stop and explain things, such as when he wrote about the drills he had in school, and the bomb shelters. This book would go well with Social Studies, since it is a true story, and it could be taught over many lessons. I loved the pictures, but it is not so much a picture book(it is) but its length was that of a short novel. It was interesting though to me, although children may lose interest. I enjoyed reading about the different soldiers he saw, although it was always with a story about the destruction he witnessed. He had gone through so much as a child and it would be interesting to see how children could relate to this boy or would react to his story and his experiences. There were some older topics addressed by this book, and so I would strongly suggest a mature fifth grade or above class, and would not suggest allowing the students to read it themselves. There were also some humorous parts that children would love(he pooped his pants at one point), and think was funny. Overall I enjoyed this book.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is densely written and detailed but provides a real insight into what life was like for one very young boy during the war, focussing on everyday life as well as events of the war. The scrap book style mixed with illustrations is attractive. Michael Foreman himself will be of interest to many children as the illustrator of several of Michael Morpurgo's books. This would be useful as a resource for KS2 children learning about life in Britain during World War 2. As a whole book it is probably best suited to an individual child with a strong interest in the era, or one who finds it easier to access non-fiction than fiction books to develop understanding and empathy.

[Makay · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very poorly written

[Anzac · Rating 5 out of 5]

WAR BOY : a wartime childhood was written and illustred by Michael Foreman in 1989. The book genre is a novel, picture book.
The author won the Kate Greenaway Medal.


This history takes place in middle of the World War Two where we discover a child, named Michael Foreman (the author) in the center town of Suffolk. His family lives with him.But one night, when the sky was all blue, a terrible accident occurs. An incendiary bomb exploded. The village was in fire and its inhabitants must evacuate in panic. After that attack, they're findn refuge in a old bunker where there was a tennistable table. We learn trough his adventure that Lawesoft is the great front line because it was a large naval base and a headquarters for the Minesweeping Service. Of course, there was a multitude of defenses like anti-chars or heavy artellery weapon.
But we're gonna let you read this by yourself.


This book is a great story, mixing humour and war, it is the best book for the time.

It is easy to understand the time, sometimes, it makes me sad.

We learn throught this book that war is not something to forget.

The illustration are beautiful!

We highly recommend it.

[Laugier]

This book "War Boy - a wartime childhood" was written by Michael Foreman. This book is addressed to the young people. This is a historical book with a lot of realism. The illustations are bursting with life.
The story narrated in 1st person, is written through the eyes of little boy.
It is set in 1945 during world war 2, with British and German army. This book deals with life during wartime with humour and realism. The author recreates childhood in the village of Lowestoft with his family. The story begins with a bomb that sets fire to his room. It's a story that tells us about the brutality of war without shocking us.
Each page is more exciting than the last one, but if I have to choose one it would be the passage that talks about him and the life in the village.
My favorite part is the bit when the war is finished because every one is happy and celebrates.
It's easy to read and difficult to forget.

[Titouan · Rating 4 out of 5]

"War boy," a wartime childhood was by written by Michael FOREMAN. This book is a autobiography and this non fiction book is written for children (7-10 years old). It is about the developpement of Michael during the world war 2. It is interesting to learn the war and don't repeat the sames mistakes.

The story, narrated in first person, is written through the eyes of young Michael who is the author.

Michael whose father died, lived with : three bombers, his mother, aunt, Louie, and his brothers Yvan and Bernard aka Pud during the WWII. It is set in a small village whose name is Pakefield next to the big city, Lowestoft. It is a childhood memory of a boy playing football in the ruins of the bombings.


My favorite part is the bit when children are playing football in the ruins and the bit I found most interesting because it shows the innoncence of children as well as the violence of the fights that can be noticed thanks to the ruins

[Elia De]

The fabulous story of war boy :

War boy was written and illustrated by Michael Foreman. This book is about the life of a child during World War II. Its purpose is obviously to show his life and reality for him and other children in England. It relies mainly on its own illustrations , with small texts. It's structured into a series of images or memories sometimes funny scary, sad or comforting .

This book is very representative of the reality and it shows the horror of the war. I recommend this book for kids because it is full of pictures but it's perfect for adults to.

[Oran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amusing War...

An illustrated book for children by Michael Foreman. He's also the main character of the book. He received a lot of prizes thanks to all of his books. It's the story of the boy who is called Michael during WWII. It's a lot of memories of his past in the little town of east Anglia.

This child tells the war was beautiful. We liked this book because it is original; he doesn't tells the war normally and it is educational; he gives an example : carry the gaz mask. We recommend this book for children who want to learn about the War and it's easy to read.

[Hannah Shaffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is reminds me of a grandpa sitting in his chair telling his grandkids about his childhood during WWII. He reminisces about both the good and bad: the bomb raids, the hiding in the bunker, the childhood play, the soldiers who become his friends, and even the embarrassment of the loo. It's not written from despair or sadness, but from the perspective of reality, tenderness, and even joy and humor.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Memoir, illustrated by the author, of his childhood during the Second World War in southeastern England. Arranged topically rather than strictly chronologically. While probably not suitable for very young children, it could provide an introduction to older children, and possible spark conversations with grandparents about their memories.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the very best World War II Homefront books that I have ever read! The author, who was a child in Suffolk during the war, also illustrated the book. He also used illustrations from cigarette cards and other memorabilia from the war.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wartime memoir of a British boy. Reads like stories your grandfather would tell you about his childhood.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read aloud for my children. Gave the perspective of ww2 from a child’s eyes.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny and insightful. Great illustrations and true stories offer an appreciation for life for a boy during WWII along the English Channel.

[Ang · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet, middle-grade picture book. The artist is the author, and his memories of the war were intersting.

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the illustrations, and the writing was solid. Not many other thoughts XD

3.5 Stars

[Rosamund · Rating 5 out of 5]

Foreman's illustrations are glorious and the text captures the episodic character of childhood memories.

[Asscock · Rating 1 out of 5]

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[Janelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent in every way! This is a picture book but not for the very young...maybe 4th grade and up.

[Hannah Rich · Rating 4 out of 5]

War Boy is written from personal experiences, that Michael Foreman (the author) lived through. This book takes place in England where Foreman grew up, during World War II. While his father died a month before he was born, Foreman lived with his two brothers (Ivan and Bernard), his mother, and his aunt. While Foreman goes into detail about the bomb that went through his room, the front line in Lowestoft, the Black Out, how he eventually lived along the Hill Green in a shelter, the friends he met along the way like Squirt, his time in school when he and his friends imitated Hitler and got in trouble, and eventually the end of the war where creations of Hitler were burned in a fire, the illustrations he portrayed throughout the book definitely added to the text! I honestly think this book could be a wordless book, although it wouldn't exemplify as much of the historical and biographical information as it does with words. I would recommend this book for 4th or 5th graders because they would be relatively familiar with the events that are spoken about in this biographical picture book. Some of the students could maybe relate to this book if any of their grandparents fought in World War II and told them stories similar to Michael Foreman's experience.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, let me just be smug and tell you I have a signed copy. Michael Foreman visited my old school a few times while my mother was still working there. She liked him very much, so I'll always have very fond feelings towards this author. Not that I didn't have them before. I've always enjoyed his books but none moreso than his autobiographies.

War Boy always stuck with me as a child and reading it back now, I get the same feeling of awe and warmth. It tells of events in an innocent but insightful way. Although it has it's sad moments, it's so gentle and shows a lot of what people considered Blitz Spirit. Even now, years and years after the war, it makes you feel proud.

And the characters he mentioned (far too briefly) are wonderful! As was his childhood. It makes me sad the world is such a worried and worrying place now.

[Carlton Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was really good. I liked it so much because you find out the author is actually talking about himself and the things he faced and saw during WWII. He explains about a bomb that went through his own house and how they had to live in a shelter after that happened. He also explains things like gas masks and the different weapons he saw during his time in England. I think this book would be a good one for older readers because it has a lot of history and illustrations that can explain how things were like during WWII. I think it would be a great idea to use this book in a history class.

[Uflchildrens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Technically this is neither graphic novel nor historical fiction but I think it would appeal to fans of both those genres. Very enthralling look at life for a young boy in England during WWII. --Rachel
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