Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Home > Books > British Museum: The Bayeux Tapestry: The Graphic Novel

British Museum: The Bayeux Tapestry: The Graphic Novel

Please login to bookmark

Book Synopsis

Kings squabble, armies clash and arrows fly in this thrilling, hilarious historical retelling of 1066, this is the Bayeux Tapestry as you’ve never seen it before!

Written by Martin Howard (Mallory Vayle & The Curse of Maggoty Skull),and packed with medieval mayhem, kids will laugh out loud as the story behind one of history’s most famous artworks unfolds as an action-packed graphic novel!

Brilliantly illustrated in full colour by graphic novelist Javi de Castro, this graphic novel is published in partnership with the British Museum’s landmark Bayeux Tapestry exhibition (between Sept-July 2026) and has been fully researched by museum experts.

Explore the full Bayeux Tapestry Collection for all the family today:
My Bayeux ABC: A Bayeux Tapestry Alphabet Book (for age 2+)
My Bayeux Tapestry: A Colouring Book (for age 5+)
So You Think You’ve Got It Bad?: A Kid’s Life a Medieval Castle (for age 6+)
The History of the Bayeux Tapestry: Discover the World of the Bayeux Tapestry and the Norman Conquest (for age 7+)
The Bayeux Tapestry: The Graphic Novel (for age 7+)

Our Review Panel says...

This brilliant retelling of the Bayeux Tapestry in graphic novel form is a fantastic idea, reminding us that the original embroidery was really a uniquely visual story and a sort of comic strip centuries ahead of its time!

Fact-checked by experts at the British Museum, this retelling pairs educational value with laugh-out-loud giggles as Javi de Castro’s artwork stays true to the spirit of the original stitches while adding vibrant colour blocks and humorous asides. Children visiting the exhibition will get a great head start from this graphic novel. Since the real tapestry includes its own subtle, funny details if you know where to look, this book points young readers in the right direction to start spotting those characterful touches for themselves

Targeted at 7-to-9-year-olds, the added speech bubbles, nose-picking, moustache jokes, rivalry insults and general battle chaos will instantly grab young readers who enjoy irreverent graphics like Bunny vs Monkey or Looshkin. Readers are likely to absorb plenty of historical facts along the way, supported by a helpful introduction and map at the front, alongside a brilliant information section at the back all about the history of the Bayeux Tapestry.