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World War II Topic (WW2)

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Best children’s books about World War 2 

World War 2 was a global conflict that involved numerous countries fighting against each other – including the UK. Lasting between 1939-1945, life during the Second World War was often very difficult, both on the battlefields and the home front.

We’ve picked out a handful of recommended children’s books that explore different aspects of life during World War 2. Look out for frozen expeditions, evacuee adventures, pioneering pilots and evocative descriptions of experiences of the Blitz in our hand-picked selection of the best children’s books about WW2…

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Chapter books about the Second World War

Lesley Parr
Chapter book

The Valley of Lost Secrets is a wonderfully warm book about rural life, village communities and how life really was for this community during World War II, as well as for the evacuated children. Jimmy and his younger brother Ronnie are evacuees. They find themselves with their schoolmates on a train to a small village in a valley in Wales, a world away from home in Islington, London. The country is at war but that’s not all Jimmy is worried about. He would rather be back with Dad and Nan than stuck with strangers in this odd place. The book is rich in historical detail about everything from food, religion and household routines to the importance of coal mining in the Welsh rural communities.

Lucy Strange
Chapter book

Set in 1939 at the outbreak of World War II, the story follows 12-year-old Pet, who lives in a lighthouse on the south coast of England. Pet grew up hearing stories of ancient sea monsters, legends of ‘Daughters of Stone’ and whisperings of secret tunnels.

Now, as the war breaks out, childhood stories give way to terrifying real life battles as German war machines lurk in the skies above and the sea below. Fear is in the air and it is not long before the people of the nearby village turn on Pet’s mother, who is German. A gripping mystery slowly unravels as Pet discovers a set of mysterious family documents and photographs hidden away in the lighthouse.

Bringing together an evocative wartime setting, relatable themes and a sprinkling of ancient legend, this is a riveting read that will delight teachers and children alike in KS2 classrooms.

Emma Carroll
Chapter book

This delightful new book is an excellent text for encapsulating experiences of World War II from the viewpoint of children. It tells the moving story of Olive and her brother Cliff as they leave the heavily bombed streets of London and become evacuees on the coast of Devon, sent to live with an enigmatic lighthouse keeper. Soon Olive finds herself caught up in a dark mystery linking the disappearance of her sister Sukie with a strangely coded message. Letters from the Lighthouse is an incredibly empathetic story that not only portrays the hardships of life during the war but also poignantly explores the anguishing encounters of refugees looking for safety in new places while carrying with them the heartbreak of leaving a war-torn home behind. We recommend this story for upper KS2 classrooms.

Phil Earle
Chapter book
1941. War is raging. And one angry boy has been sent to the city, where bombers rule the skies. There, Joseph will live with Mrs F, a gruff woman with no fondness for children. Her only loves are the rundown zoo she owns and its mighty silverback gorilla, Adonis. As the weeks pass, bonds deepen and secrets are revealed, but if the bombers set Adonis rampaging free, will either of them be able to end the life of the one thing they truly love? Inspired by a true story.
Bali Rai
Chapter book

Mohinder’s War follows the journey of a young girl called Joelle, in the midst of Nazi-occupied France, who becomes unlikely friends with an Indian British RAF pilot.

The book tackles the issues many children faced in their war torn country and the risks people had to take in order to protect family, friends and strangers alike, knowing the consequences they could face. The narrative also gives children an insight into the role of soldiers from across the commonwealth. This aspect would provide a great opportunity for teachers and children to research the sacrifices made by these individuals and the impact this had on the war.


Tom Palmer
Chapter book Dyslexia-friendly

This well-researched and highly readable novel takes its title from the name of the medal that honours the Arctic Convoys during World War II. The story, with its concluding Author’s Note and accompanying online teaching notes available from Tom Palmer’s website, provides an exciting and informative classroom resource for the teaching of WWII as a curriculum topic, besides being a book many children will choose for the sheer enjoyment of reading. Winner of the BooksForTopics Book of the Year Award for Best Curriculum Support.

Ally Sherrick
Chapter book

A gripping historical adventure featuring the Anglo-Saxon hoard that was unearthed at Sutton Hoo during WW2. The story centres on a young Londoner called George, who has been evacuated to the countryside near Sutton Hoo and is intrigued to find out about the Anglo-Saxon treasures discovered nearby. The most interesting of the treasures is a mysterious Anglo-Saxon crown carrying with it an ancient legend. Before long, George finds himself involved in an exhilarating plot to save the crown from falling into the hands of Nazi invaders. This is a gripping read that is recommended for upper KS2 – and especially useful for helping children to make links between different periods of history.

Tom Palmer
 & Tom Clohosy Cole
Chapter book Dyslexia-friendly
As the brutal Second World War stretches on with no end in sight, life for ordinary Dutch people in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands is fraught with peril and hardship. There is very little to eat and the population lives under the constant threat of arrest and enslavement.After the murder of her beloved uncle and the capture of her brother by the Germans, Edda is determined to do anything she can to help the resistance fight back against their oppressors. But what can a teenage girl do and how much risk is she willing to take?Award-winning author Tom Palmer shines a light on the incredible work of the WWll Dutch resistance, in a story inspired by the childhood of Hollywood legend Audrey Hepburn.
Jonathan Tulloch
Chapter book

With echoes of Whistle Down the Wind and Goodnight Mr. Tom, Cuckoo Summer is a captivating story set during the war in a remote village in the Lakes.

This is a story about trust and conscience. The children know what they could do and also know what they should do. Despite the risks that they are both taking, Tommy and Sally believe in the power of doing the right thing and it is this quality that shines through.

The book gives a snapshot of one place in time during World War 2. The story conveys a strong sense of the rural village and the various characters are all vividly depicted. The story is powerfully rooted in its location; the fields, farmhouses, tarns and waterfalls are crystal clear thanks to Jonathan Tulloch’s beautifully evocative writing. This is a book to share with a class and one that is likely to be remembered for a long time.

Bali Rai
Chapter book
A gripping adventure in an exciting new series reflecting the authentic, unsung stories of our past!Now or Never brings a young soldier, Private Fazal Khan, from his home in India to the battlefields of the Second World War.Fazal's world is now focused on Company 32 and the animals he cares for in the midst of one of the most frightening times in history. And as he and his friends make their way to the beaches of Dunkirk, Fazal must deal with even more than the terrors of a dangerous trek to reach the evacuation zone.The Company's captain defends his troops in the face of a terrible betrayal at the point of rescue: not everyone has welcomed the help brought by the Royal Indian Army Service Corps. Now Fazal is forced to question why he is even there and why he is expected to be loyal to a king whose people don't all see him as their equal.

Classic children's books about the Second World War

Michelle Magorian
Chapter book

This moving and evocative novel has won the Guardian Children’s Fiction Award. Goodnight Mister Tom tells the story of a young boy called Willie Beech, who is evacuated to the countryside during World War II, and the relationship he develops with his new carer Mr Tom. There is also a very good film version available .

Nina Bawden
Chapter book

Carrie’s War is a very popular choice for upper KS2 classes. It tells the story of World War II evacuees Carrie and Nick, who are sent to a small town in Wales under the care of the formidable Mr Evans and his timid sister. Follow their adventures as they make new friends and enemies and experience what it might have been like to be a child evacuee during the war. There is also an accompanying Read & Respond guide available.

Judith Kerr
Chapter book
This semi-autobiographical classic, written by the beloved Judith Kerr, tells the story of a Jewish family escaping Germany in the days before the Second World War. The book has become a classic story for Year 6 children or for primary classes learning about World War 2.Suppose your country began to change. Suppose that without your noticing, it became dangerous for some people to live in it any longer, and you found, to your surprise, that your own father was one of those people. This is what happened to Anna in 1933.Anna is too busy with her schoolwork and tobogganing to listen to the talk of Hitler. But one day she and her brother Max are rushed out of Germany in alarming secrecy, away from everything they know. Their father is wanted by the Nazis. This is the start of a huge adventure, sometimes frightening, very often funny and always exciting.Judith Kerr wrote When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit fifty years ago, based on her own journey, so that her own children would know where she came from and the lengths to which her parents went to keep her and her brother safe. It has gone on to become a beloved classic that is required reading for many children all over the world and is an unforgettable introduction to the real-life impact of the Second World War.

Shorter Chapter Books about World War 2

Tony Bradman
 & Tania Rex
Chapter book

World War 2 is the setting for this short, dyslexia-friendly chapter book and is a common history topic in schools. Many of the great books for primary-aged children set in this era may be too challenging for some readers and so this book enables children to catch a glimpse of life during the war and also learn about some of the important features of life: rationing; schools; the changing roles of adults; evacuation and the black market (through the unique storyline of a girl trying to get hold of a banana in times when all food was in short supply).

Vocabulary that may be unfamiliar to children is explained as part of the storyline, for example explaining who the ‘yanks’ were. In addition, there are a few ‘notes’ at the end of the book that provide a simple overview of the period in history and also a clear explanation of money before decimalisation.

The focus of the story is a young girl’s concern and care for her mum at a time of great stress and strain on family life, where dad is away fighting in the war and mum has taken on a new job, working long hours in the factory. There are many parallels that the modern reader could draw with their own experiences. The print is clear without too many words on the page. The book is illustrated by Tania Rex and the pictures will support the reluctant readers’ engagement as well as enable a child’s first step into reading a chapter book, to be scaffolded.

Author Tony Bradman also visited our blog recently to talk about why there should always be a gap on the shelf for books that help readers see the bigger picture of the war from a new lens.

Dermot O'Leary
 & Claire Powell
Chapter book

This is the fabulous story of Linus the sparrow as he joins the Royal Bird Force during World War II.

Linus has always dreamed of joining the Peregrine Falcons of the RBF, even leading them. When the opportunity comes to join the RBF, he, along with his sister, Eva, jumps at the chance. However, on the way, tragedy strikes and Ava is lost. Bereft, Linus joins his squadron and discovers he has a lot to learn.

This story is about determination, loyalty, family and friendship. The relationships between Linus and the animals grows from being tenuous to one of friendship and respect. I love the concept of animals, particularly birds, helping to defend the country by spying, carrying messages and attacking the enemy. The motto “in poo, we trust” will amuse young readers, as are the methods they used to bring down planes! The characters are lots of fund, the storyline is action-filled and this makes a great read for KS2.

Picturebooks & Graphic Novels about World War Two

Shirley Hughes
Picturebook
The Lion and the Unicorn is a beautifully illustrated picture book about a young boy whose father goes off to fight in the war. It is the story about the loneliness and sadness experienced by children during the Second World War, but also about different kinds of courage.
Ian McEwan
 & Roberto Innocenti
Picturebook
Rose Blanche was the name of a group of young German citizens who, at their peril, protested against the war. Like them, Rose observes all the changes going on around her which others choose to ignore. She watches as the streets of her small German town fill with soldiers. One day she sees a little boy escaping from the back of a truck, only to be captured by the mayor and shoved back into it. Rose follows the truck to a desolate place out of town, where she discovers many other children, staring hungrily from behind an electric barbed wire fence. She starts bringing the children food, instinctively sensing the need for secrecy, even with her mother. Until the tide of the war turns and soldiers in different uniforms stream in from the East, and Rose and the imprisoned children disappear for ever...
Helen Bate
Graphic Novel

This graphic novel is an Amnesty International UK endorsed book. It is set in Budapest during the Second World War and is a true story of a young Jewish boy and his family struggling to survive in the war torn city. The book is based on facts and Peter, the young boy in the story, tells the moving account of his family’s survival as hundreds of thousands of Hungarian Jews were taken away to concentration camps, where more often than not they were killed or died of disease or starvation.

The story is written in the first person with Peter telling the reader how before the war, he loved to play football with his friends and eat cake. The reader meets his family and friends and begins to understand the difficulties facing a Jewish family at that time. We journey with Peter as his family is evicted from his house, leaving belongings and facing hardship. There are echoes of Anne Frank as we see the family go into hiding. We follow Peter to several different secret hiding places, hungry and cold, and finally see him reunited with his parents and his former home. The war is over and Peter’s family have survived.

 Although the events are horrific, there is always a sense of hope and the reader feels the courage of the Jewish families. It is even more poignant as at the end of the book we meet Peter and his family as they are now. We found it an emotional read, but one filled with hope.

Mick Manning
Picturebook
Fiction meets non-fiction in this exciting retelling of experiences from an RAF Air Gunner during World War II, presented in a comic book style. Tail-End Charlie is an accessible book with a high visual appeal and a great way of hooking in younger or more reluctant readers.

Non-fiction about the World War 2

William Grill
Non-fiction

This is the true story of Bandoola – an Asian timber elephant of Myanmar, which was for a time a colony of the British Empire. The story focuses on Bandoola’s adult life around the time of World War 2, when elephants were used to help move and haul hardwood teak. The elephants at this time were looked after ‘Oozies’; men who cared for the elephants, but perhaps in a way that didn’t always show these majestic and intelligent animals the respect that they deserved.

Things changed when James Howard Williams arrived to work for the timber company, and soon saw the true nature of the hard-working elephants. He began to find different ways to work with all the elephants, developing mutual respect between man and beast, leading him to be known as ‘Elephant Bill’. World War 2 eventually arrived In Myanmar, and the people of the country were forced to leave. Bandoola and Williams led 53 elephants and over 200 refugees to safety in Northern India, on an unbelievable and treacherous journey that saw them scale mountains and tested them to the limit. This incredible journey showed an astonishing trust between humans and animals, with a remarkable level of understanding and bravery that saw them reach their destination in one piece.

Having enjoyed William Grill’s compelling re-telling of Shackleton’s Journey in his wonderfully sensitive yet engaging style, it was a joy to have the opportunity to read another. Grill has a talent for finding incredible stories; stories with historical importance and that show the best (and sometimes the worst) of humanity. There are clear strong themes of conservation and the environmental impact of human behaviours, along with reminding us of the utter respect we need to have for all animals, particularly as we learn of the dwindling numbers of Asian elephants still living in the wild. At the heart of the story is the legacy of one special elephant. Bandoola had a lasting effect on Williams, who through his time with the elephants learnt that humans could live side by side with animals, based on respect and understanding.

‘Bandoola’ is visually and literarily compelling, powerful, and thought-provoking; providing a new angle among the range of WW2 book options.

Terry Deary
Non-fiction
Part of the very popular Horrible Histories series, this book allows children to uncover all of the gory and foul facts about the Second World War. This edition of Woeful Second World War has been redesigned, giving a fresh appeal to a classroom classic.
Sally Deng
Non-fiction
The female pilots of the Second World War are honoured in this exciting, empowering book that shows young girls can achieve anything. The year is 1927, and in America, England and Russia, three girls share a dream: to fly. But it won’t be easy… Against the odds, Hazel, Marlene and Lilya follow their hearts, enrolling in pilot courses and eventually flying for their countries in World War II. Join the adventures of these women as they display feats of incredible bravery in this beautiful book of sensitive and moving illustrations.
Hattie Hearn,Neon Squid
 & Margarida Esteves
Non-fiction

This book was a gem of a read. It has become my favourite book about World War 2 and was very popular with my Year 6 class. It is a large hardback and was bigger than expected (154 pages of tales), which was a wonderful surprise!

The contents page is full of what the true tales will be about, in addition to telling us about the key events of the war, in chronological order. The clues in the titles led to natural discussions and predictions about what the tale could be about- and were sometimes a red herring as they thought ‘The Guinea Pig Club’ would be about guinea pigs, however, it was a twist they were not expecting.

As a class, pupils enjoyed voting for a tale to share, with favourites being ‘A Bear Called Wojtek’ and ‘Rip the Rescue Dog’ – as stories of animals in the war are of particular interest to children and they were shocked to learn that a bear was enlisted into the Polish army as a private and fought alongside the soldiers!

Each page is a visual delight, with some smaller illustrations, to whole page illustrations- it is a book that could be shared under a visualiser to get a full impact or for small groups to share.

Even those who know a lot about the war, will find out something new in this book. A must-have for anyone with an interest in World War 2 or for any class learning about World War 2. .

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