War Game: Village Green to No-Man's-Land

Teaching kids about war can be challenging. On the one hand, there is the desire to praise heroism and greatness, but on the other, who doesn't idealistically want to teach kids to avoid war? After all, if every kid grew up abhorring war, our grandchildren would have a more peaceful existence, right? Well, maybe not---but this isn't philosophy, it's a book review.This book, though, is a good tool to work on that philosophy. Even with the mostly cheerful illustrations, War Game makes no light work of warfare and death. It's a story of young boys forced into a terrible situation, a brief glimmer of hope on Christmas Eve, and then a return to reality.For a good discussion starter or for an effort to bring World War One down from "Central Powers vs. Allies" to a human situation, this book is a great one for it. My 10-year-old read it to my 8 and 5 year olds for history and then we had some family discussion about it.

I read this book for the first time a few years ago, and it's one of the few picture books that have really stuck with me. The illustrations and story are simple, but that does not detract from it's power.War Game tells the story of Will and his friends, who all enjoy playing football, as they join the army in 1914. It's packed with historical detail, but not so much that it will bore kids.The heart of the story centers around the Christmas Truce of 1914, a truly incredible bit of history, with warmth and feeling, but not sentimentality. The book's conclusion is heartbreaking (it's probably not for very young or very sensitive kids), and every time I read it, I have to reach for some tissues.All in all, this is a wonderful children's book, fully deserving the award it won, and a gentle, yet honest, way to introduce kids to World War One.

War Game had me crying by the end, in that moment when the last few pages make sense. It skilfully humanises what seems an impossibly big catastrophe, so long ago, but here made immediate and personal as it always should be.I am very glad Michael Foreman created this book and I am very glad I read it. Simply beautiful.

Lovely illustrations have been put to this classic real life story set at Christmas time in the awesome trenches of World War 1. Amid the sound of gunfire, suddenly there's a silence and carols start to be sung by the opposing enemies -- the same tune, but one with English words, the other in German. Miraculously a soldier from the German side emerges putting his arms in the air as if to surrender. An English soldier does the same to the cries of 'Don't do it, its a trick!', but both meet, hands are shaken, and then a hug. Then as a real gesture of goodwill and friendship, 'luxury' goods like chocolate and cigarettes are exchanged ... suddenly, war has ceased and they all play a friendly game of football in muddy no man's land, and yet the very next day, it was back to bullets, bayonets and yet more bloodshed. Miraculous that Christmas Day may seem, but such is war. It all seems so pointless, and its 'a game' that nobody ever seems to win after literally millions have been massacred. However, my 10 year old grandson has been to see the story enacted on stage as part of the school curriculum. He loved it, and hence this purchase, which proves that a good read is better than a computer screen any day, but doubtless he'll want the DVD as well!

I recently discovered this book when teaching WWI to a lower ability Year 6 group. They were transfixed by the story and it helped foster their enthusiasm for this era. I used the book to explore the events surrounding Christmas during WW1, both at home and abroad. This led to a variety of writing tasks, the best being a letter home. I would highly recommend this book if teaching children about WW1, especially boys, as this is the first time I have seen children truly become enthralled by and understand the events surrounding this period in time. The BBC animation of the same name supports this text beautifully and is well worth buying.

My son is doing this story as part of a school topic. So is really enjoying reading the book

As a teacher I wanted this book to do some work with our KS2 children on Remembrance Day. I knew this story vaguely and someone recommended the book. Reading it is very emotional and the way it is written and the pictures are a work of art. Can't help but have a little cry. It is one of those books everyone should read and sums up the absolute stupidity and futility of war. Beautiful book to treasure.

This is a really good story to help children visualise what it might have been like in the 1st World War in the trenches. It is a sad ending, but my class really enjoyed it and did some great writing afterwards.