I appreciate coming across this book. Even though it's marketed as a children's book, I found that it taught me things not covered in my own schooling.The artwork effectively conveyed the gravity and horror of war in a manner suitable for children. Introducing this book into elementary school libraries and classrooms would greatly benefit students, offering them a vital perspective.

There are not many war books set in Africa in our school library (or public library for that matter). This is excellent.

I wish more specifics were shared in this story in order to boost the narrative and give readers and more first person experience of what war was like beyond the illustrations.

I would use this book when teaching about Remembrance Day in Canada and to show children that wars have happened all around the world and children worldwide are impacted in similar ways.

It is saddening to read this story. It is so hard for someone to leave their native place and run in fear of their lives for a better and safer place for their family.
In this picture book author Ayo Oyeku described briefly abut the civil war of his country before his birth where the indigenous tribe of Igbo ethnic group as an independent region of Biafra lost to federal troops of a country. More than 2 millions of people died in that war that longed for almost 3 years.
Author told the story in this picture book from the eyes of a child. Children, women and elders are usually the category of humans that always tend to affect and suffer most in any such scenario. There was lost properties, famine like situation, diseases that evolve in that time. But author also try to present the psychology that one need to be mentally strong and stay bonded strongly with their family.
Now also, after so many years, after conversion of local tribe from indigenous ethnicity to Islam, a terrorist group namely Boko Haram aroused. And again the condition for the non-believers as well as women of believers became worst and still worsening with passing time. Tourism down, so does white money funding for the upliftment of country's economy.

Overall, this is an amazing book with fantastic work by Ayo Oyeku with illustrations by Lydia Mba.

This was a really beautiful and gentle story about a family living and surviving through war. It’s told through the child’s eyes and is beautifully illustrated. The war lasted a bit over 2 years, but the family was thankfully able to stay together throughout this. War is never an easy subject to discuss with children, but this book helps put it in a setting that shows the hardships endured without scaring young children. A great way to help children understand conflict within countries and build empathy for those who have suffered through these tragedies. A very touching book.

My thanks to NetGalley for providing an early copy of the book. What happened on Thursday? War began and stopped on Thursday. The book talks about the Nigerian civil war that took place between 1967 and 1970. Told through a child’s perspective because of course the children are the majority of the victims of said war. In every war the innocents are the ones who suffer especially children. But no one moves to stop the killing of the children until the goals of such war is fulfilled and so many souls are lost to bloodthirsty ghouls. We all wish for peace in the world especially these days where there is a conflict going on in almost every country of the world. But we know better than to wish for war to stop and peace be obtained. We don’t need to wish , we need to take action and be effective. We need to make the decision makers hear us and fear the wrath of the collective community.

A powerful story of family love amid the backdrop of war, as seen through the eyes of a child.

The Nigerian Civil War started and ended on a Thursday, forever changing the family in this story. This was such an emotional children’s book with such important history. It follows a story told through a child’s perspective as the family deals with the loss of their home amidst war. Throughout it all, this family overcomes obstacles together and portrays the positive side of this.

I absolutely loved the illustrations in this book and the history behind this family. It’s told in a poetic way and there’s no doubt this author brought the Nigerian setting through this story.

This was a beautiful and emotional children’s picture book. I absolutely loved it and can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy.

🦅 ☁️ 🌴 🦅 ☁️ 🌴 🦅 ☁️ 🌴 🦅 ☁️ 🌴

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with access to read this book!

A poignant and gutwrenching, yet hopeful, exploration of what a family goes through during the Nigerian Civil War, as well as a testament to the realities of all wars on innocent civilians. A timely picture book that all can benefit from.

What Happened on Thursday? is a remarkable tool for educating children about global issues, particularly the impact of war, while also nurturing empathy and understanding. It beautifully conveys the importance of love, hope, and resilience even in challenging times. The illustrations are stunning and add depth to the storytelling.

I would enthusiastically recommend this captivating children's book as a thoughtful gift for young readers. It's a delightful and meaningful read that definitely left a lasting impression.

This book does a great job teaching kids about war. War does not just affect adults. Children and families of all shades unfortunately deal with it. The illustrations are beautiful. The text was easy to get through.

What Happened on Thursday? is a poignant children's book that captures the essence of family love amidst the chaos of war. Written by Nigerian author Ayo Oyeku and beautifully illustrated by Lydia Mba, this book offers a glimpse into the Nigerian Civil War through the innocent eyes of a child.

The story unfolds on a Thursday, the beginning and end of the Nigerian Civil War, marking a significant turning point for the family at the center of the narrative. Through the child protagonist's perspective, readers witness the upheaval and displacement caused by the conflict as the family loses their home and embarks on a journey through a war-torn country.

Despite the hardships they face, the unwavering love and resilience of the family shine through. Oyeku's poetic prose captures the emotional depth of their experiences, while Mba's sensitive illustrations vividly depict the challenges and moments of tenderness amidst the turmoil.

As the family settles in a camp for displaced persons, the story emphasizes the profound impact of war on innocent lives and underscores the importance of empathy and compassion in building a more peaceful world. Through its powerful storytelling and evocative artwork, What Happened on Thursday?" offers a moving exploration of the human cost of conflict and the enduring strength of familial bonds.

This book is not only a captivating read for children but also serves as a valuable tool for fostering empathy and understanding of global issues. It reminds readers of all ages of the importance of cherishing love, hope, and resilience even in the darkest of times.

The illustrations enhance the story of how war effects children. While the realities of war are harsh, this book breaks it down in a way that is both impactful and appropriate for a child.

This book records important historical significance that children must be aware of. There is power and comfort in being heard and seen, in being known by the world and valued for who you are, many innocent children were killed in wars, including silent genocides in Africa such as the ongoing on in Congo. I wished the book was longer, it is a perfect pick for 5-9 year olds, and I would love to see it distributed in schools.

The illustrations are beyond beautiful, thank you Lydia for visualizing the characters so beautifully.

One ordinary Thursday, the family began hearing about war. Things were scary, and they became scarier when the fighting reached their home and they were forced to flee. They did their best to survive and keep on hoping.

This book has a good balance of solemnity and gentleness that make it an ideal way to introduce young readers to the realities of fear and war. There are many great talking points, but most importantly, this book brings a wholesome sense of empathy to help young readers understand what it's like to be caught up in a war that has nothing to do with them and still find hope despite the suffering and fear. Beautifully written and illustrated, this book is an important reflection on history and what would look like to do better in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Fantastic picture book explaining the Nigerian civil war.

I would love to see more picture books like this of more recent conflicts as I teach a lot of refugee students who want to see themselves reflected in literature and they do not always understand what they have experienced.

Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Crossing Kids for the eARC.

This book does a great job of teaching kids about a war that they may have never heard of while also handling the severity of the topic with grace. I think that reading books like this encourages children to use empathy for those that they may be different from. These are the kinds of book that I feel like every child should have the ability to be exposed to

Important representation of war that is easy-to-understand. Introduces the concept of change and how the characters adapt. A devastating story filled with hope. Compelling and realistic narrative. Opens discussions about war in a coaxing way. Simply impactful. Effective illustrations that glide through the fast-paced plot. Overall, a very good read.

What a powerful and eye opening story which introduces children to the realities of living in a war torn country.

The story is told in such a delicate and sensitive way so as to educate your child.

I think based on the subject matter I would recommend reading this one with your child. That way you can have open discussions around any questions they may have or to discuss their feelings.

I found it very hard to rate children's books so everything is a 5 star read for me!!
I really loved this book, the illustrations are so beautiful and captivating that I found myself smiling through every page I read.
I loved how the book portrait the war in a meaningful way that can teach the children how to cope with the war and all their feelings about it.
Amazing cute book.

"What Happened on Thursday?" is a captivating children's fiction book set against the backdrop of the Nigerian war. The author skillfully portrays the challenges faced by a child and their family during this tumultuous time, making it relatable and educational for young readers. The theme stands out, offering a unique perspective on historical events. The illustrations are not only beautiful but also enhance the storytelling experience.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to delve into this thought-provoking tale. It's a commendable addition to children's literature, fostering empathy and understanding of complex historical contexts.

War, the consequences of war, how it impacts the nations and their citizens - we have heard about it in the news. We live in times where almost at one point or another there is war going on sone land or other, be it Palestine or Ukraine, ISIS or Boko Haram, citizens of these places have suffered and terrorist groups have caused mayhem in their lands.

While we hear of casualties in numbers - hundreds, thousands, millions - have we ever stopped to wonder about the life of each of those people. How do they feel? What have they gone through?

What happened on Thursday is a beautiful book that gives you a glimpse of the life of a little boy during the Nigerian civil war and how it impacted him and his immediate environment. This is a simple book, not very complex, but it makes you think and that’s really powerful for a children’s book.

Extra points for the illustrations.

Rating: 5.5/5