Such an important book with a very important - and still age approbiate - content. I could see this book be a really good tool to discuss war and it's impact on children around the world. It can help facilitate a discussion about this topic with children who are themselves refugees - or second-generation immigrants whoose parents fled from war. It can also be a great tool to facilitate this type of conversation with children, who have not themselves encountered war but may have classmates or other peers who have.

What Happened on Thursday? exposes the profound cost war has on a family. The Nigerian Civil War began on a Thursday and ended on a Thursday two and a half years later. The book narrates the war's effect on one family whose home was in ruins after "thunder." They traveled across the war-torn country and finally came to a place of safety – a refugee camp. The young boy describes the effects two years of running from the war has had on them. The children have swollen bellies, and people are weak and sick. But through it all, the boy's family have had love for each other to help keep them going. This is a serious but important book. It is gentle enough for young children but shows the horrible effects wars have on ordinary people not involved in the conflict. The back of the book has information about the Nigerian Civil War and an emotional Author's Note advocating for peace. Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book provided by Delacorte Press via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is such an easy to read, kid friendly introduction to a hard topic. I had no idea about the topic myself and the information at the back is a great jumping off point for even adults

As a Nigerian-American whose parents were affected by the Biafran war, this book instantly tugged on the heartstrings. For a children's book, I think it did a wonderful job of introducing the topic of war and its effects while holding space for the empathetic factor for kids who may not be able to relate specifically.

What Happened on Thursday? written by Ayo Oyeku, tells the story of the Nigerian Civil War through the eyes of a child.

I feel that this book did a wonderful job sharing how a child might be affected by a war, and how they might perceive what was going on.

I loved the writing and illustrations. I also feel like I did not know much about the Nigerian Civil War, so I am glad I was able to learn a little bit about it as well. I definitely recommend this for younger readers to read with their families. Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher and author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The illustrations are bright, colorful and exciting I liked the artwork! I think it's a good book for children to understand what their life could be like if war came. The note at the end with additional information is an excellent resource to use to educate children about these events in African history and to create empathy for people of any nationality who have experienced the privations of war.

A heartbreakingly candid account of the Nigerian civil war; told from the perspective of a child whose life was forever altered by the conflict, What Happened on Thursday? is at once an ode to peace and an exploration of how war can tear one from everything they knew and held dear.

I have some Nigerian children in my class and I think this would be a great way to open up discussions with them. Even if they didn't leave due to civil war, it's a way in to a discussion. It's told so simply through the eyes of a child and the pictures actually tell ypu a lot more than the words. This is a stunning book and I hope it helps children who need to talk about Nigeria.

The illustrations are bright, colorful, and detailed. I enjoyed the artwork!

This story is a heartbreaking one about a family who's lives are ripped apart by the Nigerian Civil War. It's simple, effective, and true, seemingly based on the author's real experiences. There isn't a lot of information or context about the author's family, extended family, neighborhood, etc, but it's still a harrowing read.

This is a very simple story about war - probably would be good to help young children (preschool/kindergarten age) understand what it might be like to have a normal life and then have war come, without getting too graphic. It shows the children hungry and homeless, but ends in hope when the war is over and there is a new future. It might also start dialogue with children who don't live in war-torn countries how lucky they are to live where they do and help them understand that there are places in the world where children are not so blessed.

The illustrations are colorful, vivid, and emotionally expressive, and the simple text shares the true history of the Nigerian Civil War from a child's perspective. The fictional story covers key details about the war experience for families who lost their homes and became refugees, and it conveys the trauma of war without being graphic.

There is also an author's note at the end with additional information. This is a great educational resource for teachers and families to use to educate children about these events in African history, and to build empathy for people of any nationality who have experienced the deprivations of war.

What Happened on Thursday? is the simple, yet gripping, story of a family's ordeal during the Nigerian Civil War. This isn't a topic that would typically be taught in most American elementary classrooms, but this text make the compelling case that it should be. The readers learns about the real consequences of war through a child's eyes: having to flee unexpectedly with only a few belongings, endless travel on foot, enduring huger so powerful it distends the belly. The illustrations beautifully accompany the text and drive home the power of family and togetherness as a means of surviving the most horrible circumstances. This text could easily be used to introduce the topic of the Nigerian Civil War for intermediate to middle school students, while giving younger children some background knowledge about how war affects families and creates refugees.

"For the little voices that were not heard."

I knew Ayo Oyeku's "What Happened on Thursday?" would be a difficult one to read, but I chose it because it was important. Seeing war from anyone's perspective is hard, but through the eyes of a child, it's particularly heartbreaking.

The illustrations do an expert job of showing the chaos and devastation while still making it graspable and not terrifying for a young mind.

"I see many things I shouldn't see."

"My belly is swollen, my legs are thin. But we are alive."

This endurance story is full of hope, but also as realistic as you'd want for a children's book. It can open a dialogue with your little one about any war, and how it affects the people not fighting, just trying to survive.

Wow! Such a hard hitting book! It’s sad yet realistic! Definitely a book that would spark discussions!

This is a well done book about young children dealing with war when it comes to their home and how it affects their family. The illustrations were great.

- Beautiful illustrations
- Accessible text for Elementary Students
- Great for giving students historical context without being gore
- This would be an excellent mentor text to use in middle school when comparing fact and fiction and as a mentor text.

Overall, this was a really solid and beautiful picture book. I think it holds a lot of value and the colors are absolutely amazing. Any school or public library would benefit from adding it to their collection.

Introduces a tough topic in a digestible way. I found the prose sometimes repetitive (perhaps the poetic nature of it will work for others) but moving, and the illustrations pair beautifully with it. I appreciated the back matter as well-- I was ready to go look it up, but it gave me what felt like the right amount of information. I do wish the time period was a little clearer at the outset, as without the back matter I'm not sure kids will come away understanding the past and how it echoes into the present.

This book tore at my heartstrings.

There was so much in this book that could be relatable to so many children in war torn countries. But it also creates the voices of change my educating and teaching compassion to small children.

This is one of the books that I would recommend to any parent whose children are watching the news and want a better understanding of what the little people like them are going through in these countries. The story is heart wrenching, even though this one ends with a more positive outcome, many don't have that experience.


I volunteered to read an ARC of this book through NetGalley.

What Happened on Thursday?: A Nigerian Civil War Story (Kindle Edition)
by Ayo Oyeku
This is a social emotional learning book. With current wars creating refugees all over the world this book is needed. With the high influx of refugee students in schools, this book allows a discussion of the events and dangers these kids have survived. This important for these stories to share these struggles so all students can have a clear picture. This will help not only the refugee students but the students that don't understand what is happening. Sometimes just knowing the situation can create a better environment.

I really liked this book which tells the story of the Nigerian civil war through the eyes of a child. This is an event that I didn't know much about, but that has had a significant impact on the country and people of Nigeria. The story was well written and included enough detail that it will inform children about this time, without being too long or tedious. I also really liked the illustrations and think that they match the tone of the book well and help tell the story and will give kids something to visualize what they are reading/hearing.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.