I know very little about the Nigerian Civil War so this was a new topic for me to learn about and I loved it, it explained it in a simple and easy way for children to understand but it can also be used as a way for adults to learn more about it as well, it was easy to follow and felt like the perfect pace and the art style of it captured everything wonderfully

I was sent this e-Arc on Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The illustration is so good!

The story is based on the Nigerian Civil War which began on 6th July 1967.

The story is told from the perspective of a child the experience they get from the same. How they stopped everyday things to not getting enough to eat; how they run for their lives to how the war ended.

It might seem like a simple story to be told but we get to know how the war affected so many lives killing an estimated number of more than one hundred thousand people.

Please do read the brief history given towards the end of the book. It’s quite informative and educational.

Thank you, Amazon Crossing Kids, for the advance reading copy.

Given what is going on in the world and the questions children may have, this book is coming at a good time. It may not be the same war, but it is still a depiction of war through the eyes of a child using minimal words to convey what it means and how it impacts them. The artwork was simple but effective, and the story moves along quickly. There is enough information for a parent to be able to contextualize the story in actual history, and there is information online for further readings too.

What I found particularly valuable here is that it speaks to the full circle of being at home and coming home after horrible things. While the horrible is glossed over for the most part, which is necessary for the intended age demographic, there is still enough to strike a cord and make a young child reading understand and feel the pain of these young children who are caught in something that they did not plan or choose.

All in all, a sensitive depiction of a horrible moment that also builds awareness for a war that many may not know much about.

I do think that, if you are reading this to a younger child, you should be prepared to have a conversation and talk to them so that they understand and are not scared.

A beautiful, child-friendly book about the life-altering effects of war. The prose at times felt almost like free verse poetry with how well it flowed naturally from following the main character from ordinary life to leaving home, becoming displaced, traveling, and ultimately living in a camp, all while recognizing the strength of their family. The illustrations are vibrant and complement and narrative without overpowering the story, adding detail that kids won't get from the words without giving them too much.

This book strikes just the right balance of teaching children about conflict and what many immigrant or refugee children in the U.S. have experienced without becoming graphic or scary. A book I would absolutely include in my classroom library as a teaching tool and book for students to contribute to reread.

Follow a family through the fears and challenges faced when their whole world gets turned upside down. While not a typical topic for a children’s picture book, I was so impressed how the author was able to share the horrors in a soft enough way for children to be able to read it and sympathize. The illustrations are bright and colorful, so they will appeal to children. At times, the use of adjectives seemed forced to try and create an image, but this may be part of a translation concern. Overall, this book takes a personal look at an all too familiar story that children should not have to be aware of, but are.

This is a beautifully done picture book about the Nigerian Civil War, told from the point of view of a child. It describes what life was like before the war and how the consequences snuck up on the family until they had to flee to the safety of a camp. In the end, we learn about the extent of the devastation and the attempts of the country to recover.
I have never been to Nigeria but we learned in school about the amazing culture. I had a friend from Nigeria whose family was separated after more recent events. I highly recommend this so children can learn about how families in other parts of the world are similar in so many ways, even when they go through horrible events.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this