Whilst selecting books to include in the current Conflict in Children’s Literature display I was struck by the prevalence of works by one author. The writer in question is Michael Morpurgo and I could find books by him to cover several of the major themes of the display.

War Horse, Private Peaceful (First World War, 1914-1918), A Medal for Leroy, Little Manfred, Friend or Foe (different aspects of the Second World War, 1939-1945), The Mozart Question (the Holocaust), An Elephant in the Garden (the effect of the war on German civilians), The Kites are Flying! (Arab-Israeli Conflict) and Shadow (The Afghan War 2001- ).

I tried to include books which covered more recent conflicts such as the Lebanese War and the Falklands War. The plight of displaced persons, refugees and the child soldiers are also subjects of novels and picture books. Controversial subjects such as
conscientious objectors and the experiences of the enemy (children in Germany in the Second World War) help to provide a rounded view of the way children can be affected by conflict.

There is also a variety of material available in the Curriculum Resources non-fiction section.

When you visit the library take a copy of the Reading List which includes the titles on display and other picture books and novels.

2014 is the Centenary of the start of the First World War and new books will be added to the Curriculum Resources fiction and non-fiction sections as they appear.