There is a new Beatles children's book available just in time for the December holidays. War Is Over is the book adaptation of the Academy Award-winning short animated film of the same name. This book is based on the Christmas song by John and Yoko and was created by Sean Lennon, Brad Booker, and Dave Mullins.
Many of us have never had the opportunity to see the film because it has not been streaming anywhere, but that is going to change on December 1. The story tells of two soldiers who are fighting on opposite sides. They participate in playing a chess game anonymously by passing notes through a messenger pigeon. A fight breaks out, and on the field, the two chess players come face to face. It is a very moving story, and the illustrations are beautifully done.
Beatle fans will appreciate the nods to Beatlesisms, such as the pigeon named "Julia" and one of the soldiers called "Winston."
In the afterward, Sean states that he hopes "this book will serve as a conversation starter for families and friends." The topic of war is very heavy for a children's book, and this book isn't meant to be one for a young person to read independently and put back on the shelf. I believe it should be read together as a family and used as a springboard to talk about hate and war. The book seems to be written at a 3rd-grade level, and I wouldn't read it with any child younger than 8.
As I stated, it is a beautiful book and very well done. It would make a great gift even for those who are not John Lennon fans.
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