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With Remembrance Day always remembered in most primary schools I wanted to share a few picture books that I've used with children - with themes linked to conflict and war.

For regular readers of this blog you will know that I have a passion for the power of picture books; to engage, entertain but also as an effective way to explore deep themes, with even the youngest children.

Children will already have some strong views on hurtful behaviour and conflict from their own experiences and this is a good starting point but using books like these offers the opportunity to stretch and challenge their current thinking.  I’ve also added some Starter Questions you might want to use when you are reading / after reading.

TWO MONSTERS by David McKee

A modern classic that demonstrates what can happen when insults are quickly exchanged between the monsters living on either side of the mountain.

Possible Starter Questions:

•  How do words start a fight?
• Which words should we never use?
• Are words or fists more hurtful?
• What does it mean to think before you speak?  How easy is it to do that?
• Are there some things that we should argue about?
•  Is it always wrong to argue?

The Quarreling Book by Charlotte Zolotow

A rainy day starts with Mr James forgetting to kiss his wife goodbye - which leads to a ‘domino effect’ of bad behaviour in the family. It takes the family dog to become the catalyst for change and thankfully the day ends on a happier note.

This short story easily lends itself to exploring the themes of how we should ‘own’ our own behaviour, the cause and consequences of what we say and do and how things can get out of control.

Starters for Thinking might include:

• What should we do if someone is mean to us?
• Who is responsible for bad behaviour?
• Where does bad (and good) behaviour come from?
• What is a ‘bad mood’? What causes them?  Can we ‘fight’ them off?

Grumpy Little King by Michel Streich

The themes of war and power are dealt with in this comical picture book about a greedy king who starts a war to become famous – but things don’t quite work out as he and his advisors had planned

Possible Starter Questions

• Are there good reasons for ‘taking sides’?
• If you are a king are you different and special?
• Can kings behave differently to other people?
• Should you always fight for what you want?
• What is wrong with a king wanting more land?

If you have any other picture books you have used with children on this theme please get in touch:  [email protected] and I'll share them.

Thanks Sue Dixon

Here are a few more you might want to look at: