Synopses & Reviews
Based on a true account of a football game played between the German and English troops in no-man's land on Christmas Day in 1914 during World War I, this book tells the story of four young men who have recently enlisted and have found that war is not as glamorous as they had once thought. The young men get to realize their dream of playing football for England when the English and German sides hold a ceasefire on Christmas Day and they play a friendly game against one another. This special new edition with beautiful color artwork is a touching and emotive story for children and adults to treasure.
Review
"Crammed with concrete details and permeated with emotion. . . . Artwork shimmers with the luster of memory and fellow-feeling; a gentle gleam rises even from military hardware, which serves to both soften and highlight the horror of war. History springs to life in this admirable work." —Publishers Weekly
Review
"A masterpiece." —Times Literary Supplement
Synopsis
A partly fictionalised account of three men's involvement in the true story of the football game played between German and English troops in no man's land on Christmas Day in 1914. This book begins with the game in the fields of Suffolk, and follows their journey to the fields of Flanders and the realisation of their dream to play for England.
About the Author
Michael Foreman is a Kate Greenaway Award- and Smarties Book Prize-winning illustrator who has worked on a vast range of children's books. He is the author and illustrator of several books, including Cat in the Manger, Classic Fairy Tales, and Hello World. He won the Smarties Prize and was a commended runner-up for the Greenaway Medal for War Game.