What Happened on Thursday? is a remarkable tool for educating children about global issues, particularly the impact of war, while also nurturing empathy and understanding. It beautifully conveys the importance of love, hope, and resilience even in challenging times. The illustrations are stunning and add depth to the storytelling.

I would enthusiastically recommend this captivating children's book as a thoughtful gift for young readers. It's a delightful and meaningful read that definitely left a lasting impression.

This book does a great job teaching kids about war. War does not just affect adults. Children and families of all shades unfortunately deal with it. The illustrations are beautiful. The text was easy to get through.

What Happened on Thursday? is a poignant children's book that captures the essence of family love amidst the chaos of war. Written by Nigerian author Ayo Oyeku and beautifully illustrated by Lydia Mba, this book offers a glimpse into the Nigerian Civil War through the innocent eyes of a child.

The story unfolds on a Thursday, the beginning and end of the Nigerian Civil War, marking a significant turning point for the family at the center of the narrative. Through the child protagonist's perspective, readers witness the upheaval and displacement caused by the conflict as the family loses their home and embarks on a journey through a war-torn country.

Despite the hardships they face, the unwavering love and resilience of the family shine through. Oyeku's poetic prose captures the emotional depth of their experiences, while Mba's sensitive illustrations vividly depict the challenges and moments of tenderness amidst the turmoil.

As the family settles in a camp for displaced persons, the story emphasizes the profound impact of war on innocent lives and underscores the importance of empathy and compassion in building a more peaceful world. Through its powerful storytelling and evocative artwork, What Happened on Thursday?" offers a moving exploration of the human cost of conflict and the enduring strength of familial bonds.

This book is not only a captivating read for children but also serves as a valuable tool for fostering empathy and understanding of global issues. It reminds readers of all ages of the importance of cherishing love, hope, and resilience even in the darkest of times.

The illustrations enhance the story of how war effects children. While the realities of war are harsh, this book breaks it down in a way that is both impactful and appropriate for a child.

This book records important historical significance that children must be aware of. There is power and comfort in being heard and seen, in being known by the world and valued for who you are, many innocent children were killed in wars, including silent genocides in Africa such as the ongoing on in Congo. I wished the book was longer, it is a perfect pick for 5-9 year olds, and I would love to see it distributed in schools.

The illustrations are beyond beautiful, thank you Lydia for visualizing the characters so beautifully.

One ordinary Thursday, the family began hearing about war. Things were scary, and they became scarier when the fighting reached their home and they were forced to flee. They did their best to survive and keep on hoping.

This book has a good balance of solemnity and gentleness that make it an ideal way to introduce young readers to the realities of fear and war. There are many great talking points, but most importantly, this book brings a wholesome sense of empathy to help young readers understand what it's like to be caught up in a war that has nothing to do with them and still find hope despite the suffering and fear. Beautifully written and illustrated, this book is an important reflection on history and what would look like to do better in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Fantastic picture book explaining the Nigerian civil war.

I would love to see more picture books like this of more recent conflicts as I teach a lot of refugee students who want to see themselves reflected in literature and they do not always understand what they have experienced.

Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Crossing Kids for the eARC.

This book does a great job of teaching kids about a war that they may have never heard of while also handling the severity of the topic with grace. I think that reading books like this encourages children to use empathy for those that they may be different from. These are the kinds of book that I feel like every child should have the ability to be exposed to

Important representation of war that is easy-to-understand. Introduces the concept of change and how the characters adapt. A devastating story filled with hope. Compelling and realistic narrative. Opens discussions about war in a coaxing way. Simply impactful. Effective illustrations that glide through the fast-paced plot. Overall, a very good read.

What a powerful and eye opening story which introduces children to the realities of living in a war torn country.

The story is told in such a delicate and sensitive way so as to educate your child.

I think based on the subject matter I would recommend reading this one with your child. That way you can have open discussions around any questions they may have or to discuss their feelings.

I found it very hard to rate children's books so everything is a 5 star read for me!!
I really loved this book, the illustrations are so beautiful and captivating that I found myself smiling through every page I read.
I loved how the book portrait the war in a meaningful way that can teach the children how to cope with the war and all their feelings about it.
Amazing cute book.

"What Happened on Thursday?" is a captivating children's fiction book set against the backdrop of the Nigerian war. The author skillfully portrays the challenges faced by a child and their family during this tumultuous time, making it relatable and educational for young readers. The theme stands out, offering a unique perspective on historical events. The illustrations are not only beautiful but also enhance the storytelling experience.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to delve into this thought-provoking tale. It's a commendable addition to children's literature, fostering empathy and understanding of complex historical contexts.

This is the story of the Nigerian Civil War through the eyes of a child. Another book to be added to a home library for the history and the emotions. It is so easy for us to become complacent with war all around us. I often think of the civilians and soldiers when I hear these stories on the news. This story made me FEEL. I felt all the emotions experienced by this child during the war. The illustrations are amazing. I was blessed with a free ARC, and I’m voluntarily leaving this review. Highly recommend.

War, the consequences of war, how it impacts the nations and their citizens - we have heard about it in the news. We live in times where almost at one point or another there is war going on sone land or other, be it Palestine or Ukraine, ISIS or Boko Haram, citizens of these places have suffered and terrorist groups have caused mayhem in their lands.

While we hear of casualties in numbers - hundreds, thousands, millions - have we ever stopped to wonder about the life of each of those people. How do they feel? What have they gone through?

What happened on Thursday is a beautiful book that gives you a glimpse of the life of a little boy during the Nigerian civil war and how it impacted him and his immediate environment. This is a simple book, not very complex, but it makes you think and that’s really powerful for a children’s book.

Extra points for the illustrations.

Rating: 5.5/5

Such an important book with a very important - and still age approbiate - content. I could see this book be a really good tool to discuss war and it's impact on children around the world. It can help facilitate a discussion about this topic with children who are themselves refugees - or second-generation immigrants whoose parents fled from war. It can also be a great tool to facilitate this type of conversation with children, who have not themselves encountered war but may have classmates or other peers who have.

What Happened on Thursday? exposes the profound cost war has on a family. The Nigerian Civil War began on a Thursday and ended on a Thursday two and a half years later. The book narrates the war's effect on one family whose home was in ruins after "thunder." They traveled across the war-torn country and finally came to a place of safety – a refugee camp. The young boy describes the effects two years of running from the war has had on them. The children have swollen bellies, and people are weak and sick. But through it all, the boy's family have had love for each other to help keep them going. This is a serious but important book. It is gentle enough for young children but shows the horrible effects wars have on ordinary people not involved in the conflict. The back of the book has information about the Nigerian Civil War and an emotional Author's Note advocating for peace. Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book provided by Delacorte Press via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is such an easy to read, kid friendly introduction to a hard topic. I had no idea about the topic myself and the information at the back is a great jumping off point for even adults

As a Nigerian-American whose parents were affected by the Biafran war, this book instantly tugged on the heartstrings. For a children's book, I think it did a wonderful job of introducing the topic of war and its effects while holding space for the empathetic factor for kids who may not be able to relate specifically.

What Happened on Thursday? written by Ayo Oyeku, tells the story of the Nigerian Civil War through the eyes of a child.

I feel that this book did a wonderful job sharing how a child might be affected by a war, and how they might perceive what was going on.

I loved the writing and illustrations. I also feel like I did not know much about the Nigerian Civil War, so I am glad I was able to learn a little bit about it as well. I definitely recommend this for younger readers to read with their families. Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher and author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The illustrations are bright, colorful and exciting I liked the artwork! I think it's a good book for children to understand what their life could be like if war came. The note at the end with additional information is an excellent resource to use to educate children about these events in African history and to create empathy for people of any nationality who have experienced the privations of war.