World War One books for children and teens
Children’s, young adult and teen books about WW1. Diving into the history of World War I, this collection of recommendations spans an array of genres, from visually engaging picture books to thought-provoking fiction and informative nonfiction.
Cultivating critical thinking and historical empathy, the vivid illustrations of the War Horse Picture Book and the gripping narratives of The Skylarks’ War serve as catalysts for immersive learning experiences. Dominic Sandbrook’s The First World War (Adventures in Time) takes this a step further by presenting the war through the eyes of characters from diverse nationalities, providing students with a multi-faceted understanding of this pivotal moment in history. Whether hot seating and empathising with the characters in The Silver Donkey or embracing tales of friendship in Stubby: A True Story of Friendship, young readers will have a passport to the past.
There’s a range of fiction, nonfiction, true stories, picture books, graphic novels, poetry and diaries suitable for school libraries, independent reading and teaching in KS1, KS2, KS3 and KS4. This WW1 list features books by Terry Deary, Hilary Robinson and Martin Impey, Michaela Morgan, Berlie Doherty, Dominic Sandbrook, John Boyne, Theresa Breslin, Tom Palmer, Michael Morpurgo and Hilary McKay.
World War 1 books for children and teens – our recommendations
WW1 picture books
War Horse Picture Book by Michael Morpurgo, illustrated by Tom Clohosy Cole. 
Stubby: A True Story of Friendship by Michael Foreman. 
Vlad and the First World War by Kate Cunningham, illustrated by Sam Cunningham. 
The Story of the First World War for Children (1914-1918) by John Malam. 
The Story of World War One by Richard Brassey. 
Peace Lily by Hilary Robinson and Martin Impey. 
Where the Poppies Now Grow by Hilary Robinson and Martin Impey. 
Flo of the Somme by Hilary Robinson and Martin Impey. 
The Christmas Truce by Hilary Robinson and Martin Impey. 
Poppy Field by Michael Morpurgo, illustrated by Michael Foreman. 
The Amazing Tale of Ali Pasha by Michael Foreman. 
A Song for Will by Hilary Robinson and Martin Impey. WW1 fiction books for KS2
Daisy and the Unknown Warrior by Tony Bradman, illustrated by Tania Rex. 
Biggles of the Fighter Squadron by W. E. Johns. 
Charlotte Sometimes by Penelope Farmer. 
Tilly’s Promise by Linda Newbery. 
What Are We Fighting For? by Brian Moses and Roger Stevens. 
The Silver Hand by Terry Deary. 
A Medal for Leroy by Michael Morpurgo. 
The Secret of Nightingale Wood by Lucy Strange. 
When the War Came Home by Lesley Parr. 
Opal Plumstead by Jacqueline Wilson. 
Evie’s War by Holly Webb. 
The Skylarks’ War by Hilary McKay. 
Over the Line by Tom Palmer. 
Armistice Runner by Tom Palmer. 
The Runaways by Megan Rix. 
A Soldier’s Friend by Megan Rix. 
Stories of World War One by Tony Bradman. 
The Silver Donkey by Sonya Hartnett. 
The Secret Message by John Townsend. 
Respect by Michaela Morgan. 
War Is Over by David Almond. WW1 fiction books for KS3 and teens
War Horse by Michael Morpurgo. Also available as a playscript suitable for KS3 & KS4.
Poems from the First World War by Morgan. 
White Feather by Catherine MacPhail and David MacPhail. 
The Foreshadowing by Marcus Sedgwick. 
Valentine Joe by Rebecca Stevens. 
Remembrance by Theresa Breslin. 
Listen to the Moon by Michael Morpurgo. 
Eleven Eleven by Paul Dowswell. 
Ghost Soldier by Theresa Breslin. 
The Shell House by Linda Newbery. 
Stay where you are and then Leave by John Boyne. 
The Last Post by Keith Campion. The First World War (Adventures in Time) by Dominic Sandbrook
This historical fiction is cleverly crafted, presenting WWI from a different perspective in each chapter. Dominic Sandbrook portrays the story of war through the eyes of German, English, Austrian, French, Italian, and Russian characters in a carefully detailed historical narrative. This narrative nonfiction is a masterpiece of historical empathy, making it ideal for teachers searching for a more in-depth class reader. It’s a one-of-a-kind text that will appeal to Y6 literacy teachers as well as KS3 history teachers, and it will help students comprehend and relate to various perspectives and experiences of the conflict.
WW1 nonfiction books
World War I by Kindersley Dorling and Simon Adams. 
World War I by Dorling Kindersley and R. G. Grant. 
Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales by Nathan Hale. 
Black Poppies: The Story of Britain’s Black Community in the First World War by Stephen Bourne. 
War Girls by Adèle Geras, Melvin Burgess, Theresa Breslin, Anne Fine, Berlie Doherty, Mary Hooper, Rowena House, Matt Whyman and Sally Nicholls. 
Weird World of Wonders: World War I by Sir Tony Robinson. 
A Secret Diary of the First World War by Gill Arbuthnott. 
Archie’s War by Marcia Williams. 
Walter Tull’s Scrapbook by Michaela Morgan. 
World War I by Brian Williams and Dorling Kindersley Publishing. 
See Inside the First World War by Rob Lloyd Jones. 
The National Archives: World War I Unclassified by Nick Hunter. 
Frightful First World War by Terry Deary. Click the buttons below to purchase all of the books in this World War 1 book list, as well as class sets of any of these books and many more, from Bookshop.org UK. Or buy the 20 most popular titles from this list from Amazon – ideal for gifts or your classroom library.
Buy from UK.Bookshop.Org Buy from Amazon.co.uk
Disclosure: If you buy books using the buttons above: we may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops; as an Amazon Associate schoolreadinglist.co.uk earns from qualifying purchases.
Schools & teachers: please respect copyright and don’t copy our World War 1 list. If you find our book recommendations useful, please consider sharing on social media or linking to this page instead. Thanks.
World War 1 resources for teachers
- The British Red Cross runs an engaging teaching package for KS2 students to learn about medicine during the war. Operation Ouch features cross-curricular lessons about the Unknown Soldier, first aid, explosions, and making poppies.
- National Geographic Kids has a free series of activity ideas and downloads to support teaching WW1 in KS1 and KS2.
- Author Tom Palmer offers a superb range of literacy resources for KS2 and KS3 classrooms to support the teaching of his novels. Highly recommended.
- The World War website offers a diverse range of resources from an American perspective suitable for KS2 upwards. The videos, guides and first-hand sources include sections on Cher Ami, the Heroic Pigeon of World War I, Modern Gay Rights and WWI and The Little War: Exploring the Life of a Child During WWI.
- BBC Teach offers a comprehensive and engaging range of video packs for KS3 and GCSE history, including wartime refugees, art and camouflage, war poetry and the long-term effects of peace.
- The UK Parliament website features free-to-download packs for KS3 teachers on WW1 speeches, votes for women and Suffragettes.
- They Shall Not Grow Old is a BBC Teach resource aimed at KS3 students, including teaching resources covering themes of reconciliation, the impact of war and friendship.
- The Western Front Association offers complete teaching sequences for KS3, including lesson plans and assessments.
