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Bombs and Blackberries
A short illustrated play set in World War Two, perfect for class reading as well as performance, written by Julia Donaldson, author of the modern classic The Gruffalo. Perfect for the 75th Anniversary of D-Day in 2019.
World War Two has been declared and the Chivers children are sent to the safety of the countryside. They are delighted to be brought back home when it looks like the Germans aren't going to invade after all. But the air-raid siren goes off and this time it's frighteningly real.
This dramatic and touching play brings Manchester during the Second World War and its people to life, and provides a variety of opportunities for school classes to explore both historical and literacy topics in an involving and creative setting. Also includes helpful tips on staging and costume.
'This touching play brings to life the Second World War in a very accessible way for junior children' - Books for Keeps
Julia Donaldson (Author)
Julia Donaldson is the outrageously talented, prize-winning author of the world's best-loved picture books, and was the 2011-2013 UK Children's Laureate. Her books include Room on the Broom, Stick Man, What the Ladybird Heard and the modern classics The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's Child which have sold 17 million copies worldwide and have been translated into 70 languages. Julia also writes fiction as well as poems, plays and songs and her brilliant live children's shows are always in demand. Julia and her husband Malcolm divide their time between Sussex and Edinburgh.
Thomas Docherty (Illustrator)
Thomas Docherty is an acclaimed author and illustrator of children's books including Little Boat, Big Scary Monster and The Driftwood Ball. He also illustrated The Snatchabook, written by his wife Helen, which has been shortlisted for several awards in the UK and US and been translated into 17 languages.
World War Two has been declared and the Chivers children are sent to the safety of the countryside. They are delighted to be brought back home when it looks like the Germans aren't going to invade after all. But the air-raid siren goes off and this time it's frighteningly real.
This dramatic and touching play brings Manchester during the Second World War and its people to life, and provides a variety of opportunities for school classes to explore both historical and literacy topics in an involving and creative setting. Also includes helpful tips on staging and costume.
'This touching play brings to life the Second World War in a very accessible way for junior children' - Books for Keeps
Julia Donaldson (Author)
Julia Donaldson is the outrageously talented, prize-winning author of the world's best-loved picture books, and was the 2011-2013 UK Children's Laureate. Her books include Room on the Broom, Stick Man, What the Ladybird Heard and the modern classics The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's Child which have sold 17 million copies worldwide and have been translated into 70 languages. Julia also writes fiction as well as poems, plays and songs and her brilliant live children's shows are always in demand. Julia and her husband Malcolm divide their time between Sussex and Edinburgh.
Thomas Docherty (Illustrator)
Thomas Docherty is an acclaimed author and illustrator of children's books including Little Boat, Big Scary Monster and The Driftwood Ball. He also illustrated The Snatchabook, written by his wife Helen, which has been shortlisted for several awards in the UK and US and been translated into 17 languages.
- GenresChildrens
48 pages, Hardcover
First published January 10, 2003
2 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
About the author
Julia Donaldson
1,232 books1,911 followersGrowing up
I grew up in a tall Victorian London house with my parents, grandmother, aunt, uncle, younger sister Mary and cat Geoffrey (who was really a prince in disguise. Mary and I would argue about which of us would marry him).
Mary and I were always creating imaginary characters and mimicking real ones, and I used to write shows and choreograph ballets for us. A wind-up gramophone wafted out Chopin waltzes.
I studied Drama and French at Bristol University, where I met Malcolm, a guitar-playing medic to whom I’m now married.
Busking and books
Before Malcolm and I had our three sons we used to go busking together and I would write special songs for each country; the best one was in Italian about pasta.
The busking led to a career in singing and songwriting, mainly for children’s television. I became an expert at writing to order on such subjects as guinea pigs, window-cleaning and horrible smells. “We want a song about throwing crumpled-up wrapping paper into the bin” was a typical request from the BBC.
I also continued to write “grown-up” songs and perform them in folk clubs and on the radio, and have recently released two CDs of these songs.
One of my television songs, A SQUASH AND A SQUEEZE, was made into a book in 1993, with illustrations by the wonderful Axel Scheffler. It was great to hold the book in my hand without it vanishing in the air the way the songs did. This prompted me to unearth some plays I’d written for a school reading group, and since then I’ve had 20 plays published. Most children love acting and it’s a tremendous way to improve their reading.
My real breakthrough was THE GRUFFALO, again illustrated by Axel. We work separately - he’s in London and I’m in Glasgow - but he sends me letters with lovely funny pictures on the envelopes.
I really enjoy writing verse, even though it can be fiendishly difficult. I used to memorise poems as a child and it means a lot to me when parents tell me their child can recite one of my books.
Funnily enough, I find it harder to write not in verse, though I feel I am now getting the hang of it! My novel THE GIANTS AND THE JONESES is going to be made into a film by the same team who made the Harry Potter movies, and I have written three books of stories about the anarchic PRINCESS MIRROR-BELLE who appears from the mirror and disrupts the life of an otherwise ordinary eight-year-old. I have just finished writing a novel for teenagers.
When I’m not writing I am often performing, at book festivals and in theatres. I really enjoy getting the children in the audience to help me act out the stories and sing the songs. When Malcolm can take time off from the hospital he and his guitar come too. and it feels as if we’ve come full circle - back to busking.
I grew up in a tall Victorian London house with my parents, grandmother, aunt, uncle, younger sister Mary and cat Geoffrey (who was really a prince in disguise. Mary and I would argue about which of us would marry him).
Mary and I were always creating imaginary characters and mimicking real ones, and I used to write shows and choreograph ballets for us. A wind-up gramophone wafted out Chopin waltzes.
I studied Drama and French at Bristol University, where I met Malcolm, a guitar-playing medic to whom I’m now married.
Busking and books
Before Malcolm and I had our three sons we used to go busking together and I would write special songs for each country; the best one was in Italian about pasta.
The busking led to a career in singing and songwriting, mainly for children’s television. I became an expert at writing to order on such subjects as guinea pigs, window-cleaning and horrible smells. “We want a song about throwing crumpled-up wrapping paper into the bin” was a typical request from the BBC.
I also continued to write “grown-up” songs and perform them in folk clubs and on the radio, and have recently released two CDs of these songs.
One of my television songs, A SQUASH AND A SQUEEZE, was made into a book in 1993, with illustrations by the wonderful Axel Scheffler. It was great to hold the book in my hand without it vanishing in the air the way the songs did. This prompted me to unearth some plays I’d written for a school reading group, and since then I’ve had 20 plays published. Most children love acting and it’s a tremendous way to improve their reading.
My real breakthrough was THE GRUFFALO, again illustrated by Axel. We work separately - he’s in London and I’m in Glasgow - but he sends me letters with lovely funny pictures on the envelopes.
I really enjoy writing verse, even though it can be fiendishly difficult. I used to memorise poems as a child and it means a lot to me when parents tell me their child can recite one of my books.
Funnily enough, I find it harder to write not in verse, though I feel I am now getting the hang of it! My novel THE GIANTS AND THE JONESES is going to be made into a film by the same team who made the Harry Potter movies, and I have written three books of stories about the anarchic PRINCESS MIRROR-BELLE who appears from the mirror and disrupts the life of an otherwise ordinary eight-year-old. I have just finished writing a novel for teenagers.
When I’m not writing I am often performing, at book festivals and in theatres. I really enjoy getting the children in the audience to help me act out the stories and sing the songs. When Malcolm can take time off from the hospital he and his guitar come too. and it feels as if we’ve come full circle - back to busking.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 3, 2019
An alternative to the usual story, this beautifully illustrated play, set in WW2, tells the story of the Chivers family. There are 6 scenes, 11 locations and 29 parts in total with additional children able to join in with the chants, games and songs. Exploring evacuation and the difficult decisions families had to make, this play will work as a story to read as a whole class or perform on stage. Exciting, adventurous, factual and engaging. This is a great opportunity for children to learn about an alternative genre of writting, with a very different layout and the additon of stage directions and scene descriptions. It allows the children to practice active lisitening, turn taking and have a go at percieving the characters emotion and tone.
A great cross-curriculum resource encoperating English, History, Drama and Music to be used across KS2.
A great cross-curriculum resource encoperating English, History, Drama and Music to be used across KS2.
March 18, 2022
I read the newer edition with illustrations by Thomas Docherty.
The illustrations were gorgeous. As a book of a play for children to read, it worked beautifully with the additional character art, scenes and settings. The layouts of the short sheet music for songs within the pages was incredibly helpful as well.
Overall the play itself is just a bit boring though. It's such a great idea with so much potential - it just felt like it needed a bit more. But that could always be added by children or a teacher.
I do think it would be a wonderful project for a year 6 class especially, giving them the chance to be the creative directors and letting them decide on any parts to adapt, set design, costume, music and sounds, etc. using the book as a base to work with.
The illustrations were gorgeous. As a book of a play for children to read, it worked beautifully with the additional character art, scenes and settings. The layouts of the short sheet music for songs within the pages was incredibly helpful as well.
Overall the play itself is just a bit boring though. It's such a great idea with so much potential - it just felt like it needed a bit more. But that could always be added by children or a teacher.
I do think it would be a wonderful project for a year 6 class especially, giving them the chance to be the creative directors and letting them decide on any parts to adapt, set design, costume, music and sounds, etc. using the book as a base to work with.
December 4, 2020
I really like Julia Donaldson's stories. This one is no exception. Such an important event in history, I am glad that she decided to create this little play. The illustrations are great as usual and the storyline is an easy way to teach children about the evacuations of children to the country to keep them safe.
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February 5, 2021Brilliant play-script about WW2. Ideal for a primary class assembly.
March 7, 2024
Gorgeous illustrations!
November 4, 2025
Very nice read, easy to follow on whats said. Its a good way of staying focused. The first time in a while its kept me from fidgeting while readjng.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews