Michael Foreman returns to the theme of war and football in Billy the Kid (Pavilion Books pound;12.99). He teams up with a regular collaborator, Michael Morpurgo, to create a thrilling and moving story about a Chelsea footballer who gets caught up in the ravages of the Second World War, with the focus on the Beautiful Game as a common bond that can link nations and generations. Chelsea Pensioner Billy is 80 when he book opens; he revisits memories of triumph on the football pitch, his enduring support for Chelsea FC and the terrible losses in his life. Foreman’s shimmering watercolours and line, so agile and expressive, are a perfect match for Morpurgo’s assured and memorable narrative. This is a book that will be treasured by any child or teacher learning about the Second World War.
Elaine Williams