British Museum: The Bayeux Tapestry: The Graphic Novel

With the Bayeux Tapestry currently on loan from France and displayed at The British Museum, (Sept 2026-July 2027) The Bayeux Tapestry: The Graphic Novel is a perfect way of helping children understand this incredible historic artefact.

The Bayeux Tapestry: The Graphic Novel is a modern, child-friendly retelling of the dramatic events of 1066. Written by bestselling author Martin Howard and illustrated by Javi de Castro, this book helps bring history alive.

Inspired by the original Bayeux Tapestry, the Norman Conquest is depicted in a super, colourful comic-style format. This retelling of such a well-known event combines historical facts with some rather cheeky narration. Created to support Key Stage 2 History, this brilliant book has been written with the help of museum experts to ensure the historical accuracy of the events shown by the tapestry, while also ensuring that it is engaging and entertaining for young children.

I particularly liked how the reader's attention is drawn to some of the smaller details, such as the accusatory pointing fingers, the wavy hair of the galloping horsemen, men with colour changing moustaches and the shocking number of men who appear to be picking their noses! The illustrator has reproduced these scenes in a way that if a reader was lucky enough to visit the tapestry, then they will no doubt take great delight in spotting.

For all its light-hearted humour, this book is clearly well researched with plenty of details to think about, discuss and encourage further investigation. An ideal classroom resource or an equally enjoyable independent read, this graphic novel offers a fresh and exciting way for children to explore the Bayeux Tapestry and the Norman Conquest.

112 pages / Reviewed by Sam, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 7+

With the Bayeux Tapestry currently on loan from France and displayed in an exhibition at The British Museum, The Bayeux Tapestry: The Graphic Novel offers the perfect way of engaging children (and adults!) with, and helping them understand, this incredible historic artifact.

This is one of those brilliant books which works on so many levels! Not only does it give the history of the tapestry (making it clear that it is not actually a tapestry, but embroidered work!) and explain the story it tells with an irreverent and engaging sense of humour, it also draws attention to many little details which - if lucky enough to be visiting the tapestry - readers can take great delight in spotting!

The graphic novel format works brilliantly as the tapestry itself is like a very long comic strip! The illustrator has done an incredible job of capturing various scenes with the author's commentary drawing attention to some of the more bizarre aspects ('weird-looking trees'), mocking people for looking like they are picking their noses and commenting on colour-changing moustaches!

For all the humour, the book is obviously really well researched with plenty of details to think about and to provoke discussion and further investigation. A summary of the story and information about the key people are provided at the end of the book, ensuring understanding of the events that took place. The succinct (and always humorous!) text is perfect for all ages, breathing new life into a story which we all think we know!

112 pages / Reviewed by Sue Wilsher, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 7+