NEW YORK — Sean Ono Lennon, along with collaborators from the Oscar-winning animated short film “War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko,” is set to share a new adaptation of their work through a picture book.
Viking Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Young Readers, revealed that “War Is Over!” is scheduled to hit bookshelves on November 4. Mirroring the film released in 2023, this book recounts the tale of a wartime carrier pigeon that brings inspiration to soldiers fighting on both sides.
Drawing its roots from “Happy Xmas (War Is Over),” the timeless holiday anti-war song released by John Lennon and Yoko Ono in 1971, the project holds personal connections for Sean, who was born four years following the song’s debut. Sean remarked, “The tale of our pigeon felt like it needed to be put into an illustrated book. Our wish is that parents will be able to share this story with their kids. War is a difficult subject, and we hope this book will serve as a conversation starter for families and friends.”
Sean Lennon took on the role of writer alongside Dave Mullins, the writer-director of the original short, and producer Brad Booker to craft this narrative. The book’s visual journey is brought to life by artist Max Narciso’s illustrations.