The Way Back Home

Story

Once there was a boy who found an aeroplane in his cupboard. He flew higher and higher until his aeroplane ran out of fuel. Before the boy knew it he was stuck on the moon! Only to find that he was not alone.

Why we chose it

This beautifully illustrated picture book puts two endearing characters in an unusual predicament to tell a sweet and simple story about loyalty and cooperation.

Where it came from

Oliver Jeffers is a picture book creator born in Belfast. His illustrations make his books come alive and he has won multiple awards, including a BAFTA for an animated film based on the Lost and Found book featuring the same little boy.

Where it went next

The Way Back Home won the Bisto Book of the Year Award in 2008 and was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal.

Associated stories

The same boy features in further adventures in How to Catch a Star, Lost and Found and Up and Down. Other books written and illustrated by Jeffers include The Incredible Book Eating Boy, The Great Paper Caper, The Heart and the Bottle, Stuck, This Moose Belongs to Me and The Fate of Fausto.

Jeffers has also illustrated books for other writers, including The Day the Crayons Quit, The Day the Crayons Came Home and The Crayons’ Christmas by Drew Daywelt and Imaginary Fred by Eoin Colfer.

In the museum

Find the story in the Night Safe in Small Worlds.