• Shrapnel Boys: Life on the Home Front Museum Trail will be running from 24 May to 1 June

• The national family trail is inspired by new book from award winning children’s author Jenny Pearson

• Trail is organised by Kids in Museums and Usborne.

Birmingham Museums is joining forces with Kids In Museums to host a family-friendly museum trail this May half-term, exploring life on the home front for children in World War II.

Shrapnel Boys: Life on the Home Front Museum Trail, organised by Kids in Museums and Usborne, will be running at Aston Hall, Blakesley Hall, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Museum Collection Centre and Sarehole Mill from 24 May to 1 June 2025.

Coming just after the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, when celebrations erupted around the world to mark the end of World War II in Europe on 8 May 1945, this national family trail is inspired by Shrapnel Boys, a forthcoming novel by award-winning children’s author Jenny Pearson.

Shrapnel Boys is a novel about the friendship and courage of a group of young boys living through the Second World War.

When war comes to London in 1939, Ronnie Smith is scared and excited: scared of the bombs that fall at night, but excited to race his friends to collect the best bits of shrapnel every morning.

But for Ronnie, the battles aren’t just in the sky and on the streets. They’re at school and at home too. His little brother is up to no good with a secret job and dangerous new friends, and Ronnie’s worried he’s getting himself into big trouble.

Free activity sheets will be available to enable visitors to explore what life was like for children on the home front and search for hidden objects around the museums.

Children can also design their own VE Day bunting. One winning design will receive:

• A signed copy of Shrapnel Boys by Jenny Pearson
• A National Art Pass (plus kids) courtesy of Art Fund – giving one adult plus children under 16 free entry to hundreds of museums, galleries, and historic houses across the UK, plus 50% off major exhibitions.

Jennifer Lockley, visitor experience events and project manager at Birmingham Museums Trust, said:

“We are delighted to be hosting Shrapnel Boys: Life on the Home Front Museum Trail, inspired by a child’s life on the home front during World War II.

“We want all children, young people and families to feel that they are welcomed, involved and belong in museums, so that every child and young person can be part of the experiences and opportunities a museum offers.

“We look forward to welcoming visitors to our sites during May half term to enjoy this drop-in, family friendly trail.”

Full competition terms and conditions are available on the Kids in Museums website.

More information about opening hours and half term activities at Birmingham Museums can be found on our What's On page.