Message from Sean Ono Lennon

When my parents released “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” in 1971, it was unlike any Christmas song that had been written before. More than just a holiday jingle, it was a multimedia political campaign for peace, with press conferences, full-page newspaper ads, and billboards placed in twelve major cities around the globe. At the time, John Lennon and Yoko Ono had committed their lives to activism, and their message resonated deeply with a generation traumatized by America’s ongoing war in Vietnam. The song went on to become a perennial holiday classic.

When I was asked to help make a music video for ‘Happy Xmas (War Is Over)’ many years later, I was hesitant, to say the least. The song is a masterpiece, after all, and I couldn’t imagine adding anything meaningful to it. While reading through a pile of treatments submitted by various filmmakers, I realized the song really didn’t need a traditional music video. Imagining a family in soft focus smiling around a Christmas tree felt uncharacteristically saccharine. I began to think that I didn’t want to make a music video, but that maybe I wanted to make a short film instead. That way, we could take our time with a narrative that fully explored the themes in the music. Such a serious song deserved a serious film.

I reached out to a friend at Pixar, and he introduced me to Dave Mullins and Brad Booker, who had recently started the production company ElectroLeague. As soon as we met, our creative synergy was apparent. Within an hour or so, we had come up with the outline of what eventually became the film War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko.

Soon after we started preproduction, Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine. We were suddenly filled with a surreal sense of urgency. My parents’ message of peace seemed as relevant as it had ever been. Our goal was to once again spread that message to the world. Soon we were joined by an incredible all-star team of filmmakers and artists who wanted to help us with our mission.

Because I had worked with Peter Jackson on the documentary series The Beatles: Get Back, I thought I might send him our script to see if he had any advice. He immediately put us in touch with some amazing collaborators. It was clear that this project had an incredible amount of goodwill and good luck behind it. Illustrator and animator Max Narciso became our character designer, and award-winning composer Thomas Newman agreed to do the score.

However, nothing could prepare us for what was about to happen next.

In 2024, War Is Over! won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.

Yet we didn’t want to stop there. The tale of our pigeon felt like it needed to be put into an illustrated book to reach a new audience. 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.

‘Happy Xmas (War Is Over)’ began as a multimedia project that has spanned from music to billboards to film and now print. Let’s continue spreading John and Yoko’s timeless maxim, ‘War is over if you want it.’

Sean Ono Lennon
January 2025

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WAR IS OVER!

A picture book adaptation of the Oscar-winning animated short film inspired by the song by John Lennon and Yoko Ono.

John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s iconic anti-war anthem “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” inspired an Academy Award-winning animated short. Now the team behind the film has created an unforgettable picture book to carry on this timeless message of peace.

So this is Christmas.
Another year over.
A new war just begun.

Julia, a carrier pigeon, delivers messages to the battlefield. But she also has a secret mission. Even though the Red Jackets and the Great Coats are at war, Julia helps the soldiers on both sides play a special game to bring each other some joy during the holiday season.

Inspired by one of the most important songs of the twentieth century and the film that carried on its legacy, War Is Over! is a stirring reminder of the human connection that binds us all, even during the most divisive times.

Further Details

Published: 4 November 2025
Pages: 40
Format: Hardcover
Size: 10 x 10⅜ inches
Age: 4-8 years
ISBN: 9798217040094
Published by Viking Books for Young Readers / Penguin Random House

PRESS RELEASE

PENGUIN YOUNG READERS TO PUBLISH PICTURE BOOK ADAPTATION OF THE ACADEMY AWARD-WINNING ANIMATED SHORT FILM INSPIRED BY JOHN LENNON AND YOKO ONO’S ICONIC SONG

WAR IS OVER! by Sean Ono Lennon, Dave Mullins, Brad Booker, and Max Narciso will publish on November 4, 2025

Sean Ono Lennon, Dave Mullins, Brad Booker, and Max Narciso, the team behind the Oscar-winning animated short film WAR IS OVER! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko, will publish a picture book adaptation of the film with Viking Children’s Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers. Illustrated by Narciso, who was the character designer of the film, WAR IS OVER! is slated for release on November 4th, 2025 with an announced first printing of 100,000. Tamar Brazis, VP & Publisher, Viking Children’s Books & Philomel, acquired the book with Janine Kamouh and Erin Malone at WME representing the creators.

In WAR IS OVER! Julia, a carrier pigeon, delivers messages to the battlefield. But she also has a secret mission. Even though the Red Jackets and the Great Coats are at war, Julia helps the soldiers on both sides play a special game to bring each other some joy during the holiday season. The story is a stirring reminder of the human connection that binds us all, even during the most divisive times.

John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s iconic 1971 anti-war anthem “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” is one of the most important songs of the twentieth century. Its origins began in 1969 with John and Yoko’s WAR IS OVER! (If You Want It) multimedia campaign for peace, consisting of billboards, postcards, posters, newspaper ads, and press conferences around the globe. First, this song served as the source material for the Oscar-winning animated short film War is Over!, and now, this dazzling book for children carries on its legacy.

Of the children’s book adaptation, Sean Ono Lennon said, “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.”

Dave Mullins said, “Why are those people fighting? That was one of those questions my kids asked when they were young that was difficult to answer. I always came back to the same idea: you must have peace and understanding in everything you do. There’s no better example of that than John and Yoko’s message. I sincerely hope this book helps parents talk to their children about how conflict hurts everyone involved, and that there is always a peaceful solution.”

Brad Booker said, “I’m so proud to have been a part of the short film inspired by John and Yoko’s genius work. Now to make our publishing debut for young readers—alongside Sean, Dave, and Max—truly goes beyond my wildest dreams.”

Tamar Brazis, VP and Publisher, Viking Children’s Books, said, “This creative powerhouse has taken John and Yoko’s iconic song and translated its message for a new generation of readers who need it now more than ever. It’s been an honor to work with this team on such an unforgettable project.”

Sean Ono Lennon is the co-writer and executive producer of the Academy Award–winning animated short film War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko. He has won a Grammy Award, recorded on over one hundred albums, scored six films, and illustrated and designed several album covers and books. He also founded the record label Chimera Music, releasing his own music and producing two albums by the Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band. He lives in New York. You can follow him on Instagram @Sean_Ono_Lennon.

Brad Booker is the producer of the Academy Award-winning animated short film War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko and the founder of ElectroLeague. His production credits include Rumble and the Golden Globe–nominated film The Book of Life. His animation credits include The Iron Giant, Stuart Little, Spider-Man, and The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. He lives in Los Angeles. You can follow him on Instagram @ThatBradBooker.

Dave Mullins is the writer and director of the Academy Award-winning animated short film War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko and co-founder of ElectroLeague. He is a twenty-year Pixar Animation veteran, where he worked on films including Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Cars, and Up. He also wrote and directed the Oscar-nominated Pixar short film Lou. He lives in Florida. You can follow him on Instagram @Dave.Mullins.

Max Narciso is the character designer of the Academy Award–winning short film War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko. He is an Italian-born designer, comic artist, sculptor, and animator. He lives in Los Angeles. You can follow him on Instagram @NarcisoMax.

Penguin Random House, the world’s largest trade book publisher, is dedicated to its mission of nourishing a universal passion for reading by connecting authors and their writing with readers everywhere. The company, which employs more than 10,000 people globally, was formed on July 1, 2013, by Bertelsmann and Pearson. As of April 1, 2020, Bertelsmann is full owner of the company. With more than 300 imprints and brands on six continents, Penguin Random House comprises adult and children’s fiction and nonfiction print and digital English- German- and Spanish-language trade book publishing businesses in more than 20 countries worldwide. With over 15,000 new titles, and more than 600 million print, audio and eBooks sold annually, Penguin Random House’s publishing lists include more than 80 Nobel Prize laureates and hundreds of the world’s most widely read authors.