I got an email months ago from AbeBooks giving me this list of what they believe is the 50 essential graphic novels to read (I tend to disagree with some its choices) and I have been lazy to check them out from the library until now. I thought it would be very interesting to read this book because why would an author make a graphic novel about his ordinary parents? While reading it I discovered that this book is really about life, love, and how quick times are changing when it comes to history and technology.The story takes place in London, England from the 1920s through 1971. We meet Ethel who is a maid who one day she sees a man from the window who is riding a bike. He waves at her and she blushes that a man is paying attention to her. He tells her that his name is Ernest and then asks her out to go watch a movie. After that encounter they become a couple and soon enough they get married. She quits her job and becomes a house wife while Ernest works as a milkman. We enter the 1930s and the times are rough during these period because of high unemployment, recuperating from WWI, and economic depression.Ethel by now is already 37 years old and wants a baby and luckily she gets pregnant and has Raymond but the doctors warned Ernest that she can never have another child because she will die while giving birth. While we see Raymond growing up as a boy, we get the back drop of WWII and how they had to send Raymond to live in the country side while London is being destroyed by German bombs.As Raymond grows up, he gets admitted into Grammar school which is exciting for his parents because they didn't have a proper education and then get disappointed when he wants to attend art school. They don't believe he will be making any money and they don't understand the difference between pursuing what you love versus getting a typical 9-5 job and be bored and resenting every moment of that. I believe since they didn't have the luxury to attend University they never experience the option of having a choice in your career. And as the times are changing, you get to see Ethel and Ernest not liking a different political party in government, men growing long hair, women wearing shorter skirts, and how quickly the world they grew up is changing especially having a women in Parliament.I cannot give a proper review for this book and I will leave the plot empty because if I write anymore I will spoiled this short book for you. I find it interesting how different each decade appears in this book and how easily our opinions changes during our life. For Example, when Hitler first came into power, Raymond parents didn't find him horrible and liked him. But immediately when he started invading Europe and sending Jews to death camps, they realize that he needs to be stopped or he can conquer and destroy England. We also get to see Ethel and Ernest's reaction to the invention of the television and how it feels like being inside a movie theater in your own home.This was such a short and sweet book and I enjoyed every aspect of it from the storyline, the illustrations and how grateful we are as human beings when parents try and make the life of their children better than what they went through. Their son became a famous illustrator and author and never had to live below poverty level or be a working class. It was sad how they both died and I am glad that Raymond chose to honor them in his book.While reading this book it brought nostalgic feelings for me and my family and I appreciate how much my grandparents had to go through so much being immigrants in a foreign country, getting a job and trying to provide food and clothes from my mother and her siblings. If they didn't sacrifice all that they did I would be living in a country where basic human rights are nonexistent and starving. I highly recommend everyone to read this book especially if you love Raymond Briggs children books.