For Children and Adults to Share Together

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Books About Peace: For Children and Adults to Share Together

The following titles can be found in picture books (JP):

• Baskwill, Jane. If Peace Is…
  Peace is described as different things to different people. But beyond that, peace is recognized to be the work of many people and the promise they make to love, protect, and care for each other.
• Corr, Christopher. Whole World
  All different children are shown holding up the physical world, including its mountains, valleys, plains, deserts, lakes and trees, as well as the living world, with all its towns and communities.
• DeRolf, Shane. The Crayon Box that Talked
  Individual crayons in a box do not like each other. But when used to make a picture, they realize that though they are each unique, when used together, the picture is complete.
• Fox, Mem. Feathers and Fools
  In this parable from long ago, peacocks began to fear swans for their strength. Ultimately, when fighting broke out following a misunderstanding, not one of these birds remained alive. However, baby peacocks and swans that later hatched did not have the same fears and, seeing each other's similarities, were able to live together.
• Harshman, Marc. Only One Neighborhood
  A neighborhood is presented as one community with many things in it--a bakery, pet store, pizzeria, market, and school. In the same way, cities have many neighborhoods, countries have many cities, and the world has many countries. However, the idea is that in the world there is only one wish and that is for peace.
• Hennessy, B. G. Because of You
  With simple words and multicultural illustrations of children, this story explores how the world is changed with the birth of each new child. It is suggested that something as big and important as peace begins with something as small and precious as a child learning how to care, help, listen and share. Can You Say Peace? by Karen Katz The spelling and pronunciation of the word "peace," in various languages, along with colorful illustrations of children from countries around the world is presented.
• Leaf, Munro. The Story of Ferdinand
  Unlike other bulls, Ferdinand does not like to fight. He prefers to sit under the cork tree and smell the flowers. When he is picked for the bullfights in Madrid, he refuses to fight and simply sits in the middle of the ring and smells the flowers. Ferdinand returns home to happily sit under the cork tree and smell the flowers.
• Lionni, Leo. The Alphabet Tree
  Letters living on individual leaves in a tree learn that when they form words they are strong enough that the wind cannot blow them away. They realize that organized in words and sentences, they can say something important about peace.
• Parr, Todd. The Peace Book  
  Peace is described in very basic terms and illustrated with Parr's colorful children's artwork. The descriptions include simple things that young children do in their personal lives as well as things that are accomplished on a more community and global level. The prevailing theme is that the world is a better place because of you.
• Wood, Douglas. Old Turtle and the Broken Truth
  In a land where every stone is a teacher, a truth falls, but as it falls, it breaks. This is a story of that broken truth that looks like a stone with the words on it, "YOU ARE LOVED," and the animals and people who pick it up. Only after much fighting for this broken truth, people learn that the missing piece contains the words "AND SO ARE THEY," and begin to realize that the world is made of many truths.

The following titles can be found in Picture Plus (JP+):

• Eleanor Coerr. Sadako
  Sadako Sasaki develops leukemia at age twelve as a result of the atom bomb dropped on Hiroshima ten years earlier. While in the hospital, Sadako's friend, Chizuko, visits and shows Sadako how to make a paper crane. Sadako sets out to make one thousand cranes in the hope that if she does, the gods will grant her wish and make her well again. The story concludes with a children's prayer for peace in the world.
• Da Costa, Deborah. Snow in Jerusalem
  In the Old City of Jerusalem, two young boys, one Jewish and the other Muslim, care for a stray cat. This is a beautifully simple story of how the two boys learn an important lesson on sharing and peace from a cat who roams easily among the people of different cultures.
• Ringgold, Faith. The Invisible Princess
  The Great Lady of Peace keeps her promise of making invisible a daughter born to two slaves. The daughter grows up to be a princess who can bring peace, freedom, and love to the slaves of the Village of Visible. When the slave master's blind daughter claims to her father that she has seen the invisible princess, thus begins the process by which she and all the slaves become invisible and go to live in the Invisible Village where everyone is free and lives peacefully.
• Tingle, Tim. Crossing Bok Chitto: A Chocktaw Tale of Friendship and Freedom
  Before the American Civil War, a young Chocktaw Indian girl and Black slave boy, together, lead seven slaves to freedom across the Bok Chitto River in the state of Mississippi. Through moving words and illustrations, this story documents a tale that has been passed down from the descendants of the Chocktaw people.

The following titles can be found in Non-Fiction:

• Polland, Barbara K. We Can Work It Out: Conflict Resolution For Children
  A framework of three steps for how children can stay focused on resolving conflicts is suggested. These include, figuring out what happened, listing possible solutions, and reviewing how conflict is resolved. With many photographs of children and adults involved in the process, examples of ways to celebrate success are offered. (J 303.6 P)
• Scholes, Katherine. Peace Begins With You
  Questions about peace are simply answered. These include what peace is, where it comes from, how you can find it, and how you can keep it. Practical suggestions are offered for how children can be peacemakers. (J 303.6 S)
• Gilley, Jeremy. Peace One Day: The Making of World Peace Day
  This is the true story of what one individual, Jeremy Gilley, did to make World Peace Day a specific day of global cease-fire and nonviolence. He tells of his travels, meetings with world leaders, and letters written in this effort. The strength of his message lies in the emphasis that everyone makes a commitment to do something, no matter how big or small, in recognition of peace day. (J 303.66 G)
• Radunsky, Vladimir. What Does Peace Feel Like?
  The reader is invited to imagine peace with closed eyes. Included are suggestions for how peace smells, looks, sounds, feels and tastes, and for what can be built with peace. (J 303.66 R)
• MacDonald, Margaret Read. Peace Tales: World Folktales to Talk About
  Through a collection of world folktales the subject of peace is addressed. Included are stories dealing with the pathways leading to war and stories considering the approaches to peace. The reader is reminded that peace is never ending work that requires conscious choice to achieve. (J 398 P)
• Zalben, Jane Breskin. Let There Be Light: Poems and Prayers For Repairing the World
  Poems and prayers from a wide variety of faiths and cultures around the world are offered. These include, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Taoism faiths, and African, Eskimo and Native American cultures. (J 808.81 L)
• Durell (editor), Ann. The Big Book For Peace
  Over thirty distinguished children's authors and illustrators contributed to this collection of pictures, poems and stories. The works describe the meaning of peace as viewed from different cultures and as portrayed in incidents which occurred throughout history. (J 810 B)
• Thomas, Shelley Moore. Somewhere Today: A Book of Peace
  Through photographs and poems, people are described engaging in various activities which promote peace. (J 811.54 T)
• Podwal, Mark. Jerusalem Sky: Stars, Crosses, and Crescents
  The sky over Jerusalem is said to be a part of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim stories. Though people have fought for control of the city of Jerusalem more than any other place, they still gather there every day. With prayers for peace and miracles, addressed to one God, hope is believed to light the Jerusalem sky. Through poetic verse, this book serves to unite the three faiths. (J 811.6 P)
• Zalben, Jane Breskin. Paths to Peace: People Who Changed the World
  Brief descriptions of the lives and work of sixteen inspirational peacemakers are presented. The individuals originated from a variety of countries worldwide and pursued different vocations. Through this work, the author emphasizes that change can begin with one person. One person can make a difference. (J 920 Z)
• Judge, Lita. One Thousand Tracings: Healing the Wounds of World War II
  Following World War II, many families in Europe were hungry and in great need of basic items, like shoes. A family in Midwestern America helps by finding and sending shoes to match the foot tracings of the members of these needy families. The author's grandparents, who organized this effort, remind us of the importance of taking care of innocent victims of war and conflict throughout the world. (J 940.531 J)