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Classic tales and favorite books are a big part of everyone’s childhood history. We can all pinpoint one or two books from our youth that were perennial favorites and often the ones we requested mom or dad read to us repeatedly.
But I also know that history is being written and rewritten right now. Who would have thought 2020 would be fraught with global pandemics, the debate over wearing face coverings to protect ourselves and others from COVID-19, job insecurities, stock market crashes, small businesses failing, PPE shortages, civil unrest, and so much more? Who knew a current election could divide a nation so radically?
Books still play a huge part in all children’s lives. Even during uncertain times, these books can provide comfort, education, perspective, and distraction for the youngest generation.
Not long ago, reading and kidlit expert Mia Wenjen from Pragmaticmom shared a fact with me that stuck: “The best two ways to expose kids to new cultures, religions, traditions, and diversity, in general, are through food and books.
When these pieces of literature include characters or subjects relevant to our world’s experience, these colorful collections of images and words become a teaching tool and a source of comfort for children who are trying to understand a complicated world.
Children’s books also help them to see and appreciate that everyone is unique. This promotes tolerance, understanding of different struggles or victories, open-mindedness, and a desire for PEACE.
This is the Earth by Deedee Cummings
A Purple Dragonfly Award First Place winner, Cummings uses bold and bright illustrations in This is the Earth to share a message of peace, love, respect, compassion, and inclusion. Published in early 2019, the book’s message bears repeating: peace is meant for all of us, and everyone is responsible for caring for each other like the united family we are.
This exceptional and timely book shares the reality that we are all sharing this world that we call home instead of acting as though each continent, country, and neighborhood is a completely different planet. Within the pages of This is the Earth, readers will discover thought and conversation-invoking concepts on issues and struggles that have our world at odds with each other. Kids and adults will love the lyrical message and thoughtful artwork that reinforces the fact that every human being is our neighbor on Planet Earth, a place also known as Home. {ages four and up}
Painting for Peace by Carol Swartout Klien
About artistry defeating violence in Ferguson, MO. Hundreds of artists and residents came together to create beauty in a St. Louis neighborhood shocked and reeling from racial violence. After months of tension, something appeared on the streets of Ferguson that hadn’t been seen for a long time … HOPE.
Through poetry and art, award-winning PAINTING FOR PEACE IN FERGUSON tells the true story of hundreds of artists and volunteers who turned boarded-up windows into works of art with messages of hope, healing, and unity in the aftermath of the Ferguson, MO riots. Written in verse, the book focuses on how the community came together to begin the healing process through the Paint for Peace effort. Using illustrations and photographs of the art and the artists –black and white, young and old–the book is a tool for beginning the conversation with children about how we all have something to contribute to healing our communities.
Wangari’s Trees of Peace: A True Story from Africa by Jeanette Winter
This paperback picture book is based on the true story of Wangari Maathai, an environmental and political activist in Kenya who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004.
As a young girl growing up in Kenya, Wangari was surrounded by trees. But years later, when she returns home, she is shocked to see the whole forest being cut down, and she knows that all the trees will soon be destroyed. So Wangari decides to do something—and starts by planting nine seedlings in her backyard. And as they grow, so do her plans . . .
This true story of Wangari Maathai, an environmentalist and Nobel Peace Prize winner, is a shining example of how one woman’s passion, vision, and determination inspired great change.
Peace is an Offering by Annette LeBox and Stephanie Graegin
Peace is an offering.
A muffin or a peach.
A birthday invitation.
A trip to the beach.
For children concerned with war, mass shootings, and unrest in our society, this book will help ease their fears and remind them that there are peaceful and helpful people everywhere. This lovely illustrated story stresses to readers that people try to be good to one another. The reminder that, for the most part, we all coexist together in a caring and calm community is an excellent and timely message of peace for you and your children. (3-5 years)
The Children’s Peace Book: Children Around the World Share Their Dreams of Peace in Words and Pictures by Jolene DeLisai
This book will surely get your family talking and thinking about different paths to peace.
The Children’s Peace Book is also filled with messages of hope. Delisai asked children worldwide to share what peace means to them during her global travels, peace marches, and everyday encounters. Their words and drawings have been brought together in this memorable book.
“Put a group of children together, and they will overcome language and culture and quickly learn to be friends. We must learn from them.”
This elegant and essential book shows that children possess timeless wisdom and the potential to become adults capable of making monumental advances in the struggle for peace. It is filled with hope and insight and is a valuable tool for educators, activists, parents, and all people who care about humanity and our future.
Grandfather Gandhi by Arun Gandhi
Discover how to turn darkness (anger) into light in this unique book about the famous peacemaker. Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson tells the story of how his grandfather taught him to do so in this uniquely personal and vibrantly illustrated tale that carries a message of peace.
How could he—a Gandhi—be so easy to anger? One thick, hot day, Arun Gandhi travels with his family to Grandfather Gandhi’s village.
Silence fills the air—but peace feels far away for young Arun. When an older boy pushes him on the soccer field, his anger fills him in a way that surely a true Gandhi could never imagine. Can Arun ever live up to the Mahatma? Will he ever make his grandfather proud?
In this remarkable personal story, Arun Gandhi, with Bethany Hegedus, weaves a stunning portrait of the extraordinary man who taught him to live his life as light and facilitator of peace. Be sure to check out the companion book, Be The Change: The Grandfather Gandhi Story.
If you are looking to add diversity to the family bookshelf, sites like Multiculturalchildrensbookday.com, HereWeeRead, Colours of Us, Biracial Bookworms, The Barefoot Mommy, MakeAWayMedia.com, and multicultural children’s book publisher LeeandLow.com are a wealth of ideas and inspiration for your young readers to enjoy.
One Extra Thing
This classic song by Woody Guthrie is a great way to share the message of peace with kids. This rendition is beautiful!
Awesome summer reading + activities for reluctant readers
Well…we’ve added a whole new level of “learning is FUN” layer to summer reading with our new kidlit book-inspired activity ebook!
The ABC’s of BookJumping: The Best of Jump Into a Book by Valarie Budayr and Rebecca Flansburg allows frustrated parents of reluctant readers to enjoy hand-picked book reviews and unique companion activities that will reignite your child’s love of reading and encourage screen-free family time.
What if you could “live” inside the pages of the children’s books your family reads? What if you could enjoy the same adventures as the characters? Bookjumping is taking the solitary act of reading a book and transforming it into an event that can be shared with others. It’s the process of pulling books off shelves and stories off pages. It’s making kids’ books come ALIVE by “jumping” inside the pages. Readers of this ebook will enjoy hand-picked book reviews and unique companion activities that will reignite your child’s love of reading and encourage screen-free family time.
“This fun picture-book-based e-book contains over 150 hand-picked book reviews, unique book-inspired activities, and recipes. Just in time for #summer reading!” Amazon reviewer
We purposely made this book an ebook for the “portability factor” and made it affordable to fit every budget and family need.
Go here for more details on what you can expect from an excellent ebook and learn more about the authors.
Grab your copy of The ABCs of BookJumping: The Best of Jump Into a Book on Kindle HERE.
