Playing War

by Kathy Beckwith, Lea Lyon (Illustrator)

One hot summer day Luke and his friends decide to play their favorite game of war, using sticks for guns and pine cones for bombs and grenades. Sameer, who hasn't lived in their neighborhood for very long, hesitates to join in. When he tells Luke and Jen and Jeff and Danny that he has been in a real war, they don't believe him.

"No way! You haven't told us anything about that! A real war? Did they let kids be soldiers? Did you have an M-16?"

Then, as Sameer explains what happened to his family, the other children start to see their game in a new light.

While Playing War is a book about understanding what war can be like for families, and that it's not a game, it's also a sensitive story about the power of friendship and how children can learn from one another.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, War

32 pages, Hardcover

First published May 28, 2005

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Luke and his friends decide that it is too hot to play basketball, they turn to one of their favorite games: war. Drawing a line in the dirt, with an "S" on one side, and an "E" on the other, Luke explains to the neighborhood newcomer, Sameer, that they will divide into Soldiers and Enemies, and fight it out with stick-guns and pine-cone-bombs. Surprised that Sameer seems less than enthusiastic about this plan, the children eventually learn that their new friend already knows about war - about real war, that is - and are aghast when they hear the story of the bombing of Sameer's house, and the death of his family. Suddenly, in the face of these revelations, war doesn't seem like such an entertaining game after all...

Playing War addresses itself to an important topic - the lasting hurt caused by war - with a simple, non-preachy story that will give young readers pause, and make them think. It's a book to spark discussion (be prepared, thoughtful adult companions and caretakers), about the nature of conflict, and the ways that playing at conflict can cause hurt, for victims and survivors. It ably fulfills the publisher's goal, as spelled out on the rear dust-jacket flap, to publish "children's books that empower children, build empathy, and spark curiosity." As always, well done Tilbury House!

[Patricia Tilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book for many reasons. Today children are exposed to the violence of war on TV and in movies. They have family members deployed or they know of a soldier who has been killed in a war. Playing War gives parents an opportunity to read the book aloud with their kids, talk about what is happening in the world, and discuss whether it is a good idea to make a game of war. I like that the author, Kathy Beckwith, didn’t include adults in this story. Her characters make their own decisions about whether or not to continue their game. This is a very powerful story written in very gentle and compassionate way so that kids can learn from each other. Lea Lyon’s beautiful and expressive watercolor illustrations support the emotion of the story.

[Nancy Lee Piper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offers a unique perspective to war through the eyes of children; both victim and observers. Ms. Beckwith's text lays the groundwork for interactive and open ended questions in which children can explore the realities of war, explore one another's feelings and attitudes, and work toward viewing the many factors of war from both perspectives. A superb book.

Highly recommended by Diane Levin, Ph.D., Professor of Education and author of Teaching Young Children in Violent Times and The War Play Dilemma, both excellent books themselves.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A group of neighborhood children get together to play "war" until one of them, a refugee from a war-torn country, tells them what war is really like. I can remember playing "war" and "spy" when I was a little kid. Now I can't believe that my parents let me do it, though I know it was the '60s, when the Cold War was raging. It appalls me now to think that I played with toy guns. I wish I'd had a book like this to read back then.

[Karen Mcintyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent addition to help balance the books currently being produced which, though they may not intend to, glorify and honor war.

It is difficult in the U.S. today to object to war -- it is almost invariably seen as not "supporting our troops." This little book goes to the heart of conflict nad resolution and helps children think about broader issues --- which can also relate to bullying.

[Cindy Hudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was young, I often played war in the back yard with my cousins. We made forts out of cardboard and collected hard, pea-sized berries from the Chinaball tree in our yard. Each side pelted the other until our supply of berries ran out. Then we called a truce, collected the ammunition that had fallen between forts, and started again.

I was reminded of my old pastime when I read Playing War, written by Kathy Beckwith and illustrated by Lea Lyon. It's summer and the children in the book are bored with playing basketball, lobbing water balloons and riding bikes. They decide to play war and divide into soldiers and enemies, then collect pinecones and sticks to use for ammunition.

But their game changes when one of the friends, Sameer, talks about the real war that kids find in his homeland, and how it affects their lives. Playing War is a picture book intended for elementary school readers. It exposes young readers to current events in an age-appropriate way, and it provides an entrée to talk about some of the issues going on in many parts of the world where children are enlisted as soldiers, or their families are affected by fighting. Playing War is a good read-aloud book appropriate for younger girls in mother-daughter book clubs.

[Sherrema Oom-Dove · Rating 5 out of 5]

A group of neighborhood children, three boys and a girl, strike up a make-believe game of War on a hot summer's day and invite their new neighbor, Sameer, to play. Once they explain the game, however, Sameer declines and tells them his story - he recently lost his family in war. The children quickly learn that war is not a game and gracefully respond to their new friend. An illustrative counterpoint to the story is the depiction of a golden retriever that sits in the middle of the action; whatever the kids are doing, the dog wants to do too. Golden retrievers are often associated with peace and gentleness, which provides a counter story to the girl whose dog he is and her abilities in throwing "grenades" (pine cones). The children’s self-reflection, however, demonstrates perception about the structural and ideological constructs of war, peace, and racism.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story shines a light on the classic children's team vs. team games, whether called 'Cowboys and Indians' or, as in this case, 'Soldiers versus Enemies.' The heartbreaking reality of the 'game' for Sameer really hits hard and the other children learn how even pretending can be hurtful.

The watercolor illustrations are colorful and really show the innocence and enthusiasm of the children. I appreciate that the entire story is told from the childrens' perspectives, without adults intervening. It's a well-written story and I really enjoyed reading it.

[Peace Teachpeacenow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is war a game? It is for Luke and his friends. But when they meet war-survivor, Sameer, and learn from him what war is really like, war games no longer seem like fun.

Recommended for Upper Elementary

[C Hertel]

Children stop playing war when they learn a friend has lived through war, including losing his family when a bomb was accidentally dropped on their house.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sameer opts out of playing war with his new neighbourhood friends. They start to understand when he explains his experiences with war. The child appropriate illustration of why playing war not a game.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a picture book about elementary school boys in the US who want to play war. They have a new friend from the middle east and he helps them learn how awful war can be to live through, not a game to play.

I really liked the message of this book and feel it is worth a read.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent introduction to what war is really like... and to being friends with kids who have lived through war.