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What Does Peace Feel Like?
Peace.
What does that word really mean? Ask children from around the world, and this is what they say....
What does that word really mean? Ask children from around the world, and this is what they say....
24 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2003
3 people are currently reading
195 people want to read
About the author
Vladimir Radunsky
44 books21 followersBorn in the Ural Mountains of Russia, Vladimir Radunsky migrated to the United States in 1982, when he was still a relatively young man. Since then he has become well known for his brightly colored artwork and dynamic collages. Among the many children's books he has illustrated are the Candlewick Press titles HOWDI DO, BLING BLANG, and MY DOLLY, in which his vibrant images bring to life the nursery songs of folk-singing legend Woody Guthrie--tunes that appealed to him because they reminded him of songs he loved as a child growing up in Russia.
In collaboration with fellow illustrator Chris Raschka, Vladimir Radunsky wrote and illustrated a rather unique collection of tongue-in-cheek advice on a very important topic: TABLE MANNERS. Through their alter egos Dudunya (Vladimir) and Chester (Chris), the pair share their considerable wisdom in a how-to guide to mealtime behavior. The artist moved on to explore the world of shapes in SQUARE TRIANGLE ROUND SKINNY, a boxed set of fun, funky board books featuring his brilliant graphics.
"I don't pick the medium I work in, but rather it just happens," he says. "And most of the elements I use are repeated in various combinations. Recently I came across a story by Hans Christian Andersen. In it, I found this thought that pretty closely resembles my work principle: 'Ah, godfather could really tell fairy tales--they were long and plentiful. And at Christmastime he would take a thick, blank album and paste in it pictures that he cut out of books and newspapers. When he could not find a picture that fitted the story, he would draw one.'"
Vladimir Radunsky now lives in Rome, Italy.
In collaboration with fellow illustrator Chris Raschka, Vladimir Radunsky wrote and illustrated a rather unique collection of tongue-in-cheek advice on a very important topic: TABLE MANNERS. Through their alter egos Dudunya (Vladimir) and Chester (Chris), the pair share their considerable wisdom in a how-to guide to mealtime behavior. The artist moved on to explore the world of shapes in SQUARE TRIANGLE ROUND SKINNY, a boxed set of fun, funky board books featuring his brilliant graphics.
"I don't pick the medium I work in, but rather it just happens," he says. "And most of the elements I use are repeated in various combinations. Recently I came across a story by Hans Christian Andersen. In it, I found this thought that pretty closely resembles my work principle: 'Ah, godfather could really tell fairy tales--they were long and plentiful. And at Christmastime he would take a thick, blank album and paste in it pictures that he cut out of books and newspapers. When he could not find a picture that fitted the story, he would draw one.'"
Vladimir Radunsky now lives in Rome, Italy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
May 12, 2009
Peace. What does that word really mean? Ask children from around the world, and this is what they say...
What does peace smell like?
Like a bouquet of flowers in a happy family's living room, like pizza with onions and sausage that just came out of the oven...
What does peace look like?
Like a cat and a dog curled up together in a basket, like new babies just born yesterday...
What does peace sound like?
Like a silent day, like raindrops falling, like no bad words...
What does peace taste like?
Like vanilla ice cream, chocolate ice cream, like sweet, like your favorite food times two...
What does peace feel like?
Like hugs your friends give you when you cry, like someone stroking your back; you shiver a little, but it's a wonderful feeling...
And all the questions were answered by little children from age 8 to age 10, with wonderful illustrations. At the very back cover, the list of words of peace in every language, including in Bahasa: Damai.
What does peace smell like?
Like a bouquet of flowers in a happy family's living room, like pizza with onions and sausage that just came out of the oven...
What does peace look like?
Like a cat and a dog curled up together in a basket, like new babies just born yesterday...
What does peace sound like?
Like a silent day, like raindrops falling, like no bad words...
What does peace taste like?
Like vanilla ice cream, chocolate ice cream, like sweet, like your favorite food times two...
What does peace feel like?
Like hugs your friends give you when you cry, like someone stroking your back; you shiver a little, but it's a wonderful feeling...
And all the questions were answered by little children from age 8 to age 10, with wonderful illustrations. At the very back cover, the list of words of peace in every language, including in Bahasa: Damai.
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August 21, 2025I wanted to eat it, but mom wouldn’t let me
June 8, 2021
Great to see this in a teachers lesson. Vetting a teacher's assigned text and its extremely important to have novels like this embedded in the text.
August 14, 2008
This book brings peace into the tangible terms of kindergarten age children. I love the way the book uses the five senses to convey feelings of peace.
February 24, 2020
What Does Peace Feel Like? is a story about what peace is in someone's everyday life. The book begins with Peace written is a number of different languages and continues on to give examples of what peace smells like, looks like, sounds like, tastes like, and lastly feels like. The story shows the reader how simple peace is and how some of the smallest things in life make it the most peaceful.
The overall theme of What Does Peace Feel Like? is that it is important to find peace in our own lives and how simple it is to make peace happen in relationships.
When I read What Does Peace Feel Like? I found myself happy with the words and drawings I was looking at. I began to feel and think about peace and what in my life is peaceful to me.
I would definitely recommend this book to all. Even though there is no extravagant plot to this book, the overall message of peace is inspiring. Having this book on your bookshelf for kids to read will always be a positive thing. The books show and relate to our lives and where peace can be found. This book might be good to read to brothers and sisters who fight or a kid that continuously picks fights at school, to show them how easy and happy a peace life can be.
The overall theme of What Does Peace Feel Like? is that it is important to find peace in our own lives and how simple it is to make peace happen in relationships.
When I read What Does Peace Feel Like? I found myself happy with the words and drawings I was looking at. I began to feel and think about peace and what in my life is peaceful to me.
I would definitely recommend this book to all. Even though there is no extravagant plot to this book, the overall message of peace is inspiring. Having this book on your bookshelf for kids to read will always be a positive thing. The books show and relate to our lives and where peace can be found. This book might be good to read to brothers and sisters who fight or a kid that continuously picks fights at school, to show them how easy and happy a peace life can be.
April 28, 2020
Russian author Vladimir Radunsky believes in the KGB, the Kindness in Girls and Boys! His 24 page book is created by him and by dozens of school kids he must've interviewed using five versions of the same question, all based on our five senses: what does Peace look, sound, taste, smell and feel like. The answers, all from kids 7 to 11 years old, are amazing and give grown-ups hope, or they should. Yes, I know it still shocks conservative Christians to know that not all children are buying into our violent culture depicting violence as the ultimate answer. Kids by and large yearn for peace and love, and this book is proof. Kids, I think, have figured out what celebs like Edwin Starr and Marvin Gaye have figured out all along: that war is good for absolutely nothing, and only love can conquer hate. Eventually, but we're getting there!
Four stars
Radunsky is my kind of comrade!
Four stars
Radunsky is my kind of comrade!
December 5, 2019
What does peace feel like?
What does peace smell like?
What does peace look like?
What does peace taste like?
What does peace sound like?
The book has answers from a variety of kids around the world as well as how to say "peace" in many different languages.
I don't know if it would be better to ask the kids the questions before or after reading the responses in the book.
Reminds me a little like the song "These are a few of my favorite things" from The Sound of Music.
What does peace smell like?
What does peace look like?
What does peace taste like?
What does peace sound like?
The book has answers from a variety of kids around the world as well as how to say "peace" in many different languages.
I don't know if it would be better to ask the kids the questions before or after reading the responses in the book.
Reminds me a little like the song "These are a few of my favorite things" from The Sound of Music.
January 18, 2017
A charming book that explains the definition of the word "peace" in different languages and with different senses. Inside the book there are pleasant illustrations that kids would enjoy with a fun content to keep up with.
May 23, 2017
Cute and simple with a really brilliant concept. I like it! I wish there would be a series of these "What does [ABSTRACT CONCEPT] feel like?" books.
May 24, 2018
Lovely and lively examples. Always gets us going. (Oddly, "peace" never interests me -- it's just not immediate enough. We usually end up writing about "love" or "disappointment" or "relief.")
November 22, 2018
Great basic book about peace of children.
December 20, 2018
A beautiful book that gets you to think in smilies when describing peace.
December 15, 2019
A cute children’s book about Peace
February 26, 2020
A great exploration of peace and all its meanings and layers.
August 1, 2022
A beautiful idea of peace straight from the mouths of children. In their own words, children share what peace feels like through the various senses. From the mouths of babes, may it be so...PEACE!
September 2, 2022
This is a great book to have inside a classroom library. The author of What Does Peace Feel Like? takes readers around the world by using children's responses to questions about peace that have to do with their five senses. I enjoyed reading this book and feel like it could be used in multiple ways inside an elementary classroom. Students could read the book for pleasure, or the teacher could even incorporate the book into a lesson when students are learning about their five senses.
August 10, 2023
A book that asks the question: What is peace in relation to the 5 senses?
December 30, 2025
A cute book, one I would gift to future children in my life.
January 1, 2026
4.5 stars
February 25, 2015
Personal Reaction: I love the illustrations in this book! It really brings a childlike look to the story. And how every page has a personal account from children around the world and what peace means to them.
Purpose: This is a definitely a book that all elementary age students will enjoy. There might not be that much content on every page, but the message is so much bigger. On a basic level, this could be a story of the sense and how every one applies to everyday life. On a deeper level, this story is a great lesson in culture and the feelings of different children all around the world. All of the children in the book have a different way that they smell, see, hear, taste, or feel peace. All of the different accounts noted are very relatable. This book can really start a discussion on peace what it means to every student. Through that, students will learn a lot more about their peers and give them an inside look to their personal feelings.
Purpose: This is a definitely a book that all elementary age students will enjoy. There might not be that much content on every page, but the message is so much bigger. On a basic level, this could be a story of the sense and how every one applies to everyday life. On a deeper level, this story is a great lesson in culture and the feelings of different children all around the world. All of the children in the book have a different way that they smell, see, hear, taste, or feel peace. All of the different accounts noted are very relatable. This book can really start a discussion on peace what it means to every student. Through that, students will learn a lot more about their peers and give them an inside look to their personal feelings.
August 14, 2008
This another recommended book from an article that I read for class. This book is used in helping students understand the concept of peace. The book teaches the concept of peace by asking "What does peace smell like? What does Peace look like? etc." The author then lists familiar items from children around the world. He lists their names and how old they are. I think students would be able to relate and connect to ever item listed in this book. I see the possibility of shared writing possibilities in which students dictate their responses to the questions on chart paper. Class books could be made and then kept in the library for check out. The beginning of the book has the word peace in various languages. A powerful international book for elementary age students.
August 11, 2007
From children around the world . . .
Peace smells like "wind that comes in your nose when you are sleeping."
Peace looks like "a cat and a dog curled up together in a basket."
Peace tastes like "vanilla ice cream, chocolate ice cream, strawberry ice cream, banana ice cream."
Peace sounds like "everyone's heart beating, making one big sound together."
Peace feels like "someone stroking your back: you shiver a little, but it's a wonderful feeling."
Peace smells like "wind that comes in your nose when you are sleeping."
Peace looks like "a cat and a dog curled up together in a basket."
Peace tastes like "vanilla ice cream, chocolate ice cream, strawberry ice cream, banana ice cream."
Peace sounds like "everyone's heart beating, making one big sound together."
Peace feels like "someone stroking your back: you shiver a little, but it's a wonderful feeling."
December 13, 2017
Nonfiction (2004)
Although this is not my favorite book about peace, I love that it incorporates real comments from students. It is exciting to read comments from different perspectives around the world. Everyone has their own idea of what peace means and what it feels like. In the classroom, this book could be used to teach a lesson on descriptive words and sensory poems. This semester, I incorporated this book into one of my lesson plans.
Although this is not my favorite book about peace, I love that it incorporates real comments from students. It is exciting to read comments from different perspectives around the world. Everyone has their own idea of what peace means and what it feels like. In the classroom, this book could be used to teach a lesson on descriptive words and sensory poems. This semester, I incorporated this book into one of my lesson plans.
March 21, 2010
Children around the world are asked to describe what peace feels, smells, looks, sounds ... like to them. Full-page soft, friendly illustrations depict the children's words. It's nice, but kind of abstract, until they describe what peace feels like. Then it's more specific. A nice intro for young children to thinking and talking about peace.
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June 20, 2011This book encourages children to use their five senses to describe what peace feels, looks, sounds, smells, taste like. I did this activity exactly in my class many years ago and students illustrated their descriptions.
December 16, 2016
Peace becomes a full sensory experience as kids share what peace feels, looks, tastes, smells, and sounds like to them. In the back is a list of what the word “peace” is translated in various languages!
May 14, 2020
Great introduction to explain peace. This book uses various senses to help children better understand peace. Each page has names of children and ages. The end pages show the reader the word for peace in every language.
February 19, 2008
The text was nice, especially in that it came from school children. I wasn't crazy about the illustrations, though.
August 14, 2008
Excellent book for an entry point in a discussion with students about war and peace. Definite possibilities for art and writing lessons with this book.
January 20, 2009
Very cute idea for a book, with quotes from kids answering questions like "What does peace taste like?" and "What does peace look like?" (Answer: "Like new babies just born yesterday")
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews