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The Big Book for Peace
This very special volume was created by more than thirty of the best known and loved authors and illustrators of children's books.
Summary: The wisdom of peace and the absurdity of fighting are demonstrated in seventeen stories and poems by outstanding authors of today such as Jean Fritz, Milton Meltzer, and Nancy Willard, illustrated by famous illustrators such as Paul Zelinsky, the Dillons, and Maurice Sendak.
Summary: The wisdom of peace and the absurdity of fighting are demonstrated in seventeen stories and poems by outstanding authors of today such as Jean Fritz, Milton Meltzer, and Nancy Willard, illustrated by famous illustrators such as Paul Zelinsky, the Dillons, and Maurice Sendak.
120 pages, Hardcover
First published September 20, 1990
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
November 7, 2008
Overall, this book was kinda depressing and very activistic. I read it with my 7 year old daughter, and felt the need to skip a few of the stories because they were about war & really downtone. I loved the stories about the Native Americans, and even the one about the two little girls and their treehouses, but couldn't bring myself to read the one about a Letter from a Concentration Camp.
One story actually scared my daughter because she didn't realize that there could be the potential for her Daddy to go to war. The best part of the book were the infrequent pictures that depicted happy, peaceful places.
I know we need to teach our kids to know peace, and the opposite, but can't we do it in a positive & appropriate way?
One story actually scared my daughter because she didn't realize that there could be the potential for her Daddy to go to war. The best part of the book were the infrequent pictures that depicted happy, peaceful places.
I know we need to teach our kids to know peace, and the opposite, but can't we do it in a positive & appropriate way?
July 5, 2016
Beware, the age group intended for this anthology is...ambiguous. I recommend reading each story carefully before reading it aloud to children. While some stories are charming and perfectly appropriate for younger kids, others contain subject matter far too mature for anyone under the age of 13.
I bought the book at a used bookstore mainly because of the Maurice Sendak illustration on the cover of the book. I soon realized there was no Maurice Sendak story in this book. What a disappointment!
I bought the book at a used bookstore mainly because of the Maurice Sendak illustration on the cover of the book. I soon realized there was no Maurice Sendak story in this book. What a disappointment!
February 3, 2013
Mommy's review from 10/23/11 -
The only reason I'm giving this two stars is because there was one or two stories in the first few that we liked. But we actually stopped reading this just before the halfway mark because it's just not for Julia. I don't get who this is really for. It seems like the editors wanted to make sure there was something for everyone. I'm not sure that approach works with something like this.
When I read a book I want to read all of it. I don't want to read some of it. But some of the stories here are for older kids, some for younger kids, some for who knows. One poem or poem-like writing made no sense whatsoever.
Julia's a trouper though, she wanted to keep going just for the sake of finishing but I was concerned about an upcoming story called Letter from a Concentration Camp by Yoshiko Uchida and illustrated by Allen Say.
I'm a big reader of Holocaust related material but I don't want my daughter to learn about it just yet. Not yet, not in any detail. In a few years to begin to learn I think that's fine but 6 is just too young in my opinion.
Anyway, upon giving up with this one I had planned to maybe take it out at a later date to see if we'd like it then but unless I actually see it again I doubt it'll happen because I don't see myself actively searching for it.
It's a shame and I wish it would have been more age specific because I love the premise. :(
The only reason I'm giving this two stars is because there was one or two stories in the first few that we liked. But we actually stopped reading this just before the halfway mark because it's just not for Julia. I don't get who this is really for. It seems like the editors wanted to make sure there was something for everyone. I'm not sure that approach works with something like this.
When I read a book I want to read all of it. I don't want to read some of it. But some of the stories here are for older kids, some for younger kids, some for who knows. One poem or poem-like writing made no sense whatsoever.
Julia's a trouper though, she wanted to keep going just for the sake of finishing but I was concerned about an upcoming story called Letter from a Concentration Camp by Yoshiko Uchida and illustrated by Allen Say.
I'm a big reader of Holocaust related material but I don't want my daughter to learn about it just yet. Not yet, not in any detail. In a few years to begin to learn I think that's fine but 6 is just too young in my opinion.
Anyway, upon giving up with this one I had planned to maybe take it out at a later date to see if we'd like it then but unless I actually see it again I doubt it'll happen because I don't see myself actively searching for it.
It's a shame and I wish it would have been more age specific because I love the premise. :(
November 9, 2012
This was one of my favorite books as a child. I wanted to buy my godson a copy for Christmas and was heartbroken to find that it's out of print. Some of the stories in here have challenging themes, but they present children with a chance to think about really important ideas that they will encounter the rest of their lives.
In general, I think we underestimate children's ability to grasp tough concepts like war and violence, when they actually have more a more rational perspective on these things than many adults. This book tackles these subjects in beautiful, inspiring ways. I'd certainly recommend it for the older elementary crowd, and I'd urge families to read and discuss it together.
In general, I think we underestimate children's ability to grasp tough concepts like war and violence, when they actually have more a more rational perspective on these things than many adults. This book tackles these subjects in beautiful, inspiring ways. I'd certainly recommend it for the older elementary crowd, and I'd urge families to read and discuss it together.
October 21, 2019
A collection of short stories, poems and drawings for children about Peace. I enjoyed Natalie Babbitt's 'The Bus for Deadhorse' but was disappointed Maurice Sendak's contribution was one picture.
November 27, 2019
Full disclosure: I bought this book simply because it had one of Maurice Sendak's Wild Things on the cover, and completely unaware of the contents, so this review may be a little scattered. Obviously Sendak was involved in the production of this book, contributing a lovely illustration of a simpler world full of fun and adventure, but most of the authors and illustrators were unfamiliar to me. Published in 1990, as the world was coming down from the highs of the Cold War, but still seeing an increase in violence and strige worldwide, the collection is a manifesto promoting cooperation, understanding, and of course peace among humankind. We see examples of cultures coming together ("There is an Island"), people peaefully protesting for their rights ("The Bus for Deadhorse"), and an example of peaceful coexistence from the animal world ("The Birds' Peace") to name a few of my favourite examples. For what is on the surface a simple children's book of tales, I was surprised at how deeply many of the stories tackle a historical narrative. Engaging with themes of American nationalism, racism, and isolationis a tricky thing to do for publishers, but this risk has paid off to make the book highly engaging. Since its publication it doesn't seem like humanity has come very far in becoming more peaceful, so may it is time to revisit this publishing concept and do another BIGGER book for peace!
April 19, 2020
Wonderful to revisit famous authors and illustrators that were a big part of my teaching career. Sadly They are all figures from the past. I wonder if any current teachers would recognize the names to pick up this book. Still it makes for a couple of hours dedicated to peace in contrast to all the violence in current entertainment . I wish that someway the stories could end up in the hands of our little ones—- or even big ones too.
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January 8, 2021Read this book before you read it to your child. There are many grown-up themes and frankly, sad themes. I would say also make sure this aligns with your political/social philosophy. I was a little turned off by how political this book felt.
January 7, 2025
Who is this collection for? Pre-schoolers? Middle schoolers? The theme is peace (at times, directly; others, vaguely), but this collection seems rudderless with no audience in mind or driving message (other, of course, than the broad and oftentimes bland PEACE).
February 15, 2013
I did not like this book at all in any way shape or form, but I think someone would like this book
March 19, 2025
Such an uplifting call to arms for peace. I think it is one of the most gorgeous collaborations of several talented---and generous--children's book authors and illustrators: "If everyone has the same dream, it might come true. A PEACEABLE KINGDOM." ~Steven Kellogg
March 21, 2025
This is a nice book with stories by 18 authors. Four I loved: the ones by Fritz, Bierhorst, Babbitt, and Paterson. Only three were not good to me. Recommended for middle grades and for church Sunday Schools, to discuss!
September 14, 2020
Stories of peacemaking with children at the center. Powerful messages of hope and action for social justice. Wish this book was widely read and more of its kind widely available!
January 11, 2015
What an interesting and eclectic collection of written and art work for children all on the subject of peace. For the most part, Emma and I enjoyed reading it aloud together. Published in 1990, it contains three picture book stories, four short stories, four historical stories, two poems, one historical treaty, one piece of artwork by Maurice Sendak, and one song called "One More Time."
At the end of the book the editors wrote,
"How This Book Came to Be
At a conference not very long ago, a young librarian remarked angrily that she had just come from a book-selection meeting at which some of her colleagues had enthused over a new "war" book containing numerous photographs of German tanks used during the Second World War.
"The kids will love this one," somebody said. "I'm going to buy multiple copies for my library."
"But there are no photographs in the books," our angry librarian retorted, "showing what these tanks did to people. Why do we have to keep pushing war in our books for children?"
Out of her anger, and the strong antiwar feeling of others in the children's book community, the idea of this big book for peace was born.
Dutton Children's Books offered to publish it, and a letter was mailed to a group of distinguished children's book authors and illustrators, asking them to contribute. We felt proud and elated that so many talented, busy people were eager to be part of this book.
Their royalties and income from the publisher's sale of the book will be donated to the following organizations to help in their work for peace: Amnesty International, The Carter Center's Conflict Resolution Program (Emory University), Greenpeace, The Lion and the Lamb Peace Arts Center, and SANE/FREEZE: Campaign for Global Security."
At the end of the book the editors wrote,
"How This Book Came to Be
At a conference not very long ago, a young librarian remarked angrily that she had just come from a book-selection meeting at which some of her colleagues had enthused over a new "war" book containing numerous photographs of German tanks used during the Second World War.
"The kids will love this one," somebody said. "I'm going to buy multiple copies for my library."
"But there are no photographs in the books," our angry librarian retorted, "showing what these tanks did to people. Why do we have to keep pushing war in our books for children?"
Out of her anger, and the strong antiwar feeling of others in the children's book community, the idea of this big book for peace was born.
Dutton Children's Books offered to publish it, and a letter was mailed to a group of distinguished children's book authors and illustrators, asking them to contribute. We felt proud and elated that so many talented, busy people were eager to be part of this book.
Their royalties and income from the publisher's sale of the book will be donated to the following organizations to help in their work for peace: Amnesty International, The Carter Center's Conflict Resolution Program (Emory University), Greenpeace, The Lion and the Lamb Peace Arts Center, and SANE/FREEZE: Campaign for Global Security."
October 13, 2009
A collection of peace-related stories--some happy, some not--by a collection of recognizable authors.
A neat idea presented in an uneven collection of OK stories. Nothing wowed me.
The backstory provided by the book explains that the idea came about when a young, angry librarian complained that the new war books other librarians were excited to purchase for their students didn't have photos of the devastation caused by the wars. She didn't want to get excited about war books.
Fine. That's a decent way to get an idea for a book. The problem is that there's no way this book appeals to kids the way war books do. It's the sort of thing that'll be used by teachers or purchased by parents, not the sort of thing kids will seek out. That's OK, as long as you don't set it up as a replacement for war books. This can't live up to that.
A neat idea presented in an uneven collection of OK stories. Nothing wowed me.
The backstory provided by the book explains that the idea came about when a young, angry librarian complained that the new war books other librarians were excited to purchase for their students didn't have photos of the devastation caused by the wars. She didn't want to get excited about war books.
Fine. That's a decent way to get an idea for a book. The problem is that there's no way this book appeals to kids the way war books do. It's the sort of thing that'll be used by teachers or purchased by parents, not the sort of thing kids will seek out. That's OK, as long as you don't set it up as a replacement for war books. This can't live up to that.
September 28, 2008
This anthology is a great resource containing inspirational stories by such illustrious authors as Jean Craighead George, Natalie Babbitt, Steven Kellogg and many more. It features stories about peace from different lands, next door neighbors, brothers, and sisters, and people of different races. It is an excellent book to use when introducing theme, and invites the reader to compare and contrast the different perspectives.
September 29, 2014
A treasure. Classic, gifted children's book authors and illustrators. "A Midnight Clear" by Katherine Paterson was particularly moving for me. I may share it with my students this year.
A wide variety of work, all encouraging reflection on struggles with... action towards... a need for peace: poems, beautiful artwork spreads, a song, fables, whimsical tales, historical accounts of internment camps and the civil rights movement.
A wide variety of work, all encouraging reflection on struggles with... action towards... a need for peace: poems, beautiful artwork spreads, a song, fables, whimsical tales, historical accounts of internment camps and the civil rights movement.
March 2, 2016
This is a really neat book, and I enjoyed all the different styles of writing from the many writers and poets. It's a big book that emphasizes the need for peace. I like how all the stories are a different kind of peace-- whether it be kindness towards neighbors or kindness in times of racism. You can tell its an older book because of its mention of a possible nuclear war, but the need for peace is still relevant today.
October 31, 2015
A solid book with a noble purpose. I bought this as soon as I scanned the list of contributors. My favorite selections were from Lloyd Alexander, Lois Lowry and Katherine Paterson. It is definitely the story from Paterson (which closes the book) that caused me to give this 5 stars. It's a profound short tale about the power of love to drive away fear.
September 12, 2007
This is a worthy addition to the library of all children, but I think they could have done even more with it. It’s such a great premise though. Uneven, although some really worthy parts. I wish it was a much longer book!
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September 8, 2012Some very nice verse tucked inside this volume of short stories and poems presenting a theme of peace. I saved this one from the bins in the warehouse, quite possibly because I wanted the Maurice Sendak illustration inside.
January 11, 2008
a compilation of different stories pertaining to peace.
every kid should have this
every kid should have this
December 8, 2008
A nice collection of stories about peace. I used to read it to my son, although older children could read it themselves.
May 14, 2009
The book I chose to receive at graduation.
November 5, 2012
Some nice stories in here and a great theme for kids.
June 25, 2016
This book is full of short stories. I've read some of them, but since we moved, I'm not sure where the book is. I'm sure I'll finish it if/when I find it again.
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September 18, 2016I used this book for my poetry presentation.
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September 10, 2009J810.8Dur
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews