Customer Reviews

The Big Book for Peace/Cassette

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have used this book in my classroom for the past 12 years, choosing age appropriate stories for children 2nd through 5th grade. Given the current world events this book, published in 1990, is more timely than ever and will give the thoughtful teacher or parent ideas for discussion with youngsters. There are many spin-off activities that might result from various stories. For example, students might be asked to complete Kristy's letter to her father who is away at war (The Birds' Peace by Jean Craighead George).

I'm not sure what the above reviewer (Michelle) is referring to. This book contains poignant short stories with beautifully drawn illustrations. Classic children's book writers and illustrators have teamed up to give children a meaningful book about the importance of communication, peace, and tolerance. Some examples are a fictional letter from a Japanese teenager in a United States Japanese internment camp in the mid-west. While the topic is serious, the letter is written as a child would, pointing out injustices being committed, but with an innocence that really makes the reader wonder why fellow-Americans allowed the internment of innocent Americans to occur. Another story is composed mainly of illustrations (I was there). It has delightful pictures, and is about 20 sentences long. It talks about a child "being there," helping to keep trees standing, stuffing envelopes for a mayoral election, and pro-peace marches. This story is great at conveying the importance of civic involvement even at a young age. Stories deal with issues such as friendships between children of differing socioeconomic backgrounds, comparing how birds use song to communicate boundaries instead of fighting, and a peaceful journey to Congress to fight for civil rights for minorities. Some stories are 99% illustration with as few as 2 sentences. Some stories are based on real life experiences, some are completely fictional. There is even a song that was written for the book. A truly open-minded reader is readily able to recognize that these stories are simply trying to give us hope for peace and reconciliation in troubled times.

In direct contradiction to Michelle's comment, these stories are not "tales of war, violence, and disrespect." The only tale that could possibly be considered violent in any way, is called "They That Take the Sword." It recounts the tale of a southern man during the Civil War who was a pacifist and refused to pay money so that another man would take his place in the Confederate army. As Michelle is a resident of North Carolina, I can only assume that this story made her feel uncomfortable. For me, as a Virginia resident (another Confederate state), this story was all the more profound, as it forced me to think of impressment in my state and how it affected thousands of individuals, and the bravery of men who stood up for their beliefs (and refused to fight for the preservation of slavery). I read this book when I was 9 and never felt the fear the above reviewer refers to.

This book is truly amazing...it can be used in high school literature, history, and government classes, as well as on an elementary school level. There is no reason why only 12 year-olds and above should read this incredible book. Whether read individually aloud or silently, as a class or as group, this book fills readers with hope and optimism through 17 tales of children and adults of various backgrounds.

Not a book for small children who are beginning to develope their own morality beleifs. The art is good, however the stories can best be appreciated by adults in my opinion.

I usually don't write reviews but felt it was important since there were so few for this book. I first read this as a child and found it to be incredibly inspiring. It is true that some of the stories it tells are difficult to hear. However, I think it is important for children (who are old enough to understand) to hear that wrongs are committed in the world and that we should all work together to right them. When I read this it didn't make me feel distraught, instead I felt inspired to recognize and address injustices. I would like to see this book read in classrooms, and I look forward to someday sharing it with my own children.

This book has several short stories whose ending is "peace is good" or something like that. To get to the ending, prepare to read through tales of war, violence, disrespect for animals and humans ... you get the idea. The big book for peace will fill your child's head with fears and extremes they had not yet imagined.

This book is inappropriate for children below probably 12 years old, and I can't imagine anyone for whom this is truly appropriate.