The Big Book for Peace (Hardcover)

~ Ann Durell (Author), Marilyn Sachs (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this era of glasnost and breathtakingly rapid political change, it's hard to imagine a more timely and welcome book for children. The range of material included under the general umbrella of "peace" is wide, and includes original fables, poems, biographies, illustrations, etc. from such distinguished contributors as Katherine Paterson, Maurice Sendak, Lois Lowry and Jerry Pinkney. The stories about the roots of war are told on a scale that children can grasp: envy between two girls in neighboring treehouses escalates into a cold war; a pair of princes squabble over their turf and eventually destroy each other's kingdoms. Equally useful for home, library or classroom--where more and more teachers are including units on peace--this thoughtfully written, attractively designed volume is a winner in every way. Royalties will be donated to a selection of organizations that champion world peace. Ages 7-12.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

A pantheon of 34 artists and writers come together in an anthology that is both useful and inspiring. Some authors have produced works from real life, as in Jean Fritz' moving story of an Inuit people triumphing over Cold War separation and Milton Meltzer's tale about a Quaker's tragic predicament during the Civil War. Others have written stories. Lloyd Alexander contributes one about the progressively disasterous series of misunderstandings between two princes; Lois Lowry relates the story of the resolution of a rivalry between two friends. Poetry is contributed by Myra Cohen Livingston. Illustrations inspired by the text or the theme are scattered throughout the book: Steven Kellogg does his own version of "A Peaceable Kingdom"; Ben Shecter's charcoal image hauntingly mirrors Charlotte Zolotow's poem "Enemies"; Marc Simont's full-page series of paintings provide a punchline for Marilyn Sachs' "I Was There." Some of the prose is more obviously and schematically didactic than the rest, a problem that afflicts the fiction more than the nonfiction. Yoshiko Uchida contributes a powerful "Letter from a Concentration Camp," but never says whether it is a work especially done for the book or a replication of an actual letter, which does confuse somewhat. Fundamentally, however, this is an exemplary collection. Inspired by an angry children's librarian who was offended by the popularity of books on war, Sachs and Durrell have come up with a powerful, well-done answer. --Christine Behrmann, New York Public Library
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 120 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile; 1st edition (September 20, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525446052
• ISBN-13: 978-0525446057
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #677,988 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Big Book for Peace - a helpful tool in classroom, February 10, 2003

By	Lani (Cambridge, MA United States) - See all my reviews

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).

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent gift...good for the classroom and home!, June 9, 2008

By	Jennifer - See all my reviews

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.

12 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Peace through Violence, June 10, 2002

By	Michelle (Durham, NC United States) - See all my reviews

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.