Peace Begins With You

Katherine Scholes

Peace Begins with You  Katherine Scholes  Robert R. Ingpen (Illustrator)   Peace Begins with You

Synopsis
"Based on the premise that conflict results because 'people's wants and needs don't always fit together,' Scholes advocates the courage, strength and responsibility needed to choose peace. Her argument concludes with the idea of inner peace ('Some people can feel this peace even when they are in great pain, fear or danger'), while the book ends with a listing of both concrete and abstract ways to become a peacemaker. {First published in Australia under the title Peacetimes.} Ages five to ten." (Booklist)

Annotation
The concept of peace can be a difficult one for children to grasp, but award-winning author Katherine Scholes succeeds in explaining clearly and simply how and why peace has a place in all our lives. Full-color illustrations.

From the Publisher
Explains, in simple terms, the concept of peace, why conflicts occur, how they can be resolved in positive ways, and how to protect peace.

From the Critics
From Publisher's Weekly - Publishers Weekly  
In this slim, timely volume, an Australian author-artist team tackles the concept of peace--not an easy thing to define for adults, let alone for children--and does so with resounding success. Scholes articulates her ideas clearly, without slipping into condescension or cliche, and empowers children through suggestions of steps they themselves can take to become peacemakers. The book is designed for thoughtful examination and discussion; teachers, for example, who are interested in including conflict resolution in a curriculum will find this book ideal. The muted colors of Ingpen's subtle paintings illuminate the prose and give the subject the dignity it deserves. Ages 6-10. (Sept.)
 
From Gisela Jernigan - Children's Literature  
This nonfiction picture book, recently reissued in paperback, introduces young children to the concept of peace in a way that they can understand. The author begins at a personal level by discussing how peace feels, our everyday needs and how different people with different competing needs must often compromise in order to live together peacefully. Using a simple, conversational style, Scholes goes on to address national and international issues relating to peace, including the need to care for the earth. Softly colored, realistic drawings reflect the theme of peace-seeking very well.
 
From School Library Journal  
Gr 2-4-- Scholes defines peace as having the things one needs--food, shelter, clothing--and at least being able to hope for some of the things one wants--friends, family, and love. Building on this definition, she briefly discusses conflicts that destroy peace, ways to regain it, and being a peacemaker. This is a momentous undertaking for a picture book; an inherent difficulty is trying to explain peace. Nevertheless, the text does a credible, if not entirely satisfying job and could open way to further discussion and exploration of the concept. The format presents additional problems. The jacket and opening picture, coupled with the simple text, seem to indicate that this book is suitable for preschoolers--but it is not. The narration quickly becomes too theoretical, and parts of it are obviously directed toward older children. Despite some startling and moving images, Ingpen's pictures often seem to go off on tangents, e.g., when the text mentions peace as the chance to be free from fear, to have the chance to study, and to find love, the illustration shows children involved in tug of war. The effort is worthy; its lack of success is lamentable. --Karen James, Louisville Free Public Library, KY
 
From Heather Vogel Frederick - The Christian Science Monitor (Eastern edition)  
{This book} takes a thoughtful look at the broad concept of peace. Ideas are presented in a low-key, gentle way that avoids the saccharine. . . . The book is an ideal forum for promoting discussion either at home or in the classroom.
 
From Zena Sutherland - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books  
A quiet book that explores different ways of defining or interpreting or achieving peace has a worthy theme but may be limited in appeal because it is repetitive, sedate, and at times rambling and too abstract. The softly drawn and softly colored pictures of adults and children are impressive technically and aesthetically, but they seldom relate specifically to the text on the facing page.