Peace Library Reviews

One Big Heart, A Celebration of Being More Alike, than Different by Linsey Davis, with Beverly Davis; illustrated by Lucy Flemingreview by Carol Smith With schools opening across the country within the month, One Big Heart combines lyrical rhymes and a whimsical art style that delivers an inspiring message of inclusion and connection within a […]

A Day for Rememberin’by Leah Hendersonreview by Lillis Ward A Day for Rememberin’ tells the story of the first Memorial Day celebration from the perspective of a young African American boy whose family has recently been freed following the Civil War. In this picture book written for grades 2-5, Henderson describes the little known events

by Carole Lindstrom, author; and Michaela Goade, illustratorreview by Becky Showalter We Are Water Protectors, written by Carole Lindstrom and illustrated by Michaela Goade, is a children’s book inspired by the Indigenous-led environmental protests that have been held across the United States for many years. In particular, it tells the story of a little girl taking

Sweet Justice: Georgia Gilmore and the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Mara Rockliff, author; and R.Gregory Christie, illustratorreview by Pete Crow This tightly-written and well-illustrated book reveals a little-known dimension of the Montgomery Bus Boycott of December, 1955 through December, 1966. No doubt you have heard of the roles played by Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin

Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro Sit-Ins by Carole Boston Weatherfordreview by Beth Crow YouTube Reading of this book (4:11) Sixty-three years ago — on February 4, 1960 — African-American students staged a sit-in at a  segregated Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, an act that began  a national movement protesting segregation. Freedom on

by Heather Dean Brewer, author; and LeUyen Pham, illustratorreview by Anne Stokes Heather Dean Brewer is a writer, artist, and art director who designs books for kids and adults and loves to ride her bike in the woods. About this book she says, “I’ve often felt quiet and small and that no one could hear

by Michael Hallreview by Emily Phillips A blue crayon is mislabeled as red. All the other crayons want him to draw things that are red  but he can’t get it right. It says red on his label so that must be right. They tell him he needs to  try harder and keep practicing but he

by William Kamkwambareview by Becky Showalter The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is the inspiring true story of a boy in Malawi who designs and builds a windmill to power his home in famine-stricken Malawi. William Kamkwamba is forced to leave school at 11 years old because his family cannot pay his school fees.  Instead

by Amy Littlesugar and Floyd Cooperreview by Stephanie Sumner History comes alive in Freedom School, Yes! By Amy Littlesugar and Floyd Cooper in this story about a volunteer teacher who risked her life to bring education to a group of people who had been denied their civil rights. As part of the 1964 Summer Project, nineteen-year-old Annie

by Kevin Henkesreview by Carol Smith As children get ready for school, some for the very first time, this book, Chrysanthemum, by Kevin Henkes, is a great discussion starter for families, K-3 children and teachers. Chrysanthemum is the name given to a little girl mouse at her birth. Her parents thought it was the perfect