Peace is an Offering
Reviewed by Emilie Gay
November 30, 2015
By Annette LeBox, illustrated by Stephanie Graegin. Dial Books, 2015. 40 pages. $16.99/hardcover; $10.99/eBook. Recommended for ages birth–5.
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I have been reviewing children’s books for ten years. I have been fortunate to be able to review books that are of high quality and speak to my values. It has been an enriching experience. This month I was given a book that through words and pictures is one of the best in my ten years of reviewing. Peace is an Offering is a book for young children that explores how a community builds peace. The book’s words and pictures give us a simple recipe. Peace is giving, sharing, and caring. Peace is an Offering is a children’s book written in poetry form with colorful illustrations. The pictures and words are very simple with a powerful message.
Annette LeBox’s poetic words describe the actions that lead to a community safe enough for peace to grow. In the story, we follow characters taking actions that create peaceful interactions. Stephanie Graegin uses soft watercolor illustrations to show the reader the loving actions that move the story along. Through pictures and words, we experience friends and families giving, living, and sharing. The components of this book work together to give the reader a peaceful feeling. After I read Peace is an Offering, I felt good. This is a great book for any First-day school library for children from birth to five years old.
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