Annotated Peace Resource List

History of the Crusades, told from the perspective of Muslims: Turks, Kurds, and Egyptians in this biography of Saladin (1138-1193), a relatively generous military ruler. Christian “heroes” from Europe are shown in their un-Christian lifestyles. Much to talk about here. The text is lengthy, though accompanied by wonderful maps and illustrations, so NOT a picture book for the young.

By the Cooperative Children’s Book Center: "Books by and about people of color: African and African Americans, American Indians, Asian/Pacific and Asian Pacific Americans, and Latinos. This listing introduces 50 essential books and a range of authors and illustrators for children."

reviews.www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/books/detailListBooks.asp?idBookLists=42

"With insight, compassion, and a knack for telling a genuinely good story, Hugo and Doreen have gathered an engaging collection of suburban experience stories that could happen to anyone. What is especially appealing and potentially transforming is its honesty and vulnerability. When we hold our time and possessions lightly, we will discover the way of true freedom and joy…. " Marlene Kropf, Associate Professor in Spiritual Formation and Worship at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, Indiana

This project prepares annual lists of feminist books for young readers starting in 2002. Includes fiction and non-fiction with short annotations, dividing titles into those for beginning readers, middle readers (grades 3-6), and young adult (grades 7-12).

From Teaching Tolerance, this film has been endorsed by the National Education Association. Bullied is a documentary film that chronicles one student’s ordeal at the hands of anti-gay bullies and offers hope to those fighting harassment today. Bullied is designed to help administrators, teachers and counselors create a safer school environment for all students, not just those who are gay and lesbian. It is also intended to help all students understand the terrible toll bullying can take on its victims, and to encourage students to stand up for their classmates who are being harassed. A two-part viewer’s guide is available online, with standards-aligned lesson plans and activities for use in staff development.

Picture book format has vibrant colors and gives basics of Ali’s life, though not comprehensively. Includes his refusal to be drafted based on religious beliefs, views as a Muslim against the Vietnam War, and speaking out about discrimination against African Americans.

From Website: “Clara Estelle Breed, or Miss Breed, was the Children's Librarian at the San Diego Public Library from 1929 to 1945. Miss Breed was fond of all children, including the many Japanese American children and teenagers who frequented the East San Diego Branch Library… The day of their departure at the San Diego train station, Miss Breed distributed stamped and addressed postcards to her young friends, asking them to write to her and describe their life in camp.” A sample of those letters, information about life in the camps, and information about Miss Breed is found here. See also the book: Miss Breed: True Stories of the Japanese American Incarceration During WWII and a Librarian Who Made a Difference.

This book is based on the postcards/letters received by San Diego librarian Miss Breed, who gave stamped self-addressed postcards to children she knew when they were forcibly removed to incarceration camps because of their ethnicity during WWII. See also the website www.janm.org/exhibits/breed/title.htm

Beautifully illustrated picture book of Gandhi’s life—being thrown off the train and developing satyagraha (“truth force” or “soul force”), aspects of his family, the nonviolent resistance actions he led against injustice until his death.

Result of research into the role of Muslims in Paris, under the Vichy government, who provided sanctuary for those opposing Hitler’s forces and being sought they them. Soft oil paintings accompany the text, which is fairly detailed, so most suitable for older children. Provides new information on rescue activities during this time by Muslims.

Stories from around the world, most in the last couple of decades.

In 1982, popular Washington Post columnist McCarthy was asked to teach a course at Washington's School without Walls. Responding to the suggestion that he teach writing, McCarthy said, "I'd rather teach peace," and that's what he's been doing ever since in every kind of school all over the country. He teaches his students about the famous (Gandhi and King) and about those who should be famous (Dorothy Day and Jeanette Rankin). He tells them startling things (since the end of World War II, there has never been a democratically elected government as a result of U.S. military presence in a foreign country), and he encourages them to talk about what they're learning. Here he offers a kind of how-to manual, explaining how he gets kids to explore issues relating to peace and how he motivates them to think creatively. Instead of theory, he gives us practice --and a sense of the pleasure he takes from introducing his students to the joy of exploration. The book should be required reading for every educator in America. David Pitt, Booklist.

"D.J. is tired of Vince's mean-spirited comments at school. Vince knows which buttons to push, using the I was just kidding defense when he goes too far. Unsure how to handle the situation, D.J. talks with his father and his teacher and learns a few strategies to help him deal with put downs… A foreword by a bullying-prevention consultant outlines four points that educators and parents need to impart to victims of this behavior. Also provided are conversation starters for further discussion, a list of pertinent organizations and Web sites, and suggested reading for both adults and children." - Carol L. MacKay, Forestburg School Library, Alberta, Canada, School Library Journal.

Just Peacemaking is the product of 23 scholars across various denominations who have collaborated annually since 1992 to specify the 10 practical steps and develop the undergirding principles of this critical approach:

1. Support nonviolent direct action

2. Take independent initiatives to reduce threat

3. Use cooperative conflict resolution

4. Acknowledge responsibility for conflict and injustice and seek repentance and forgiveness

5. Advanced democracy, human rights, and religious liberty

6. Foster just and sustainable economic development

7. Work with emerging cooperative forces in the international system

8. Strengthen the United Nations and international efforts for cooperation and human rights

9. Reduce offensive weapons and weapons trade

10. Encourage grassroots peacemaking groups and voluntary associations

Originally published in 1998 and revised in 2004, this new 2008 edition contains a new introduction and conclusion, as well as updated contents.

Tells of a young Quaker boy in Boston who meets abolitionist John Brown, leading him to question whether slavery or violence is worse. He ends up helping John and the reader weighs as well the issues of “when is violence justified?” (out of print, need to get interlibrary loan from your library)

Table of contents: Christian Pacifism in Brief--“But We Do See Jesus”: The Particularity of Incarnation and the Universality of Truth—On Not Being Ashamed of the Gospel: Particularity, Pluralism and Validation—Why Ecclesiology is Social Ethics: Gospel Ethics Versus the Wider Wisdom—Walk and Word: Alternatives to Methodologism—Meaning after Babbel: With Jeffrey Stout beyond Relativism—Patience as Method in Moral Reasoning: Is an Ethic of Discipleship “Absolute”?—John Howard Yoder on Diversity as Gift: Epistemology and Eschatology

Text and illustration combine to share actions and feelings of a soldier in Vietnam, where Myers himself served. Recommended by Publisher’s Weekly and School Library Journal. From Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato, School Library Journal: “Searching the unfamiliar landscape, his squad tries to sense the presence of the enemy in the jungle. But who is the enemy? The old man in the village? The babies? Planes pass overhead, dropping bombs ‘at a distance that is never distant enough.’… These pictures are difficult to erase from one's memory. When the soldier does encounter an enemy as young as himself, neither fires. Close enough to see one another, they cannot kill.”

www.tng-secure.com/scripts/mcc/catalog/result.php\nA must-see for U.S. residents on the origins of “race” and its impact throughout history. “’Episode 1: The Difference Between Us’ examines the contemporary science ? including genetics - that challenges our common sense assumptions that human beings can be bundled into three or four fundamentally different groups according to their physical traits. ’Episode 2: The Story We Tell’ uncovers the roots of the race concept in North America, the 19th century science that legitimated it, and how it came to be held so fiercely in the Western imagination. The episode is an eye-opening tale of how race served to rationalize, even justify, American social inequalities as ‘natural.’ ‘Episode 3: The House We Live In’ asks, if race is not biology, what is it? This episode uncovers how race resides not in nature but in politics, economics and culture. It reveals how our social institutions ‘make’ race by disproportionately channeling resources, power, status and wealth to white people.”

Compiled by Kathleen T. Horning. (Cooperative Children's Book Center--CCBC, School of Education, University of Wisconsin) Includes thorough annotations.

www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/books/detailListBooks.asp?idBookLists=143