Mother Teresa once said, "If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other." The practice of peace begins with those closest to us — family members and friends at school or in the playroom. Peace, Baby! b Linda Ashman is a creative, down-to-earth children's picture book filled to the brim with examples of how children can do this in everyday life. For example: "Lola grabs your favorite bear. Jacob's sitting in your chair. You could fight, but why not share? Say: Peace, baby." And "Omar stumbles, falls down flat. Kayla's lost her brand-new hat. Hugs can help at times like that. Spread peace, baby."
Ashman and illustrator Joanne Lew-Vriethoff show how spreading peace is the the best way to make the world a better place. And it can be applied everywhere: "Peace to strangers on the street. Peace to bugs beneath your feet. Peace to neighbors. Peace to teachers." Wherever tempers flare and tensions reign, we can be peacemakers. Whenever things are difficult, we can breathe in and out and be peace.
Although this incredibly helpful children's picture book has been designed for girls and boys from 4 to 8 years of age, it can be used as a resource by older kids as well. We are all here to practice peace as best we can. Writer Coleman McCarthy voices the urgency of this mission: "The earth is too small a star and we too brief a visitor upon it, for anything to matter more than the struggle for peace."
