Cover Image: Peace, Love, Action!

Peace, Love, Action!

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

This book gave some great perspective on how to get kids involved in activism and standing up for what they believe in. A great starter book on the topic.

Was this review helpful?

I considered featuring this book as one of Iphelia.com’s Editor’s Bookshelf selections but decided to go in a different direction. The book was a bit denser, more informational, and more political than I expected based on its description. I think this would be a wonderful resource for upper elementary or middle school readers, but it is not a read-aloud title. I think this book serves a unique purpose for more advanced readers and would love to see the information presented in a simpler A to Z format with more pictures for younger children as well!

Was this review helpful?

The title feels more like this was going to be ways that young people can make change in the world with an emphasis on peace. I wasn't expecting the biographical profiles. For the most part I liked the selection we got: a few familiar, some more obscure. Mostly the profiles included make sense. A few were more of a stretch . Plenty of good ideas relayed in this book, though, and I like that the next steps lean more towards self reflection.

Was this review helpful?

Peace, Love, Action! is a great introduction to activism and I liked the illustrations in it. I think this could work great in a classroom library.

Was this review helpful?

This is a great book to have as a reference for many of the ways we can live a more positive life, following in the footsteps of those who have lived positively and have a courage the love to shine through.

With everything that going on at the moment in the world, all of the pain, suffering and hatred, it’s good to have a reminder as to how we can make our worlds a more positive space to be in.

It is something that everyone can strive for.

Was this review helpful?

What a great book to help spread positivity and helping others. The book tells different stories to illustrate "acts of goodness" from A to Z. For instance, B is for Breathe, E is for Empower and N is for Nurture. A very creative way to help children/teens learn about various activists, acts of goodness and how they too can use these methods. I loved the illustrations throughout the book. Thank you to Netgalley and Parallax Press for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This is a fantastic book aimed at helping everyone realize that they can be the catalyst for change. Tanya Zabinski does an excellent job discussing the peaceful actions of those in our history that have helped propel social change across the spectrum of issues. She discusses race, religion, environment, education, and many other subjects. One of the best parts of this book is the writing; it is written in a way that no matter your age or education level, it will speak to you and teach you. I would absolutely suggest that all schools and libraries have a copy of this book on their shelves.

Was this review helpful?

While Peace, Love, Action! lauds itself as children’s nonfiction I would put this as middle grade nonfiction. The concepts that are covered as you travel through the alphabet are good for a mature individual reader to wander through on their own or to be lead in a thought provoking group discussion. This book could be a great starting off point for discussion in the classroom or in the home.
The book did cover some sensitive topics. Some causes and people were familiar to me and others I had not heard of. While others that could be very political were explained in factual ways.
I especially thought the “What You Can Do” and “Did You Know?” sections were helpful to take action. They were an entire section to help the reader know what that they didn’t have to be passive and to get them to start to think of the next steps they can take to make a difference.
Middle grade teachers should give this book a look, especially if you school participates in Kindness Week.

Was this review helpful?

Peace, Love, Action! by Tanya Zabinski is a fun and uncomplicated book that talks about many different activists as well as activities that you can participate in yourself to make a good change in the world. In my opinion this is a book for people of all ages! There are examples about many different experiences and issues in the world so you not only learn about other people but also how to help each other out.

Was this review helpful?

This book is broken down in the alphabet for children. With each letter representing someone and an idea that is important. This is a must have for all classrooms and homes. Very informative and interesting.

Was this review helpful?

Lately many books have come out detailing the stories of the lives of well-known, inspiring people. Books about inspiring women, or books about inspiring man, The book "Peace, Love, Action!" has something special. Not only does it illustrate the lives of many inspiring people but it goes further. At the end of each chapter there is a section "What you can do." full of inspiration, suggestions, hints. And these suggestions and ideas are so relevant and doable and inspirational that getting started with finding your passion and starting to change the world one step at a time is coming easily.

Was this review helpful?

"Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference" -- Jane Goodall.
This is how this inspiring book starts!
This is a treasure in which we encounter many different stories to illustrate "acts of goodness" from A to Z. For instance, P is for plant, J is for juxtapose, I is for illuminate.
B is for breathe and it tells the story of a Buddhist monk who taught students how mindful breathing could help them stay brave and compassionate in dangerous situations.
The illustrations are simple though powerful.
The author, Tanya, mixes art and activism, her art is thus socially conscious art.
Everything she shares and creates is positive, simple and includes prints, paintings, murals and even drawings on shirts.
She explores social responsibility through creativity and blends both in a beautifully written and engaging book.
In the introduction, she starts by explaining her vision of peaceful activism and recalls Gandhi's and Martin Luther King's peaceful struggles and views on peaceful activism.
She sums up her thoughts about it in this definition: someone who works to choose love over fear.
What I enjoy the most in such non-fiction works is that the author draws from her own past and experiences and shares them with us. It gives substance to her advice.
The A to Z part of the book is illuminating and inspiring.
I also enjoy the "What you can do" advice.
Thanks a lot for this delightful and amazing book as well as for the comprehensive list of resources and websites.
A must have!

Was this review helpful?

The short format (two page) mini biographies have been done before (e.g., RAD WOMEN WORLDWIDE) but this book wasn't a bad addition to the genre, and there were a lot of less famous activists alongside big names like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The "What Can You Do?" page at the end of each biography left a lot to be desired. The activities suggested were shallow, or wouldn't help anyone. How is going to a farm where you can pick your own fruit activism? Particularly bothersome was the prompt, after Colin Kaepernick's biography, to "List at least three things that you appreciate about your country." Kaepernick was protesting his country. Why not encourage young readers to do the same?

Was this review helpful?

This was a lovely little book that I’d love to have in the classroom. It covers an alphabet of activists and people who made a difference in the world. What a positive book to spread to kids.

Was this review helpful?

I was initially lead to believe this book was geared towards young children, but realized as I read it that it was more intended for middle-grade/young teens through adults. While I was familiar with the work of some of the names found in this volume, several were new to me. The way the sections are written, this book can be processed by young teens with minimal assistance, or a younger audience with a more hands-on approach from an adult. The illustrations were charming and did not distract from the written content. I particularly enjoyed the list of ideas at the end of each section if you are interested in getting involved or further wish to discuss what you have read. This book would make a fabulous gift for various celebrations, but graduation in particular struck me as young adults are leaving what is familiar to find their way in the world. It would also be a great introduction for a family of a wide variety of ages looking to learn together.

Thank you to NetGalley and Parallax Press for providing me with an ARC.

Was this review helpful?