War and Peace Literature for Children and Young Adults: A Resource Guide to Significant Issues.Walter points out several indicators that suggest children need well-written books about war: five major powers hold nuclear weapons, the U.S. has a long history of wars and many children watch scenes of war on television. Walter states emphatically em·phat·ic adj. 1. Expressed or performed with emphasis: responded with an emphatic "no." 2. Forceful and definite in expression or action. 3. that the book is neither bibliotherapy bibliotherapy /bib·lio·ther·a·py/ (bib?le-o-ther´ah-pe) the reading of selected books as part of the treatment of mental disorders or for mental health. bib·li·o·ther·a·py n. nor written for adults practicing bibliotherapy. Instead, the book serves as a readers' advisory and is designed to show adults how to help children and young adults understand the complex issues involved with war and peace. War and Peace seeks to match individual children with the right books--a developmentally appropriate book meeting a child's expressed need to know or understand an area of war and peace. The introduction builds a convincing case for establishing a resource guide on war and peace. Then, Chapter 1 focuses on selecting appropriate books for children at appropriate times and suggests that such a selection requires knowledge of both the child and the book. This chapter also examines learners' development and such sensitive issues as the Holocaust Holocaust (hŏl`əkôst', hō`lə–), name given to the period of persecution and extermination of European Jews by Nazi Germany. and nuclear war. Chapter 2 focuses on using books about war and peace in the library, classroom and home, while Chapter 3 gives a literary overview of books on war and peace. Walter also provides an extensive bibliography bibliography. The listing of books is of ancient origin. Lists of clay tablets have been found at Nineveh and elsewhere; the library at Alexandria had subject lists of its books. of more than 400 books, which she divides into separate sections for young children, children and young adults. It is important to note that War and Peace does not glorify war and its horrors. In addition to annotating an·no·tate v. an·no·tat·ed, an·no·tat·ing, an·no·tates v.tr. To furnish (a literary work) with critical commentary or explanatory notes; gloss. v.intr. To gloss a text. books on wars, the author also lists books advocating peace movements, such as The Peace Seekers: The Nobel Peace Prize The Nobel Peace Prize (Swedish and Norwegian: Nobels fredspris) is the name of one of five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel. and Men Against War. Strengths of War and Peace include its balanced perspectives, detailed indexes, comprehensive annotations, resources for adults, a readable read·a·ble adj. 1. Easily read; legible: a readable typeface. 2. Pleasurable or interesting to read: a readable story. and interesting writing style and emphasis on learners' development. I enthusiastically recommend War and Peace for librarians, parents and educators of all grade levels who want to help children and young adults understand war as well as the peace movements. |
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