Aug
27
Written by:
host
8/27/2009 7:00 AM
If you have ever given a children’s sermon (or listened to one) you realize that although the children’s message is addressed to children, the adults listen in. Children’s messages, with their (hopefully) simplified language, short duration, and (usually) fun approach, appeal to all ages. (This is not to say that adults should have a steady diet of children’s messages only, but rather that they can be a beneficial supplement to sermons.)
The same argument can be made for many children’s books. Fewer (and simpler) words and the addition of pictures make children’s books easier for adults to read than books that are written for adults. (Again, this does not mean that children’s books should be the only literature ready by adults…) Some children’s books even seem to be written more for adults than for children. Why War is Never a Good Idea is a book that falls into this category.
Alice Walker (author of The Color Purple) has written a poem about the reality of war. The bold illustrations of Stefano Vitale accompany the poem in Why War is Never a Good Idea. I was immediately drawn in by the first page, a colorful scene of an Asian village and the words,
“Though War speaks
Every language
It never knows
What to say
To frogs.”
Alice Walker’s poem goes on to describe the far-reaching and devastating effects of war. The words and illustrations in this book may be a bit intense for younger children. For older children and adults, however, it would make an excellent discussion starter about the topic of War.
“War has bad manners
War eats everything in its path”
Why War is Never a Good Idea does not have a cheery, uplifting ending. Neither does War.
~Sally Hoelscher