Somewhere Today: A Book of Peace

From BooklistAges 4^-8. Terribly earnest in his approach but direct in intent, storyteller and schoolteacher Thomas writes simple, declarative sentences: "Somewhere today . . . someone is being a friend instead of fighting . . . someone is teaching his little sister to ride a bike." Each sentence occupies a full-page spread, with a number of photographs of children illustrating the activity mentioned. The photographs themselves, which range from clear close-ups to artfully blurred or angled shots, show a reassuringly varied cast of children and adults of many races and cultures. For "joining a friend's celebration," children break a pinata; for "learning to do things in a different way," a boy learns to use chopsticks from his Asian friends. A slightly hokey ending, in which children are shown reading this very book "and thinking about making the world a better place," is in tune with the book's gentle didacticism. GraceAnne A. DeCandidoSomewhere in the world each day, people just like you are acting in kind, peaceful, loving ways. Perhaps they are visiting someone who is old, teaching a little sister to ride a bike, or sharing an experience with a friend from a different culture.From Publishers WeeklyThis affirming prose poem asserts that peace begins with simple gesturesAacts in which any child might take part: "someone/ is/ visiting/ a/ friend/ who/ is/ old"; "someone/ is/ planting/ a/ tree." Some of the peace-promoting acts involve crossing cultural boundaries, such as whacking a pi?ata or learning to master chopsticks. Thomas (Putting the World to Sleep) quietly makes readers aware of the kindness and pleasures around us. Her spare text and repeating phrasesAeach page begins with the words "Somewhere today.../ someone/ is..."Aplay off well against the warmth and specificity of Futran's photographs. In some, the multicultural families and kids smile happily for the camera; in others, they seem entirely absorbed in their activities. The numerous pictures, varying in size, proportions and quality, show children horsing around, celebrating or concentrating (a few appear washed-out or slightly blurry). The book is a bit like the good deeds it describesAa modest step in the right direction; the author wisely averts didacticism through her use of cogent, everyday examples. Ages 5-9.Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.From School Library JournalPreSchool-Grade 2?A greeting card of a book illustrated with full-color photographs of multiethnic children and adults. The premise is that all over the world, people are helping one another, and in doing so, they are bringing about peace: "Somewhere today...someone is being a friend instead of fighting" or "someone is fixing old toys to give to new friends." Each double-page spread provides an example of a positive action in large type, along with several candid photographs of the individuals involved in bringing it about. A doctor cares for an infant, a boy teaches his sister to ride a bike, two youngsters visit an elderly woman, a family plants trees, etc. The book is visually appealing and offers a proactive, if somewhat simplistic, approach to creating a better world.?Lisa Von Drasek, Bank Street College Library, New York CityCopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.Review"The book is visually appealing and offers a proactive, if somewhat simplistic, approach to creating a better world."School Library JournalFrom the Inside FlapSomewhere in the world each day, people just like you are acting in kind, peaceful, loving ways. Perhaps they are visiting someone who is old, teaching a little sister to ride a bike, or sharing an experience with a friend from a different culture.About the AuthorThomas is an Albert Whitman author.