7 true (or true-ish) stories about people who chose to act peacefully
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7 epic books here - Sadako - Silent Night Holy Night - 14 Cows for America - The Yellow Star - The Red Piano - The Librarian of Basra - Peaceful Heroes
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VESUVIUS POOVIUS :: toilets matter! (world toilet day is November 19)
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Ages 4 to 12 years
Vesuvius is a problem solver – and Rome has a big problem. A poo problem.
No one knows what to do with all the poo. It’s so bad that ‘Some people even dropped it into other people’s pockets when they weren’t looking.” (Now if that line doesn’t bring at least a grimacy smirk to your face I don’t know what will.)
Because poo is such a problem, it’s also a “forbiddenus wordus’, which leads to a whole slew of hilarious euphemisms like ‘huge daffodil’ and ‘cola cube’. Aside from all the usual uses for a poo book, this one does a great job of teaching how and when and why to use a euphamism.
Vesuvius – clever if marginalised chap that he is – figures out the solution: tunnels and rain.
Read Morea poignant look at growth that follows the storms and trials of a life well lived
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ages 8 years to grownup
"Carefully, she unties the string and folds back the brown paper. Inside the parcel is a pine cone."
Based on a true story, Lone Pine tells of a young soldier who is at Lone Pine with his brother while yet another brother is also at war elsewhere. The young soldier survives, but his brother doesn’t.
This is tough stuff. It’s poignantly told and is full of sadness. But out of the sadness there is also hope and love. The soldier sends a pine cone from Lone Pine to his mother. She treasures it of course and puts it away where it lies "not quite remembered, not quite forgotten." [The story is set in Australia and Turkey]
Read Morethe beauties and agonies of separation and connection, hope and fear, home and war
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ages 5 years to grownup
Set in Australia. There’s something special about Anzac Day—the cool early morning spent standing with a crowd at the Dawn Service, family breakfasts, and of course Anzac Biscuits to nibble on all day.
And the sense of privilege and peace that comes with living in a free and protected country.
As is true of all war stories, Anzac Biscuits is pretty horrific, but a story that must be told: to remember history, to notice everyday blessings and to understand sacrifice. It does a particularly lovely job of the noticing everyday blessings and understanding sacrifice parts.
Read Morethe joys of coming home from far away places, geographically or symbolically
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ages 8 years to teen
For non-Australian readers: Along the Road to Gundagai is much-loved folk song written in 1922 and Gundagai is a small town a couple of hours inland from Canberra (Australia’s capital city). It’s a lovely memorable tune and in this book it’s given a whole new (and solemn) slant.
Here, it’s a young soldier musing on the words to the song and the completely beautiful illustrations show scenes from home and scenes of war.
Read Morehow ordinary people doing good things led to powerful, enduring wartime bonds
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ages 4 years to grownup
"They didn't even know us," said Adele. "But they died trying to help us."
Henri thought of his new soldier friends.
Do Not Forget Australia tells a true story through the eyes of a young, fictional French boy, Henri. His village, Villers-Breetonneux, was all but destroyed by the first ever tank battle between the British and the Germans. The Germans won, but Australian brigades followed the British and won the town (on 25 April, 1918 – Anzac Day).
Read Morea darned funny book that's great for upending stereotypes
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This might be a child’s first introduction to double entendre! There are three characters in the story – a mouse, a monkey and a jackass – guess where the double entendre comes from! Jackass and Monkey have a frustratingly funny conversation about a book with Jackass looking for its technological qualities.
ages baby to about 10 years
