Peaceful Pieces: Poems and Quilts About Peace explores peace at different levels from personal to interpersonal to world-wide. Author Anna Grossnickle Hines uses the quilt motif for her illustrations. Each page is a full-color reproduction of a handmade quilt that compliments the poems. Quilts are also used as a metaphor for our interconnectedness and, thus, elevating the importance of peace.
The book concludes with short summaries of people who have worked for peace—both well-known adults like Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. and lesser-known children like Samantha Smith and Mattie Stepanek. I recommend Peaceful Pieces: Poems and Quilts About Peace for ages 8 and up. The poems can be applied to circumstances younger children understand—family relationships, enjoying nature, and individual choices. Older children can be guided to connect the concept to history, politics, and current events.
“Peace: A Recipe”
Open mind—at least two.
Willing hearts—the same.
Rinse well with compassion.
Stir in a fair amount of trust.
Season with forgiveness.
Simmer in a sauce of respect.
A dash of humor brightens the flavor.
Best served with hope.
“Weapons”
I have never fired a gun
But have shouted words
that pierce and stung.
I have hurled cutting remarks,
ignited flames with hateful sparks.
I’ve shot daggers from my eyes
at those I momentarily despised.
I have never fired a gun
but want to learn
to hold my tongue.
“Weightless”
Dark and heavy,
anger presses
my pinched heart
into my stomach.
But…
when I forgive,
when I truly forgive
my feather heart
lifts
floats
light
free
spacious enough
to take in
the whole
wonderful
world.
This post is linked up with Poetry Friday at Random Noodling.
I am glad you chose to highlight this book as I think it is an absolutely beautiful book, loved by myself, my 7 year old and 12 year old alike. And it has helped bring peace to our household at times ;-)
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this one. I love the poem - WEAPONS. I'll add this to my shopping list. I think our house could use some Peaceful Pieces.
ReplyDeleteOh wow, these are beautiful teasers that you shared with us. I was thinking that as we explore having a 'war/conflict' theme in GatheringBooks, we should juxtapose that with peaceful poems and narratives such as this one. Thank you for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone! I am glad this book blessed you. :)
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