PreS-Gr 1-In celebration of the United Nations International Day of Peace on September 21, the author of The Colors of Us (Holt, 1999) delivers another delightful foray into diversity. One side of each spread features a lively scene from a particular country ("Meena lives in India"), while opposite, a close-up portrait shows a child who wishes readers peace in his or her own language: "Meena says shanti (SHAHN-tee)." The last few pages make the point that no matter where they live, all children want the same things, "to go to school, to walk in their towns and cities, to play outside-to share food with their families-and feel safe. No matter how we say it, we all want peace." The book closes with an outline world map with tiny images of the youngsters shown waving from their homelands, and a list of other words for peace. Created in collage and mixed media, the vivacious illustrations are filled with movement and energy. Katz's happy, round-faced characters and bold folk-art colors and patterns work beautifully to lighten up the message. A simple, buoyantly illustrated look at the wonderful variety of lifestyles across the globe and the similarities of children everywhere.-Shelley B. Sutherland, Niles Public Library, IL Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

After presenting a simple introduction to Peace Day, Katz shows eleven children from around the globe ("Meena lives in India") and their respective words for peace ("Meena says shanti (SHAHN-tee)"). As in all of Katz's blandly worded books, the selling point is her unmistakable eye-popping mixed-media art, an improbably successful mesh of flat, childlike renderings and fussy patterns.

Using the United Nations International Day of Peace as a launching pad, the nursery-school set travels around the globe to learn how to say the word "peace" in 11 languages. With vibrantly colored patterns softened by soothing rhythmic lines, a detailed, full-page childlike scene depicting a community in a particular country sits adjacent to a big, bold portrait of one of its young citizens. These inviting representations serve as the touch point for preschoolers who may see themselves—or their classmates—in Meena of India, Carlos of Mexico or Chinese gal May. Peace is an abstract concept, but populist picture-book purveyor Katz makes it concrete by noting that children everywhere want to live, learn and play in safety. Best suited for one-on-one sharing or for small groups to pore over with a caregiver, this timely primer on nonviolence works in its simplicity. (pronunciation guides, note, map) (Picture book. 3-6)

In time for the International Day of Peace on September 21, this bright picture book in folk-art style shows preschoolers in various countries around the world who call for peace. On each double-page spread is a full-page brightly painted collage of daily life in a country, from India to France to Mexico; opposite is a portrait of one child, accompanied by her name, and the word for peace in her language. Of course, there is stereotyping; how can the diversity of a country be reduced to a single page? There are also questions about what is left out. For example, Meena lives in India, but her collage pictures depict only the rural and traditional (sari-clad women doing crafts; an elephant in the distance). The view of China is similar, but American Emily is shown next to a view of high-tech, urban New York City. Most useful is the clear world map on the last page, showing where the children come from, the languages they speak, and a list of more countries with their words for peace.