ALA Booklist (Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 CST 2020)

In a book that should be paired with John Lennon's "Imagine," Camlot invites readers to visualize soldiers switching pistols for pillows, painted lines for battle lines, and like peaceful exchanges d for each scenario, describes an actual, thematically related anti-war initiative. "What if Navy SEALs balanced balls on their noses or played horns?" for instance, heads an account of how Clowns Without Borders was established in the wake of a circus performance at a refugee camp in Croatia in 1993. The 14 other peacemakers and protesters range from Desmond Doss, a conscientious objector who nonetheless won a Medal of Honor for battlefield heroism in WWII, to groups like the Senegalese youth hip-hop performers Y'en a Marre and the dinner club PEN, which works on behalf of persecuted writers and journalists worldwide. Bloch interprets each proposition literally, his sketchy figures gesticulating broadly and bounding across the pages, almost everyone, soldiers too, wreathed in smiles. Extensive source notes provide budding activists with both leads to more detail and impetus to get the lead out.

Kirkus Reviews

Fifteen quirky, thoughtful what-if statements trace the history of lesser-known social activists and organizations.Taking inspiration from J.K. Rowling—"We do not need magic to change the world. We carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better"—Camlot ponders the power of imagination. Some people were not only able to envision a better world, they put their thoughts into action. Desmond Doss, a conscientious objector in World War II, carried a Bible instead of a weapon into battle. It's not quite the pillows of the titular question, but it does paint the picture of a peaceful way to fight. "What if battlegrounds were soccer fields and spectators cheered for every team?" Les Éléphants of Ivory Coast brought their warring nation together when they qualified for the World Cup. "What if everybody showed up to a political party with their dancing shoes on?" A young Palestinian who dared to dance in spite of strict militant restrictions now shares his story to promote peace. Bloch's cartoons extend the theme, depicting, for instance, the power of music to effect change with a picture of airlifted refugees clinging to a musical staff dangling from a helicopter. The uncluttered design—display type for the leading question, Bloch's fanciful sketches, and one page of text per topic—make this an accessible, bite-sized look at powerful change.Inspiring and hopeful. (glossary, endnotes, sources) (Nonfiction. 8-12)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

This salute to people who exemplify peace and reconciliation begins each story with a question. The titular query describes the story of medic Desmond Doss, the first conscientious objector to win the Congressional Medal of Honor; -What if words of war became a war of words?- describes the evolution of PEN International, the literary and advocacy organization that fights for persecuted writers. In her introduction, Camlot (Clutch) argues that selfless drive of these subjects is motivated by a powerful, relentless imagination--daring us to picture the world as we-d like it to be--and the determination to -turn it into action.- Her brisk reportorial style is refreshingly straightforward; the story of how U.S.-China relations defrosted thanks to an accidental encounter between ping-pong players Glenn Cowan and Zhuang Zedong, for example, is easy to access and helpfully contextualized. Bloch-s (I Voted) customary playfulness, balletic line, and splashes of color and texture deliver, with images that range from soldiers decorating a battlefield with paints to

School Library Journal (Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 CST 2020)

Gr 3-6 Each two-page spread of this slim volume starts with a question in the same vein as the book's title, followed by a brief story about a contemporary or historical figure who resisted the violence in their society and made a positive impact. Accompanying these narratives are loose line drawings (reminiscent of Quentin Blake's style) punctuated with shapes and patterns in light shades of red, green, and brown. The stories feature brave people from many different places across the globe, and both the book's introduction and conclusion encourage readers to ask questions and use their imagination to make the world a better place. These thought-provoking anecdotes have the potential to inspire conversation and further reading for elementary and middle grade students; however, the picture book format, along with questions that seem a bit silly at first glance, could make it challenging to attract readers of the target age range. Back matter includes a glossary, endnotes that cite quotations, and a "Selected Sources" section. VERDICT While it is admirable to encourage children to think creatively in order to solve conflicts without violence, this book will likely have a limited audience. Sarah Reid, Four County Library System, NY