School Library Journal (Fri May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2009)

K-Gr 2 The students in Miss Fox's class have been squabbling for days, so their teacher declares "Peace Week." The children decide that there will be no fighting or saying mean things, and that they will help others for an entire week. The rest of the book consists of various ways in which a child is tempted to engage in bad behavior but consistently chooses the high road instead. When Squirrel's sister complains about him bouncing nuts against the gate, he bounces marshmallows instead. When Bunny wears her yellow sweater and Polecat calls her "Bunny-Banana," she does not retaliate. In each case, the perpetrator of the mean remark or action is instantaneously and unrealistically reformed. Kennedy's watercolor, ink, and dye illustrations feature an endearing cast of animal characters with expressive faces. The book could generate some discussion about making positive choices; otherwise, it's an additional purchase. Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ

Horn Book (Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2009)

To quash her class's constant quarreling, Miss Fox declares Peace Week. The students quickly figure out ways to be peaceable, kind, and helpful to one another. While the text's happy outcome is a little too quick and easy, readers will find handy suggestions for conflict resolution. The entertaining watercolor, ink, and dye illustrations feature lively animal characters in a style similar to Lynn Munsinger's.

Kirkus Reviews

Fed up with squabbling, Miss Fox declares a Peace Week. All week long, her students find themselves challenged by less-than-peaceful situations and succeed in turning the other cheek to every one, from bossy big sisters and bratty little kids to grumpy neighbors and obstreperous soccer fans. Each instance of peaceful behavior leads, miraculously, to a return in kind until they decide to "make every week Peace Week!" While there's no question that modeling peace-making is important, Miss Fox's students' experience is almost insultingly simplistic. Kids, even ones as young as the target audience, deserve a nuanced acknowledgment that peace-making can take time and can be complicated, hard work. Kennedy's bright line-and-color illustrations depict a multi-species classroom of endearingly childlike animals. (Picture book. 4-8)

ALA Booklist (Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2009)

Tired of all the squabbling in the classroom, Miss Fox declares Peace Week: no quarrels, don't say mean things, help others. The message is overt in this lively picture book, but it never gets too heavy as the animal cast carries out the teacher's instructions. Caught by the angry standoffs and hurtful confrontations in everyday life, kids will welcome the scenes of reconciliation. Of course, the quarrel scenes are exciting: "Is not!" "Is too!" Squirrel wants to yell back when his big sister yells at him, but he doesn't. Mouse wants to ignore the little kids who are quarreling in the sandbox, but instead she joins in and helps them make a bigger, better sandcastle. Baseball fans supporting opposite teams taunt each other, and then smile, "Good game." The celebratory ending make every week Peace Week may be pushing the theme, but the common scenarios make this a fun story that will open discussions with bullies, victims, and bystanders.