Peace on Earth

Name: William Joseph
Price range: $

by Smriti Halls, illustrated by David Litchfield

Interest age: 4 to 5

Published by Walker Books, 2023

Picture books

About this book

Peace on earth – what a wonderful idea that would be! The idea of a sparkling, joyful world is a beautiful one. Yet, sometimes, we can hurt each other, and feel the fires of rage burn deep within us. At times like that, it’s hard to find a sense of peace.

What we do have, as humans, is the marvellous tool of speech, which can bring peace – and our hearts, which can be pure and loving. When we look deep inside our hearts, we can find peace there: ultimately, peace on earth can be found in the moments when we dare to dream of a better world – and when we feel peace within ourselves.

This gorgeous rhyming picture book from the dream team behind Rain Before Rainbows,a book about having hope during difficult times, is a feast for the eyes and a restful and reassuring read for little ones. With a gentle theme of conciliation after conflict and love over anger, it’s a great introduction both to helping young children manage and acknowledge their emotions, and perhaps a book that could be used to help explain bigger conflicts in the world.

David Litchfield’s technicolour, rainbow-rich illustrations are full of vivid joy, and Halls’ text is as masterly as we have come to expect.

About the author

Smriti Halls is an award-winning, critically acclaimed children's author, published in more than 30 languages worldwide. Her books include #1 bestseller I Love You Night and Day, I'm Sticking with You, Elephant in My Kitchen and The Little Island.

With a cast of characters as varied as mischievous monsters and disgruntled geese, she explores relationship and identity; the personal and the political; how it feels to be in your own skin - and in someone else's. Her books, often fast-paced and funny or lyrical and tender, are always full of heart and hope and speak to the child in all of us.

Smriti also creates bold board books to engage the very smallest readers, young fiction for newly independent readers and beautiful, highly illustrated non-fiction for older readers including the award-winning The Ways of the Wolf.

The Little Island is currently shortlisted for the 2020 Little Rebels Award and the 2020 Teach Primary Awards, while I'm Sticking With You was the Independent Bookshops Children's Book of the Month for August 2020. Her forthcoming picture book Rain Before Rainbows (illustrated by David Litchfield) has been made available ahead of publication in partnership with Save the Children as a free e-book to support their work with families most affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Smriti works widely with children and adults in schools, libraries, festivals, bookshops and prisons to bring a love of reading and stories to the widest possible audience. She lives in London and is also published as Smriti Prasadam-Halls.

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