Global Conflict, by Louise Spilsbury, illustrated by Hanane Kai

Let's pick an easy topic to write about in a book for very young children.  I know, says Louise Spilsbury, how about global conflict!  Ha.  Spilsbury, writing for the Children in Our World series, takes on this important, challenging topic in Global Conflict.  With Hanane Kai's warm, engaging illustrations, Spilsbury breaks down what happens when groups of people can't get along.  When people can't solve their problems by talking, or when one group wants to take another group's land or wealth, the groups will fight "until one side gives up or loses."

With admirable succinctness and sensitivity, Spilsbury writes about terrorism, displacement of refugees, relief work, and other consequences of war.  For children who, unfortunately, have experienced war, the simple text and illustrations may help them make sense of what they have experiences.  For the rest of the world, Global Conflict may not present the harshest reality of war, but it will open a conversation for understanding what goes on in other places.

I appreciate this effort to educate children about one of the most unfortunate features of human existence.  It's not an easy topic, and Spilsbury handles it well.  A good teacher or parent reading this with a child will be able to answer questions and turn on some lightbulbs of understanding for the young readers.  I hope that global conflict stays far away and in the past.

Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!