Changing the World Through Nonviolence
The word "peace" means the absence of war or other hostilities. Tolerance is the ability to recognize and respect the beliefs or
practices of other people. Unity is the state or quality of being in
harmony.* When we practice these three words in our everyday lives, we are able to build strong
friendships with people as near as next door and as far away as the other
side of the world.
The links below will take you to books, poems, encyclopedia and magazine articles, and World Wide Web sites for kids and teachers. Some provide information about notable people who have worked for peace in their countries and around the world. Others share children's thoughts and feelings about issues of peace, tolerance, and unity throughout history and today.
*American Heritage Dictionary, Fourth Edition. March 1, 2004 via eLibrary.
At the Library
...books and research tools
- Youth fiction and nonfiction books and poems about peace, tolerance, and conflict resolution
- Youth biographies of notable peacemakers
- Encyclopedia and magazine articles about peace and peacemakers
Available from home for Skokie Public Library cardholders
- eLibrary
Click TOPIC and then select Biographies by Profession from the Biographies section. Next, under Nobel Prize Winners, select Peace for links to biographies of Nobel Peace Prize winners. - Kids Search from EBSCO
Select ENCYCLOPEDIA and then search by keyword to find biographies of notable peacemakers throughout history. - netTrekker Available in-Library only
Use the Elementary THEME SEARCH or browse the list of themes for links to websites about cooperation, friendship, kindness, respect, and tolerance.
On the Web
...for kids
- Blessed are the Peacemakers: How Many Do You Know?
- See how many people you can identify in this photo gallery of famous peacemakers from around the world. Each photo includes a short biography.
- Family/Unity/Peace Hand Flower Craft
- The whole family (or school classroom) can make this "Make It and Take It" craft from Skokie Public Library's celebration of diversity in 2003. NOTE: Requires Adobe Reader
- Friendship Dolls
- In 1927, the Friendship Doll Exchange between Japan and the United states helped promote understanding, peace, and friendship between the two countries. This website explains the exchange and introduces some Japanese and American dolls.
- Heroines of Peace: The Nine Nobel Women
- Learn about the lives of nine women who won the Nobel Peace Prize for their work toward peace.
- My Hero: Peacemakers
- This collection of illustrated biographies celebrates peacemakers from all around the world.
- Pictures of Peace from the United Nations CyberSchoolbus
- This gallery of artwork created by children was part of the 1997 United Nations Peace Poem Project.
...for parents and teachers
- Help for "They Won't Let Me Play With Them!"
- Use these activities and games to help students work together to create a caring, peaceable classroom.
- The Jane Addams Children's Book Award
- Find out which children's books have been honored since 1953 for helping to build peace, social justice, world community, and equality.
- Teaching Tolerance
- Explore issues of tolerance, diversity, and peace in this online playspace filled with stories, games, and activities.
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