Pages about war and peace
When armed conflict breaks out, we must be able to manage the information overload and excessive exposure to violent images that children and adolescents will face, and it's best to do so proactively. We must support them and answer their questions and concerns . Stories are a good way to talk to them about war.
Stories, legends, narratives, tales, novels… allow us to see life through the eyes of their characters and then reflect on our own life, our own inner and outer world.
Stories are vitally important in the development of children and adolescents, allowing them to let their imaginations soar, create new worlds, try new solutions, and also develop their emotional skills.
Through stories, we can help children overcome emotionally charged situations, such as anger or fear, and guide them toward better emotional management . Stories help them acquire and develop the emotional skills necessary for a balanced, healthy, and happy life. To support their development, especially with young children, it's best to read together, choosing stories that are appropriate for their individual development and that best respect their interests.
What can you tell me about mental health?
Using stories and books to talk about armed conflicts allows us to do so from the emotional safety of distance: we talk about what happens in a story, at the same time as we talk about what is happening to us.
I propose 10 stories and graphic novels to talk to children and teenagers about armed conflict, our anxieties and fears and, above all, about solidarity and mutual support.
Imagine
John Lennon and Jean Jullien. Flamboyant Publishing. Ages 3+. Bilingual picture book (English-Spanish; English-Catalan) with the complete lyrics of John Lennon's song, illustrated by graphic artist Jean Jullien, in which we accompany a dove on its journey to spread its message of peace and solidarity among the other birds.
The proceeds from the sale of this book are donated to Amnesty International.
Because?
Nikolay Popov. Kalandraka Publishing. Ages 3 and up.
A wordless visual book that presents a fable about frogs and mice and the ensuing struggle between them. It tells how the senselessness of war takes us from a meadow full of flowers to the same place, desolate after the bombings; from something insignificant to a major conflict.
Nikolay Popov experienced the senselessness of World War II as a child, and in this work he recovers his profound pacifist ideology and encourages readers to promote dialogue, tolerance, coexistence and peace.
The birth of the dragon
Wan Fei, Marie Sellier and Catherine Louis. Kalandraka Publishing. Ages 5 and up.
The dragon, associated with mystery and evil in Western culture, is a symbol of peace in Asia. This bilingual Spanish-Mandarin Chinese book combines literature, illustration, and calligraphy. It tells the story of how Chinese children, weary of war, created dragons by combining the best qualities of other animals (snake, fish, horse, buffalo, and bird). A fold-out mural explaining the technique of ideograms and Chinese writing completes the book.
Malala's magic pencil
Malala Yousafzai. Alianza Editorial. Ages 6 and up.
Malala received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 in recognition of her efforts to ensure free, safe, and quality education for girls, and she is the youngest person ever to receive this award. In this book, Malala tells the story of a girl who grows up in a war-torn country, yet still sees magic and hope, using a magic pencil to draw her wishes.
The trip
Francesca Sanna. Impedimenta Publishing. Ages 6 and up.
This first-person account tells the harrowing story of a family fleeing war to build a new home. We follow them through their difficult decision to leave their home and the dangers they encounter at every turn.
The beginning
Paula Carballeira and Sonja Danowski. Kalandraka Publishing. Ages 7 and up.
This book, with its hyperrealistic illustrations and narration from a child's perspective, conveys a message of hope in the face of the horror, adversity, and devastation of war. It's a poignant yet hopeful story of a new beginning for the family at its heart.
The red shoe
Karin Guss and Tobas Krejtschi. Lóguez editions. Ages 9 and up.
We will learn the story of Kenan, a boy who loves playing basketball and lives in a country at war. One day, the school bus taking him to a game is attacked, and he is wounded in the leg. Through the eyes of the journalist covering the story, we learn a harsh and bitter tale that illustrates the reality of war and its consequences.
The war of the buttons
Avi. Bambú Publishing. Ages 13 and up.
Twelve-year-old Patrick lives in a small Polish town occupied by Russian troops when the Great War breaks out. His friend Jurek invents a cruel game: whoever steals the best button from a soldier will be king. A haunting story about war, competitiveness, friendship, and whether the ends truly justify the means.
Maus
Art Spiegelman. Published by Reservoir Books. Ages 13 and up.
This graphic novel delves into the horrors of the Holocaust through the life of Vladek Spiegelman, a Polish Jew and survivor of the Nazi extermination camps, as told by his son Art. Here, Jews are portrayed as helpless mice, and German Nazis as cats driven by murderous instincts.
It was the first and only Pulitzer Prize awarded to a comic book.
Persepolis
Marjane Satrapi. Norma Publishing. Ages 15 and up.
We have before us a graphic novel that, through the eyes of a young girl, tells the story of the Iranian Islamic Revolution. She explains the profound changes her country and family are experiencing, all while she has to wear the veil. An autobiographical story by Marjane Satrapi, it shows us what it means to grow up in an environment of war and political repression.
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