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Children in Our World
Global Conflict
With our 24/7 news cycle and constant access to the latest headlines, the world can be a scary place. Now imagine you're a child trying to make sense of it all!
That's where books from the Children in Our World series can help. Each book uses relatable comparisons, carefully researched text, and striking illustrations to help kids understand the many difficulties that children just like them face in the world today. In Global Conflict, children can get answers to questions like: what is global conflict? And how does it affect people in countries all over the world? Children will begin to understand the way others struggle with these issues and discover ways they can help. Award-winning illustrator Hanane Kai uses a deft hand to create powerful illustrations that help children visualize the people impacted by poverty, hunger, war, racism, and more. All of the images are sensitively rendered and perfectly suited for younger children. These books are an excellent cross-curricular resource--use them to explore important issues and tie them into discussions about food, wealth, compassion, empathy, and current affairs.
That's where books from the Children in Our World series can help. Each book uses relatable comparisons, carefully researched text, and striking illustrations to help kids understand the many difficulties that children just like them face in the world today. In Global Conflict, children can get answers to questions like: what is global conflict? And how does it affect people in countries all over the world? Children will begin to understand the way others struggle with these issues and discover ways they can help. Award-winning illustrator Hanane Kai uses a deft hand to create powerful illustrations that help children visualize the people impacted by poverty, hunger, war, racism, and more. All of the images are sensitively rendered and perfectly suited for younger children. These books are an excellent cross-curricular resource--use them to explore important issues and tie them into discussions about food, wealth, compassion, empathy, and current affairs.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published February 1, 2018
2 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 7, 2017
[Note: This book was provided free of charge by Edelweiss/Barron's Educational Series. All thoughts and opinions are my own.]
Depending on your own views towards conflict and world peace [1], you will find this book either endearing or intensely dishonest. The best thing that can be said about this book is that the illustrations are thought provoking and of a high level of skill and the sort of approximation to realism that children of all ages are likely to find beautiful. The text, though, is another matter entirely. If you want to know how snowflakes are made, books like this one give a good indication of the process. The poverty and error of the author's worldview are made plain by the way in which the author seems to assume that governments and international institutions are capable and interested in bringing peace when they are either nearly entirely incapable (the latter) or are often the most active persecutors of their own people or agents of violence on a large scale (the former). The author thinks that by learning how to communicate we can all just get along peacefully, but sometimes life isn't like that.
The book itself is mercifully short, but it has a preachy attitude that demonstrates once again that books to children are generally not so much about amusing children as indoctrinating them. In this case, the author wants children to grow up as little internationalists who have a high trust in the powers of government and who view our soldiers as merely people who fight in self defense of our country but who would really want to be at peace, which appears to be true of our soldiers but not to the government leaders who ultimately command them. The authors point out that warfare and global conflict is often destructive to efforts at education, although the author seems to view education merely as public education, probably because of other worldview concerns. The end goal of this book, and others like it, appears to be to encourage people to grow up as passive recipients of government entitlements and as supporters of government taking upon itself the responsibilities of safety and a lack of development of personal moral and political responsibility for oneself. The goal appears to be the indoctrination of young people into mistaken views of the world that leave them vulnerable to exploitation from paternalistic governments, and to view this as a natural phenomenon rather than an artificial one, and as a good thing rather than a very bad thing.
Ultimately, this book's worldview fails on multiple counts. For one, the author misdiagnoses the etiology of conflict in merely miscommunication by denying the existence of genuinely antithetical worldviews. This is as true in political conflict within communities and countries as between them. As both the globalist and Islamist worldview assume a totalitarian aspect that demands control of the entire globe and seeks to do so by force or fraud if necessary, conflict is guaranteed if someone stands up against either of these wicked worldviews. Instead of viewing conflict from the perspective of our bent desires to rebel against the authority of God and to dominate those we view as beneath us--both tendencies of which are visible in this book--the author offers a naive and misguided belief that all problems can be solved by better understanding each other and talking it out, which is misguided and erroneous in the extreme. When this is coupled with the author's mistaken view of the role of human government in conflict as a force for evil, generally, rather than for good in such matters, it becomes clear that this book is not an effort to educate but rather a desire to indoctrine a generation of youth in a field worldview whose failure is already manifest to all who have any awareness at all in our contemporary world.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2014...
Depending on your own views towards conflict and world peace [1], you will find this book either endearing or intensely dishonest. The best thing that can be said about this book is that the illustrations are thought provoking and of a high level of skill and the sort of approximation to realism that children of all ages are likely to find beautiful. The text, though, is another matter entirely. If you want to know how snowflakes are made, books like this one give a good indication of the process. The poverty and error of the author's worldview are made plain by the way in which the author seems to assume that governments and international institutions are capable and interested in bringing peace when they are either nearly entirely incapable (the latter) or are often the most active persecutors of their own people or agents of violence on a large scale (the former). The author thinks that by learning how to communicate we can all just get along peacefully, but sometimes life isn't like that.
The book itself is mercifully short, but it has a preachy attitude that demonstrates once again that books to children are generally not so much about amusing children as indoctrinating them. In this case, the author wants children to grow up as little internationalists who have a high trust in the powers of government and who view our soldiers as merely people who fight in self defense of our country but who would really want to be at peace, which appears to be true of our soldiers but not to the government leaders who ultimately command them. The authors point out that warfare and global conflict is often destructive to efforts at education, although the author seems to view education merely as public education, probably because of other worldview concerns. The end goal of this book, and others like it, appears to be to encourage people to grow up as passive recipients of government entitlements and as supporters of government taking upon itself the responsibilities of safety and a lack of development of personal moral and political responsibility for oneself. The goal appears to be the indoctrination of young people into mistaken views of the world that leave them vulnerable to exploitation from paternalistic governments, and to view this as a natural phenomenon rather than an artificial one, and as a good thing rather than a very bad thing.
Ultimately, this book's worldview fails on multiple counts. For one, the author misdiagnoses the etiology of conflict in merely miscommunication by denying the existence of genuinely antithetical worldviews. This is as true in political conflict within communities and countries as between them. As both the globalist and Islamist worldview assume a totalitarian aspect that demands control of the entire globe and seeks to do so by force or fraud if necessary, conflict is guaranteed if someone stands up against either of these wicked worldviews. Instead of viewing conflict from the perspective of our bent desires to rebel against the authority of God and to dominate those we view as beneath us--both tendencies of which are visible in this book--the author offers a naive and misguided belief that all problems can be solved by better understanding each other and talking it out, which is misguided and erroneous in the extreme. When this is coupled with the author's mistaken view of the role of human government in conflict as a force for evil, generally, rather than for good in such matters, it becomes clear that this book is not an effort to educate but rather a desire to indoctrine a generation of youth in a field worldview whose failure is already manifest to all who have any awareness at all in our contemporary world.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2014...
March 6, 2019
Het kinderboek ‘oorlog’ vertelt in begrijpelijke taal wat oorlog is, hoe oorlog ontstaat en wat voor gevolgen een oorlog allemaal kan hebben. Door middel van korte stukjes tekst en passende illustraties probeert Spilsbury kinderen iets bij te brengen over het trieste fenomeen oorlog. Het boek is verdeeld in verschillende, korte hoofdstukjes, die telkens ingaan op een ander onderdeel omtrent oorlog. Hierdoor ontstaat er niet echt één verhaal en springt het boek van de hak op de tak.
In het boek komt duidelijk de informatieve functie naar voren: Spilsbury wil kinderen iets leren over oorlog en de begrippen die daarbij horen. Naast de informatieve functie herken ik de emotieve functie: Spilsbury vertelt over kinderen die hun thuis moeten verlaten en niet meer naar school kunnen en roept hiermee gevoelens van verdriet en angst op bij kinderen: wat als dat hun zou overkomen?
Opvallend is dat Spilsbury vrij ‘mild’ is in het beschrijven van de (emotionele) gevolgen van oorlog voor kinderen (en volwassenen). Er wordt bijvoorbeeld geen één keer gesproken over dat mensen overlijden in een oorlog en dat kinderen dus hun ouder(s)/andere familieleden kunnen verliezen. Het lijkt in het boek alsof het naarste gevolg van oorlog kan zijn dat je moet verhuizen en nieuwe vrienden moet maken… In hoeverre ben je als schrijver dan eerlijk over wat oorlog is en wat de gevolgen kunnen zijn? Natuurlijk kan het zijn dat ‘heftige’ feiten worden weggelaten om kinderen te beschermen, maar is het niet juist gevaarlijk om (de gevolgen van) oorlog te bagatelliseren tegenover kinderen? Gaan zij (in de toekomst) dan niet te ‘makkelijk’ over oorlog en oorlogsslachtoffers denken?
Het idee om kinderen in begrijpelijke taal uit te leggen wat oorlog is en wat ermee gepaard gaat, vind ik goed. Wat ik echter gevaarlijk vind aan dit boek is dat er dus veel (heftige) gevolgen van oorlog worden weggelaten én dat de informatie wordt gepresenteerd als feitelijk, terwijl de informatie lang niet altijd (volledig) juist is. Dit komt bijvoorbeeld naar voren in onderstaand stukje over vluchtelingenkampen:
'Veel landen werken samen om vluchtelingen te helpen. Ze sturen hulpverleners die een tentenkamp bouwen. Daar krijg je eten, schoon water en een bed om in te slapen. Er zijn verpleegkundigen, dokters en medicijnen. In een tentenkamp kun je even tot rust komen. Het is niet bedoeld om er lang te blijven wonen.'
Helaas leert de praktijk ons dat in lang niet alle tentenkampen altijd schoon water, voldoende voedsel, medicijnen, dokteren en bedden zijn. Van ‘even tot rust komen’ is volgens mij vrijwel nooit sprake, omdat mensen vaak verkeren in totale onzekerheid. Veel vluchtelingenkampen zijn overvol en onveilig. Zou het niet beter zijn om hier ook eerlijk over te zijn naar kinderen toe, zodat zij wel een volledig beeld krijgen van hoe een oorlog en de omstandigheden van mensen die in een oorlog leven eruit zien?
Een hoop kritische noten dus bij dit (voorlees)boek voor kinderen. Een positieve afsluiter is wel dat er aan het eind van het boek nog goede zingevende functies naar voren komen: probeer naar elkaar te luisteren, daarmee voorkom je oorlog; wees aardig voor elkaar en wees bereid tot het sluiten van compromissen; geef je mening, maar doe anderen er geen kwaad mee.
En nu maar hopen dat alle kinderen dit oppakken, zodat dergelijke boekjes in de toekomst niet meer nodig zijn, omdat het begrip ‘oorlog’ niet meer bestaat.
In het boek komt duidelijk de informatieve functie naar voren: Spilsbury wil kinderen iets leren over oorlog en de begrippen die daarbij horen. Naast de informatieve functie herken ik de emotieve functie: Spilsbury vertelt over kinderen die hun thuis moeten verlaten en niet meer naar school kunnen en roept hiermee gevoelens van verdriet en angst op bij kinderen: wat als dat hun zou overkomen?
Opvallend is dat Spilsbury vrij ‘mild’ is in het beschrijven van de (emotionele) gevolgen van oorlog voor kinderen (en volwassenen). Er wordt bijvoorbeeld geen één keer gesproken over dat mensen overlijden in een oorlog en dat kinderen dus hun ouder(s)/andere familieleden kunnen verliezen. Het lijkt in het boek alsof het naarste gevolg van oorlog kan zijn dat je moet verhuizen en nieuwe vrienden moet maken… In hoeverre ben je als schrijver dan eerlijk over wat oorlog is en wat de gevolgen kunnen zijn? Natuurlijk kan het zijn dat ‘heftige’ feiten worden weggelaten om kinderen te beschermen, maar is het niet juist gevaarlijk om (de gevolgen van) oorlog te bagatelliseren tegenover kinderen? Gaan zij (in de toekomst) dan niet te ‘makkelijk’ over oorlog en oorlogsslachtoffers denken?
Het idee om kinderen in begrijpelijke taal uit te leggen wat oorlog is en wat ermee gepaard gaat, vind ik goed. Wat ik echter gevaarlijk vind aan dit boek is dat er dus veel (heftige) gevolgen van oorlog worden weggelaten én dat de informatie wordt gepresenteerd als feitelijk, terwijl de informatie lang niet altijd (volledig) juist is. Dit komt bijvoorbeeld naar voren in onderstaand stukje over vluchtelingenkampen:
'Veel landen werken samen om vluchtelingen te helpen. Ze sturen hulpverleners die een tentenkamp bouwen. Daar krijg je eten, schoon water en een bed om in te slapen. Er zijn verpleegkundigen, dokters en medicijnen. In een tentenkamp kun je even tot rust komen. Het is niet bedoeld om er lang te blijven wonen.'
Helaas leert de praktijk ons dat in lang niet alle tentenkampen altijd schoon water, voldoende voedsel, medicijnen, dokteren en bedden zijn. Van ‘even tot rust komen’ is volgens mij vrijwel nooit sprake, omdat mensen vaak verkeren in totale onzekerheid. Veel vluchtelingenkampen zijn overvol en onveilig. Zou het niet beter zijn om hier ook eerlijk over te zijn naar kinderen toe, zodat zij wel een volledig beeld krijgen van hoe een oorlog en de omstandigheden van mensen die in een oorlog leven eruit zien?
Een hoop kritische noten dus bij dit (voorlees)boek voor kinderen. Een positieve afsluiter is wel dat er aan het eind van het boek nog goede zingevende functies naar voren komen: probeer naar elkaar te luisteren, daarmee voorkom je oorlog; wees aardig voor elkaar en wees bereid tot het sluiten van compromissen; geef je mening, maar doe anderen er geen kwaad mee.
En nu maar hopen dat alle kinderen dit oppakken, zodat dergelijke boekjes in de toekomst niet meer nodig zijn, omdat het begrip ‘oorlog’ niet meer bestaat.
November 6, 2019
The Children in our World series does an excellent job of explaining the reality of serious problems without scaring children. Global Conflict addresses the causes and consequences of war. Topics range from "People in conflict" to "What is terrorism?" to "Ending conflicts." Readers are reassured that war in their hometowns is unlikely, and they are encouraged to talk to their parents or other trusted adults about their concerns. Spilsbury and Kai depict the gravity of war in ways appropriate to school-age children, and the cat from the other books makes several appearances again, providing a comfort to readers of this distressing topic.
I have read Refugees and Migrants and Racism and Intolerance from this series with T. They have helped to answer specific questions he has had. T has also asked about war, but Global Conflict is beyond his level. We read a few sections in this book; he was glad to see the cat again, and he loved hearing about how diplomats help people solve problems with words instead of fighting. In fact, he really latched onto the concept of diplomacy. For several weeks after we read about diplomats, he was determined to be a diplomat when he grew up, and he used calm words to resolve disagreements. I recommend Global Conflict for older children (school age) or as a resource to parents of younger children. This is a book I have no doubt we will revisit as T grows and has more questions.
Note: I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
I have read Refugees and Migrants and Racism and Intolerance from this series with T. They have helped to answer specific questions he has had. T has also asked about war, but Global Conflict is beyond his level. We read a few sections in this book; he was glad to see the cat again, and he loved hearing about how diplomats help people solve problems with words instead of fighting. In fact, he really latched onto the concept of diplomacy. For several weeks after we read about diplomats, he was determined to be a diplomat when he grew up, and he used calm words to resolve disagreements. I recommend Global Conflict for older children (school age) or as a resource to parents of younger children. This is a book I have no doubt we will revisit as T grows and has more questions.
Note: I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 22, 2018
Louise Spilsbury does an excellent job at answering questions about war and terrorism in simple terms that kids can use to try to understand. Such a difficult topic to brooch and yet she does it. I love that it doesn’t gloss over or dumb it down for kids either.
August 28, 2017
#conflict #terrorism explained in plain simple language that is accessible to younger children. Beautifully illustrated in a sensitive manner
April 25, 2018
A well thought out introduction for young students to understand Conflict,War, Terrorism and how we all strive to be safe.
August 2, 2019
Difficult concepts written simply to define global conflict. Fourteen chapters that are just one page long.
June 13, 2022
Timely information, but it doesn’t seem as engaging or effective written in such general terms.
May 14, 2025
Een inhoudelijk verhaal over een belangrijk onderwerp. Deze serie ‘Wereld in nood’ is een aanrader.
Want to read
January 9, 2018Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews