How the Children Stopped the Wars

by Jan Wahl

This is the inspirational tale of Uillame, a young shepherd, who sets off to end a war. Beautifully written in a timeless voice, How the Children Stopped the Wars will provoke questions about violence and provide a powerful message of peace in today's volatile world.

104 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1969

About the author

Jan Wahl was an American author best known for his imaginative and influential children’s books, which combined wit, warmth and a deep respect for young readers. Born in Columbus, Ohio, Wahl showed artistic promise early, performing piano on children’s radio programs and appearing on stage alongside legendary magician Harry Blackstone Sr. He studied at Cornell University, where he took classes with Vladimir Nabokov, and continued his education in Europe as a Fulbright scholar before completing graduate studies in the United States.
Wahl began publishing children’s books in the mid-1960s and quickly became a prolific and celebrated voice in the field, ultimately writing more than 120 works. Titles such as Pleasant Fieldmouse, The Furious Flycycle and Humphrey’s Bear earned him a devoted readership and critical acclaim. His stories were frequently illustrated by major artists, including Edward Gorey, Maurice Sendak and Mercer Mayer, and were praised for their playful tone, emotional intelligence and sense of empowerment.
Beyond writing, Wahl led an unusually rich cultural life, working with filmmakers, writers and artists, lecturing widely on film history and literature, and maintaining close ties to both the literary and cinematic worlds.

Reviews

[Jennie Langberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

The language is poetic and the imagery is rich with color and sound- like the golden memories of childhood. Wahl has created quite the persevering band of kids, and their earnest desire to bring loved ones home from the war is what our world needs. However, I could have used some more elaboration at the end. The soldiers see their children and stop fighting to spend time with them. I get that the adults see their kids and rethink the fighting, why they’re there, what kind of world they want for their children, etc. However, it doesn’t paint a realistic picture of adults considering warfare. Haven’t we all seen pictures of children dying on beaches or in field hospitals or seen those YouTube videos of soldiers coming home to see their kids? Yes. So why hasn’t the war stopped? The ending brings up the eternal dilemma of children’s books- should we paint a happy ending to give the next generation something to strive for, or should we present a less happy/ more complex world so our children don’t have unrealistic expectations/ possibly become jaded? I have my own opinions, but this book is great for starting a conversation with parents, teachers, and kid lovers everywhere about what we give our children to read.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uillame is a shepherd who has not seen his father for many years. He’s approached by a stranger in a brown cloak. Uillame offers the stranger his food and they begin to speak. During the discussion the stranger shares, “War never - never - never - never seems to stop happening!” The conversation continues and suddenly the stranger is gone.

Uillame decides that he cannot stay idle. He begins on his crusade, gathering children with him as he goes. They encounter monks who feed them, ship captains that want to sell them as slaves and a town of women who want to keep them as their own children.

The book was a quick read, less than a couple of hours. It reads like a fairytale. However, I don’t know that this is a book for young children. I’m thinking more middle school age.

[Jennifer Ellison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a super 70's vibe. It was interesting enough for me to read the whole thing, but I wouldn't pick it up again.

[Krista · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh. Quick read (couple of hours). A overly precious fairy tale about the futility of war. Written in the Vietnam era, reprinted for the War on Terror era. The kids march to the battlefield to stop the wars. The men stop fighting because they can't remember what they were fighting for and, when confronted with the faces of their children, they realize their folly.

I'm sure there is much symbolism for dissecting; a stranger who tells the hero about the wars, shrinks, then disappears. Two red stars. Children's names. A green felt hat. Or maybe it's just colorful description to decorate a simplistic story.

I read this as a possible candidate to read with my 6 year old. I'll change my review if he finds meaning I did not.

[Tanja · Rating 3 out of 5]

Powerful and thought-provoking anti-war story, which actually reads and feels like a fairytale/ folktale. I can imagine this to be a great read-aloud accompanying units on conflict resolution, wars, history in general. This would definitely spark lots of pondering and conversations, while allowing the reader to enjoy beautiful rich language. (Not sure though how students would find the book for independent reading.)
My favorite quote comes from the author's afterword:
"If you learn to read, you may learn to think. If you learn to think, you may make a better world."

[Sally · Rating 2 out of 5]

Din:
"Above them .... Skyrockets appeared, bursting through the space...."Why don't you?" screamed the stranger in the tiniest, squeakiest voice...so that Uillame was scarcely able to hear it above the din." (page 14-15)

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

for me now, as a fifty year old, three stars but if i were twelve or even in college a four star book. i used to believe that such things could make a difference.
read it to a class along side Clavell's A Children's Story

[Sga · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 1960s were so great.