Uprisings, riots, war and terrorism are a daily features on news media but Steven Pinker, taking an historical perspective, makes the argument that the world is getting less violent. Literacy, the rise of government, commerce, travel and education all have played a part in helping us to control impulsive behavior, consider opposing viewpoints, expose jingoism and chauvinism and make the world a better place.  The Better Angels of our Nature makes fascinating reading, but be warned, -- it is many books in one and you’ll need time  to stop, think and ponder Pinker’s insights.

During this time when terrorism is back in the news, I have been thinking about the concepts of peace and friendship. How does someone teach a young child about peace, and the idea that all people can learn to get along? Sharing picture books is one way to do this. The San José Public Library has some excellent materials that can be checked out on these topics. Here are three recomendations.

For the very young child, Baby Faces by Margaret Miller is a good choice. Infants enjoy seeing pictures of babies, and this small book has photographs of babies of different nationalities. As children grow, they might enjoy We All Sing with the Same Voice, by J. Philip Miller. It is based on a Sesame Street song, showing that children around the world are alike at heart. My third recommendation is The Peace Book by Todd Parr. Brightly colored drawings illustrate various peaceful activities, such as learning a new language, making friends, and sharing a meal.

Bring the concepts of peace and friendship to your young child by checking out one or all of these books from San José Public Library!