Books & Films that Promote Peace & Nonviolence

Shades of Gray Orphaned when the Yankees killed his family, Will has to live with an uncle who refused to join the Confederate Army. Will's attitude slowly changes from scorn to admiration as he watches the philosophy of nonviolence in action. Ages , 165 pp., paper Carolyn Reeder ISBN: 06

The Big Orange Splot Mr. Plumbean lives on a 'neat street' where all the houses look the same. One day, an orange splot of paint is dropped on his roof, and instead of removing it, Plumbean begins to transform his house into a mecca of color, palm trees, and a hammock. The neighbors are aghast! As each goes to convince him to make it a neat street again, Plumbean explains, 'My house is me and I am it. My house is where I like to be and it looks like all my dreams.' The neighbors end up chatting into the night about their own interests and dreams, and subsequently create their fantasy houses, including a castle and a ship. Daniel Manus Pinkwater ISBN:

Enemy Pie It was the perfect summer. That is, until Jeremy Ross moved into the house down the street and became neighborhood enemy number one. Luckily Dad had a surefire way to get rid of enemies: Enemy Pie. But part of the secret recipe is spending an entire day playing with the enemy! In this funny yet endearing story, one little boy learns an effective recipes for turning your best enemy into your best friend. Accompanied by charming illustrations, Enemy Pie serves up a sweet lesson in the difficulties and ultimate rewards of making new friends. Tara Calahan King is an illustrator and muralist who studied at the Art Academy of Cincinnati. She lives in Ohio. Derek Munson ISBN: X

Coals of Fire Elizabeth Hersheeter Bauman ISBN: A children's classic since 1954, Coals of Fire offers 17 true stories about returning love for hate, good for evil, taken from various cultures and time periods, that will challenge readers, regardless of their age. (All Ages)

Three Kings DVD U.S. soldiers who, disillusioned by Operation Desert Storm, decide to steal $23 million in gold hijacked from Kuwait by Saddam Hussein's army. Getting the bullion out of an Iraqi stronghold is easy; keeping it is a potentially lethal proposition. By the end of their mercenary mission, the Americans can no longer ignore wartime atrocities (and neither can we--the film is boldly unflinching), and conscience demands their aid to Iraqi rebels abandoned by President George Bush's fickle wartime policy.