if you’re a teacher-librarian in canada (like me) and it’s early november, you’ve probably removed the black and orange bulletin board, put away the hanging spiders for another year, and delayed relocating the mass of horror books to a huge wobbly stack on the re-shelving cart. You’ve probably also realized that Memorial Day is only a few days away and if you want to get some lessons on peace and conflict, now is a good time.
Whether you’re at school with the kids or at home, Remembrance Day (or Veteran’s Day) is the perfect time to talk to kids about the war and, more importantly, about the war. peace. this post is a great place to start!
You are reading: War books for kids
Today I have a list of the most powerful books on war and peace for children, as well as some discussion questions for each selection to really get your kids thinking.
This post contains amazon affiliate links. see disclosure for details.
The tricky part of teaching kids about war and conflict, of course, is that you want to make sure the material isn’t too “heavy” for their age.
(although I once had a first grader tell me at length about the battleship bismarck and the fact that the nazis didn’t like people who didn’t have blonde hair and blue eyes!)
That’s why I’ve read and ranked all of the books below by age, and provided a brief summary of each. I hope you find it useful.
powerful war books for kids
young children (kindergarten through first grade, ages 3-6)
It’s hard to find age-appropriate books about war for very young children. however, there are several really good books on peace that can be used to introduce some of the same concepts.
todd parr’s book of peace
See Also: Fall Books For Toddlers: 15 Perfect Books To Read Together This Fall
description:
a simple and colorful book that gets preschool and kindergarten children to think about what peace means in terms they can understand using examples from their daily lives, such as “peace is sharing a meal.” “Peace is sharing a meal.” “Peace is making new friends.”
discussion questions:
- what does peace mean to you?
- what can you do every day to create peace?
we share a world by jane hoffel
See Also: Fall Books For Toddlers: 15 Perfect Books To Read Together This Fall
description:
a delightful book that shares the similarities between children around the world, no matter where they come from. each page shows children from a different country participating in activities that we all share: singing, playing, dreaming, exploring, etc. It ends with a call for peace and understanding. simple and beautiful!
discussion questions:
- How are children around the world alike?
- How are children around the world different?
- What does the author want understand?
how does peace feel? by v. radunsky
See Also: Fall Books For Toddlers: 15 Perfect Books To Read Together This Fall
description:
a unique book in which the author asked children what peace feels like, what it looks like, what it sounds like, etc. The answers were collected from a variety of children and are fun and interesting to read.
If you’re a teacher, this book can be a great starting point for creating a class book with your students answering the same questions. appropriate for k-grade 6.
discussion questions:
This book asks the questions for you! simply read the book to your children and ask them to answer each question in their own words.
can you say peace? by karen katz
See Also: Fall Books For Toddlers: 15 Perfect Books To Read Together This Fall
description:
Although this book was written for the International Day of Peace, it could be used at any time of the year. each page illustrates a different part of the world and how to say “peace” in their language. The illustrations are bright and colorful and are sure to keep younger children interested.
discussion question:
- What kinds of things are the children doing in the pictures that show peace?
peace is… a reflection book for children by susan fraser
See Also: Fall Books For Toddlers: 15 Perfect Books To Read Together This Fall
description:
Because I had difficulty finding age-appropriate books on peace and conflict to read to my young son, I created this book for him. each page features colorful photos of toy “little people” interacting peacefully.
I included the concepts of sharing, making peace, using words, not hands when upset, working together, helping each other, and caring for each other.
discussion questions:
At the bottom of each page, there is a question for students to think about how they can apply these peaceful concepts to their own lives and at school.
You can download a free printable copy by clicking the image above.
Elementary children (grades 1 – 3, ages 6-8)
a bear at war by stephanie innes and harry endrulant
See Also: Fall Books For Toddlers: 15 Perfect Books To Read Together This Fall
description:
A true story of a Canadian family living during World War I told from the fictional point of view of Aileen’s seven-year-old teddy bear. in the story, “teddy” experiences farm life during the war, and is then sent to fight aileen’s father in belgium, where he is eventually killed. the teddy is returned to the family at the end and is cherished as a reminder of the father’s sacrifices.
discussion questions:
- who is telling this story? how do you know?
- why did aileen send teddy to war?
- what evidence can you find in history to show that aileen’s father was brave?
the enemy by davide cali
See Also: Fall Books For Toddlers: 15 Perfect Books To Read Together This Fall
description:
an incredibly powerful fictional story told from the point of view of a soldier, in a trench, shooting an enemy he thinks is a “monster”. As he continues the story, the soldier becomes disillusioned with the war and decides to try to end it by secretly attacking the enemy at night. when he gets to the other trench, he finds it empty and discovers that the “enemy” is not that different from him.
discussion questions:
- what does the soldier believe about the “enemy” at the beginning of the story? how does this change in the end?
- who would have created the flyers showing that the enemy was a monster. why would they do that?
- what does the reader know about the enemy that the soldier doesn’t?
the wall next to the evening
See Also: Fall Books For Toddlers: 15 Perfect Books To Read Together This Fall
description:
A simple story of a man and his son visiting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington together to pay tribute to a grandfather who fought and died in the war.
The story is told from the point of view of the boy, who is trying to understand things that happened in the past and why his grandfather is not with them now.
discussion questions:
- Why is it important to honor the men and women who fought and died in times of war?
- Do you know of a place around your home that honors those who served?
the war of anais vaugelade
See Also: Fall Books For Toddlers: 15 Perfect Books To Read Together This Fall
description:
This is the story of two countries, the Reds and the Blues, who have been at war for so long that no one seems to remember how it started. when the blue king’s son decides the war must end, he comes up with a clever idea that unites the two countries against a common enemy and peace ensues.
discussion questions:
- Why do you think the red and blue people continue to fight even when they no longer remember what they are fighting about?
- Why is the blue king ashamed of his son? Do you think he is right?
- why do you think the red and blue people stopped fighting?
terrible things: an allegory of the holocaust by pennants
See Also: Fall Books For Toddlers: 15 Perfect Books To Read Together This Fall
description:
This story is the perfect way to introduce holocaust concepts to young children, not to mention the details of what happened during World War II.
takes place in a forest where “terrible things” come to take away different creatures one by one. the white rabbits think that it is better not to say anything, as long as it is not of their species that is being carried. however, they are also eventually removed.
In the end, a lonely rabbit realizes he should have done something sooner. But unfortunately he realizes that he waited too long and now it’s too late to do anything about it.
discussion questions:
- Why didn’t the white rabbits worry when the other animals started being led away?
- What did the lonely white rabbit realize at the end of the story?
- what is the lesson of this story? how can we use what the white rabbit learned in our lives?
a poppy is to remember by heather patterson and ron lightburn
description:
Simply written with poignant but non-graphic illustrations, this book captures the history of World War I for children and explains why the poppy is a symbol of peace and remembrance.
the text is easy enough for second grade readers and includes a copy of the famous poem “in the fields of flanders”. at the end of the book is a series of general information pages for adults/teachers.
discussion questions:
- Why is the poppy a symbol of peace and remembrance?
- What and who do we remember on Remembrance Day?
middle elementary school children (grades 3-6, ages 8-12)
why war is never a good idea by alice walker
description:
Although the title is deceptively simplistic, this creatively illustrated poem makes an incredibly powerful statement about war and how we are all connected to and wounded by the aftereffects of conflict.
discussion questions:
- Why do you think the illustrator showed war becoming a living thing?
- How does war negatively affect everyone involved, even those who “win”?
- Why do humans engage in war when they know there will be negative consequences for everyone involved?
in the fields of flanders by norman jorgensen and brian harrison-lever
See Also: Fall Books For Toddlers: 15 Perfect Books To Read Together This Fall
description:
A bittersweet true story set in the trenches of a World War I battlefield. It’s Christmas day and a soldier decides to enter the no man’s zone to rescue a bird entangled in the barbed wire. a temporary ceasefire ensues, and the soldier successfully frees the trapped bird. both sides spontaneously sing “silent night” together.
discussion questions:
- Why didn’t the “enemy” soldiers shoot at the soldier?
- How do you think the soldiers felt fighting on Christmas Day?
- ? why do you think the soldier was moved to risk his life to save the bird? Do you think the risk was worth it? Would you have done what he did? why or why not?
peace by wendy anderson halperin
See Also: Fall Books For Toddlers: 15 Perfect Books To Read Together This Fall
description:
See Also: 2022 CFA Program Curriculum, incl. Level 1 Books | SOLEADEA
I am absolutely in love with this beautifully illustrated and written book about peace. At the beginning, the author reflects on what must happen to bring peace to the world.
Through successive pages, filled with poignant quotes from famous peacemakers, the story guides the reader to see how creating peace is a responsibility we all share.
discussion questions:
- What can each of us do to prevent bullying in our classroom? school? community?
- When we have a disagreement with someone, what is the best way to resolve things peacefully?
- Who do you think this book was written for? why do you think this?
bunny, the brave warhorse: based on a true story by elizabeth macleod
See Also: Fall Books For Toddlers: 15 Perfect Books To Read Together This Fall
description:
a wonderful new picture book that tells the true story of one of the many “warhorses” sent abroad to fight in the first world war. the story speaks of courage, bravery and overcoming insurmountable obstacles and is sure to become a classic favorite.
discussion questions:
- what made bunny an extraordinary horse?
- how did you feel at the end of the story when you found out that bunny stayed in belgium?
- what did you learn ? What were war conditions like during the First World War?
Faithful Elephants: A True Story of Animals, People, and War by Yukio Tsuchiya
See Also: Fall Books For Toddlers: 15 Perfect Books To Read Together This Fall
description:
Although you will find it difficult to read this story without bursting into tears, it has a powerful message about the futility of war that children will surely understand.
Set in a zoo in Tokyo, Japan, during World War II, the zookeepers are ordered by the government to euthanize many of the large and dangerous animals in case the area is bombed and they escape to endanger the animals. local residents. the poison used to kill the other animals doesn’t work on the elephants, so they starve.
I said it was sad…
discussion questions:
- what is the underlying message of this story?
- is it fair that animals die for the protection of people?
the secret of the village idiot by rebecca upjohn
See Also: Fall Books For Toddlers: 15 Perfect Books To Read Together This Fall
description:
This is the true story of a Polish man named Anton Suchinski who hides a Jewish family in his basement for over a year, at great risk to himself when the Nazis take their town in World War II.
The family survived the war thanks to his efforts, and at the end of the book, you can see photos of the survivors and hear how they forged a lifelong friendship with Anton after the war.
discussion questions:
- why do you think antonio risked his life to save the zeiger family?
- why did people think antonio was such a fool? how would you describe it?
Roberto Innocent White Rose
See Also: Fall Books For Toddlers: 15 Perfect Books To Read Together This Fall
description:
The chilling story of a young German woman who accidentally discovers a concentration camp on the outskirts of her city and is forced to bring food to the prisoners. Near the end of the story, Allied forces invade the city and Rose is accidentally caught in the crossfire and dies.
The story is told from the point of view of a young girl caught up in events she only partially understands, depicting the harsh realities of war and
discussion questions:
- why do you think rose blanche brought food to the prisoners when the adults didn’t?
- what happened to rose blanche at the end of the story? why do you think the author chose to end the story this way?
novels about war for upper elementary students (over 10 years old)
number the stars by lois lowry
See Also: Fall Books For Toddlers: 15 Perfect Books To Read Together This Fall
description:
this beautifully written chapter book of historical fiction by the author of the giver, won the newbery medal in 1990. annemarie and her family are living in copenhagen when the nazis occupy the city and begin rounding up jewish families for deportation to concentration camps .
Annemarie’s family helps her Jewish friend Ellen escape to freedom, and the reader learns about the Danish resistance that saved thousands of Jews. This is a suspenseful and fascinating story of courage and bravery. makes a wonderful read aloud.
camp x (first book in the series) by eric walters
See Also: Fall Books For Toddlers: 15 Perfect Books To Read Together This Fall
description:
my personal favorite by eric walters: this story (and the rest of the series) tells a fictional story of two brothers, george and jack, living in whitby, ontario, canada, during world war ii.
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The boys accidentally discover that there is a secret spy training base (called Camp X in real life) near their house while playing a simulated war game, and find themselves involved in working for the Canadian government as young men. allied spies.
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exciting and historically accurate, this book is a hot item among 5th-6th graders who like action-adventure stories.
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I love hearing your thoughts and ideas! Leave a comment below and let me know what you do to teach your children about war, conflict, and peace.
in peace,
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