A Bowl Full of Peace

”[A] symbol of survival… . Kusaka’s illustrations effectively focus on Sachiko’s family and the ways they used the bowl to create an orderly family life even in the midst of, and after, a devastating war.“—starred, The Horn Book Magazine

“A powerful entry point for discussing the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the importance of peace and disarmament. Stunning.“—starred, Booklist

“A heartbreaking but essential perspective on war and survival.“—starred, Kirkus Reviews

” … The soft edges of Kusaka’s digital artwork mimic pastel images and show the catastrophe and its aftermath directly.“—Publishers Weekly

“A useful resource that could be tied to the International Day of Peace.“—School Library Journal

Caren Stelson is an award-winning author of nonfiction books that focus on war and peace themes. She believes young readers want to know the truth about their world and how others find resilience and courage in difficult times. Her work includes Ezra Jack Keats Book Award winner A Bowl Full of Peace and Sachiko: A Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Survivor’s Story, which was longlisted for a National Book Award and received a Sibert Honor Award, the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award, and the Flora Stieglitz Straus Award. Caren and her husband, Kim, live in Minneapolis. Akira Kusaka is an illustrator and graphic designer who has created advertisements, book covers, children’s books, and more. He has not experienced war, and illustrating Sachiko’s story for A Bowl Full of Peace prompted him to contemplate both war and peace. He hopes that this book will inspire the next generation of children to think deeply about peace as well. When Akira is not drawing, he plays trombone in a two-man band called Repair. He lives in Osaka, Japan. See more of his art at: akirakusaka.com.