Paths to Peace: People Who Changed the World - Hardcover

Jane Breskin Zalben is the author-artist for many books, including Saturday Night at the Beastro, which she created with her husband, Steven.  She lives in Long Island, New York.

Grade 4-8–This handsome volume highlights 16 individuals who have worked to improve conditions for others through their words and actions. Included are writers, philosophers, Civil Rights advocates, and politicians, many of whom are Nobel Peace Prize recipients. The book focuses on celebrated individuals such as John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr., Eleanor Roosevelt, Cesar Chavez, and Elie Wiesel. Also covered are those newer to recognition, such as Wangari Maathai, who works for conservation in Kenya, and Aung San Suu Kyi, who fights for democracy in Myanmar. The well-written, single-page vignettes provide an interesting glimpse into the lives of these people and will pique readers curiosity and encourage them to learn more. Each biography is surrounded by an eye-catching border and faces a full-page illustration and quote from the subject. Made from fabric, etchings, watercolor, and found objects, the collages reflect Zalbens interpretation of these individuals, and the appended notes explain the various symbols and materials in the pictures. For example, Mahatma Gandhis entry mentions his 1930 Salt March to end an unfair law, while the illustration depicts an abstract beach scene sprinkled with real sea salt, and Indian paper borders the text. The accomplished, vibrant artwork and the graceful narrative clearly express each persons character, approach to life, and accomplishments, making this an enticing introduction to a diverse group of peacemakers.–Hope Marie Cook, Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic
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