I started seeing this symbol as a middle school student in CT and understood it to mean peace. I never thought about where or how it originated. Loved this explanation that it actually was designed to England as a symbol for nuclear disarmament in 1958. While I enjoyed the colorful graphics and text in the story, the reader really needs to read A Short History of the peace symbol. Having taught second grade for 35 years I would have eagerly used this book to broaden the existing knowledge base about this symbol that they see on a daily basis. Spending time breaking down the history will help young readers better understand the symbolism and also send the message that one man can inspire the world. The timeline at the end shares the way the symbol has been used since it’s inception.
Many many thanks to Michael G. Long and NetGalley for affording me the opportunity to read this very informative book, perfect for all children and adults.

I may have casually wondered about the symbolism of the peace sign but never put much thought into it. It was just always there and everyone knew it was the peace sign. I certainly had no idea that it was specifically created for protest culture. Much cooler than I expected.

I got this book as I thought my grandson age 7 who loves the peace sign would find it interesting. He did! The timing was great as his uncle had just moved to England and he was able to share this info with him. We learned a lot. It was easy to read and the illustrations were pleasing.

The end of this book with the detailed "short history of the peace symbol" is where I found myself drawn to and intrigued.. It is a beautiful picture book with gorgeous illustrations, but I wonder if the message is a bit too simplified, even for younger readers (I'm an elementary librarian). I almost wish there was a little fact box on each page that would expand on the simplified text. The part about flag symbols was not clear to me until I read the end for example! Thinking as someone who would read this aloud, it would need a lot of stopping and sharing more background information from the back of the book. I think this is a great addition to any library, but it is one that requires more discussion and background information for it to be truly understood. It's illustrations and message however can be appreciated by all.

This simple, charming picture book will expose young readers to the origin of the peace symbol and what it represents today. I wish author Michael Long had incorporated more of the design choice/thought process into the main story, but the information is included in a short history at the back of the book.

The peace symbol was designed by Gerald Holtrom, a graphic artist, in 1958. He adopted the letters N and D (for nuclear disarmament) from semaphore, and placed them on top of one another. The symbol soon began appearing at rallies and marches the world over. That's really it as far as a story to this book goes. The real highlight is the stunning artwork by Carlos Velez.

There's also an excellent two page explanation of the symbol's history, followed by a list of peaceful protests that have occurred since the its creation.

The premise of Three Lines in a Circle -- sharing the origin and evolution of the peace sign in a picture book format -- intrigued me, as I was interested in its beginnings and didn't know the semaphore inspiration; the three lines in a circle represent the N and D letters, for nuclear disarmament.

In accessible language and vivid illustrations, author Michael G. Long and illustrator Carlos Velez trace the symbol's development and worldwide embrace.

I found the richest portion to be the short history at the close of the book, expanding in more detail about the development of the symbol to advocate for nuclear disarmament and how various groups have adopted it for their peaceful protests. Its origins have expanded to include a desire for peace in many forums. The book is richer for the end notes, as otherwise it could feel lacking. Now, though, adults can expand beyond the included sentences and describe the accompanying images in age-appropriate language, if they wish.

(I received a digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.)

What an incredible book to fan those activist flames in our youth. An incredible tale of activism and the origin story of the peace sign, one of the most universal recognizable signs there is.

Great story about the history of the peace symbol. I love how the creator didn't think it would catch on and the timeline in the back of the book!

This book has gorgeous illustrations and an interesting story! I loved reading through it and learning about a history even I never knew about. Great for the little liberals in your life!

My home is filled with peace signs. Growing up during the Vietnam era, there was controversy on usage of the peace sign. Some saw it as anti-American., that those who wore it were radicals. Others said it stood for nuclear disarmament. Those were two separate protests. Three lines and a Circle gives us a timeline of the peace sign. This is the first children’s book that I have read that delves into these issues. It is presented factually. One thing that I noticed is the use of the term Vietnam War. The US government called it the Vietnam Conflict. That term is what lead many to protest the draft. Peace signs represent all of us being accepted for who we are and love of life, anti violence. I received this ebook from Netgalley for my honest review. I highly recommend this book in all libraries. This would lead to great discussion and extension projects.

In 1958, Gerald Holtom created the 3 Lines and a Circle to protest the nuclear bomb. This started in England, but went on to spread all over the world. It is known as the symbol of Peace.

The Illustrations were Great and Made the Book! It was said that the Symbol ‘Does Not Mean a Thing and Will Never Catch On’. Clearly, this was not true. So, it was interesting to see how sometimes simple works better and it’s important that children understand that their ideas can be correct even if others disagree with them.

There was a chart showing how the Peace Symbol was used each year from 1958 until 2021. I do wish a bit more information was given in the basic part of the book though.

So, loved looking at the pictures and reading how this simple concept changed the world.

Thank you NetGalley, Michael G. Long, and Flyaway Books for an ARC of this book.

I had high hopes for this book as I thought the subject matter would make for an interesting read- aloud to my kindergarten/first grade students. The target age group is listed as ages 3-7 however I found the content of the story to be a little too mature for those ages! Young students such as the ones I teach are too young to be getting into discussions or explanations of bombs, etc in my opinion. I think this book would be much more suitable for grade 3 and up. There is an author’s note and timeline in the back of the book which is helpful.
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Almost every child today knows about the "peace" sign. It is good to know more about the story behind the sign. I especially liked the partial timeline of peaceful protests at the end of the book - which is perfect for older children.

This is an excellent resource to accompany books on civil rights, the LGBTQ movement, women’s rights, and many other important causes that young people should be made aware of. I recommend it to teachers and librarians of 4-12 grades.

Thank you for the eARC.

This is a beautiful children's book about the origin of the peace symbol. At first I felt that the text was missing a bit of substance, but it allows the story to be accessible for a younger audience and would be a great tool for discussion in a classroom setting (grade 2-5 in my opinion for peace, diversity, inclusion, power, protest, etc.). The explanation and timeline at the end of the book are crucial components in fully immersing the reader into its history. The illustrations also do a fantastic job in setting the tone.

Thank you to Flyaway Books and NetGalley for a gifted copy of THREE LINES IN A CIRCLE by Michael D. Long.

Loved the book.. it is beautifully illustrated and well written for young children.

Highly recommended as Christmas gifts for young children.

A well drawn, simply written history of the peace sign, the idea behind the design and the way it has spread around the globe.

I read this book with a child. I was disappointed that the three lines were just design features and not symbols of something else. We both liked how it spread around the world. The illustrations were good reflections of the areas and the people they represented. I thought it was a bit political suggesting that the peace symbol was more significant to specific groups because I prefer to view it as a universal symbol.

This is a great book that gives the history of the peace symbol. What started out as a symbol to protest nuclear weapons, evolved into a symbol for peace for many different groups.
I would like to thank Flyaways Books through NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.