*Sparking Peace* is a heartwarming and deeply moving children's book that blends themes of accountability, healing, and transformation in a way that is both accessible and profound. The story begins with a seemingly simple act: a little boy accidentally breaks an old lady's window while playing ball with his friend. To repay his debt, his father arranges for him to help the woman with her backyard. What starts as a chore evolves into a touching partnership, as the boy's respect and diligence breathe new life into her neglected yard. Together, they take on the task of creating a garden, a shared project that symbolizes growth, renewal, and connection.

Amidst this narrative, a pivotal moment occurs when the boy's father takes him to an event where a blacksmith demonstrates the art of shaping metal. The transformative process—melting, beating, and reshaping—leaves the audience visibly moved, including the old lady, who is revealed to have a personal connection to the craft. The revelation that the metal being reshaped comes from guns previously involved in violence adds a powerful layer to the story. The guns, once symbols of destruction, are turned into objects of beauty and utility, offering a tangible metaphor for hope and renewal.

What makes this book truly remarkable is its emotional resonance. The boy's growing respect for the old lady, the shared labor of the garden, and the symbolic act of reshaping metal all converge to convey a poignant message about the possibility of creating beauty from pain. For readers who have experienced loss—particularly those who have lost loved ones to gun violence—the story offers a tender and healing perspective.

The author’s ability to weave such heavy themes into a children's book while maintaining an engaging and age-appropriate tone is commendable. The imagery of the garden flourishing and the transformation of weapons into peaceful artifacts will linger in the minds of readers, young and old alike.

As someone who has personally experienced the pain of losing a loved one to gun violence, *Sparking Peace* resonated deeply with me. It is a testament to the power of reconciliation and the human capacity to find light in the darkest places. This beautifully written book is not just a story—it is a call to action, encouraging conversations about loss, healing, and the importance of building a more peaceful world.

I highly recommend *Sparking Peace* to families, educators, and anyone who seeks a meaningful and hopeful way to address the impact of gun violence with children. It is a story that will inspire empathy, reflection, and a commitment to creating positive change.

Here's the thing. There was a really, REALLY great idea here. However, kids will only want to read the story itself. The *real* story and context is in the author's note at the end of the book. This is written in complete paragraphs - kids won't be interested in this. They'll close the book completely at "The End". So, that being said, the story itself is missing A LOT of context and explanation. I was highly confused as to why people were so emotional at a blacksmith "viewing", and I know for a fact that kids will be as well. If readers knew about the backstory of the blacksmith community in this book, there would be a lot more impact and a lot less confusion.
However, adding on more to the meaning aspect of this book, I adored it! It really is so important in today's world, and I greatly appreciate that the creators made such a unique, fresh, and powerful book for kids. This allows gun violence to be addressed sooner rather than later.
Lastly, I loved how everything in this book came full circle. There was a very clear plot and some subtle character development, making this book highly refined in those aspects.

Oh my goodness. This book was absolutely darling! I loved it! I can't get over how sweet the message was. My four kids and I cherished this story and there was great conversations to follow it. Teresa and Hannah did a wonderful job!

It's not very often I select a book to read based upon its cover, however, it was definitely the cover that drew me into "Sparking Peace," a lovely children's book co-written by Disciples of Christ minister Teresa Kim Pecinovsky and Mennonite pastor Hannah Martin with illustrations by Indonesia-born illustrator Gabhor Utomo.

The simple storytelling tells a meaningful tale about a young child whose accidental breaking of a neighbor's window while playing unfolds lessons in friendship, transformation, and healing.

Yes, "Sparking Peace" tells a gentle yet meaningful story about hope coming out of gun violence and despair and also introduces readers in a transformative way to the remarkable work of RAWtools, an organization that forges guns into garden tools.

While some may think that such a story is too much for children, in a time when children are taught how to deal with lockdowns and gun violence in the school setting, a book like "Sparking Peace" offers an opportunity for developmentally appropriate dialogue and discussions about conflict, peacemaking, and how to help.

"Sparking Peace" also includes resources to help equip parents and educators to talk about gun violence and trauma. Suggested for children ages 5-9, "Sparking Peace" is a remarkable little book with wise storytelling, ample doses of compassion, and engaging imagery throughout. I'll be recommending it far and wide.

Sparking Peace is one of those picture books that should be on the shelf of every elementary school classroom, of every young child, and every library. This is the story of a young boy who accidentally breaks his neighbor's window and assists her with chores as punishment. Over time, he ends up helping her to create a garden! But one day his dad takes him to an event in town where a man is working with fire and metal to create something special while the community watches...and over time you realize that the community is handing over their guns to create something peaceful instead. RAWtools is a nonprofit that turns guns into gardening tools and is the inspiration for this book. The final pages of the book feature ways to speak with children about gun violence, a.conversation that we all have to have with our kids, unfortunately. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read the free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.