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.