Read Aloud Videos: Kingian Nonviolence & Peace Skills

On Earth Peace follows the six principles of Kingian Nonviolence and applies them in our everyday work. Our youth and young adult programs, especially Kids As Peacemakers, seek to help participants develop their skills as leaders for peace and justice. In this category, books about Kingian Nonviolence and peace skills are listed to provide resources on peace education.

Three Lines in a Circle: The Exciting Life of the Peace Symbol | By Michael G. Long

A story about the historical origin and meaning of the peace symbol and the way it is used today.

• What does Peace mean to you?

Waiting is not Easy| By Mo Willems

This book has two characters, that teach each other how to be patient with waiting for a surprise at the end of the day.

• Do you find it difficult to be patient?

What Is God Like? | By Rachel Held Evans and Matthew Paul Turner

This book takes kids into a trip of understanding what God is like, and what he means to them.

• What is God like to you?

Who Will I Be? | By Abby Huntsman

In this story, Abby begins to wonder what she wants to be in the future. She learns about different jobs that are all about helping others, and finds out what she would like to be.

• How would you like to help others when you grow up?

Peace, Bugs, and Understanding: An Adventure in Sibling Harmony by Gail Silver

In this story, Lilly gets absorbed into her great grandfather's journal as he meets a strange looking frog-like creature called Anger. The story helps Lilly transform her anger into loving kindness through Metta technique.

• How can you implement meditation into your daily life to be more kind and loving to others?

Passage to Freedom: The Sugihara Story | By Ken Mochizuki

This book tells the story of Japanese diplomat Chiune Sugihara and how he helped thousands of Jews escape from the Nazis.

• Has there ever been a time when you did not understand what someone in your life was doing? If so, how did it make you feel?
• Can you think of a time when you or someone in your life was brave?

Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed a Neighborhood | By Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell

Mira is a young girl who lives in a gray city. She likes to create and give pictures to people. One day, she meets a muralist, and they bring the community together to make their neighborhood colorful and beautiful.

• Was it just the bright color of the art that brightened the neighborhood or was it something else?

• If you were part of Mira’s neighborhood, what would you add to it?

For additional activities related to this book, visit the following worksheet.

The Stars Will Still Shine | By Cynthia Rylant

• What are you thankful for today?

A Picture Book of Martin Luther King Jr. | By David A. Adler

This book introduces readers to the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

• If Dr. King was still alive today, what do you think he would be most proud of?
• What do you think he would be most disappointed in?

Potatoes, Potatoes | By Anita Lobel

This is a story about a women and her two sons. One day one son ran away to the army of the east; the other son joined the army of the west. As you read this book consider the following:

• Who is someone in your life that has taught you about peace and what it means to be a kind and loving neighbor?
• What walls are you breaking down as you grow and learn more about peace?

Shirley Chisholm is a Verb | By Veronica Chambers

This book tells the story of Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress.

•  What verbs will you choose?

For additional activities related to this book, visit the following worksheet.

Hey, Little Ant | By Hannah Hoose

In this story, a boy tries to decide if he should squish an ant, and the ant makes a compelling case for his survival.

• What do you think the kid should do?

Hey, Wall! | By Susan Verde

A boy decides to bring his community together to paint a wall.

• Is there something in your community that you can work on to make beautiful?

Bear and Bee | By Sergio Ruzzier |

Bear runs into Bee and is frightened because he heard that bees were mean. As he gets to know Bee, Bear realizes he was wrong and that bees are not bad after all.

• What might happen the next time Bear runs into Bee?
• Do you think he will still be afraid?

We’re Different, We’re the Same | By Bobbi Kates |

• What are some things that are the same and different that you love about anyone?

Consider this additional resource for activities related to this book. 

The Crayon Box That Talked | By Shane Derolf

In a toy store, there is a box of crayons that do not get along. A little girl ends up purchasing the box and crayons and brings it home, where the crayons learn to work together. Read along with Annika and ask yourself:

• How can we work with someone that is different from us?

Elephant & Piggie: Should I Share My Ice Cream? | By Mo Willems

Gerald buys ice cream one day and wonders if he should share it with his best friend Piggie. He goes back and forth on whether he should share his ice cream until he decides to share with Piggie. But, by the time Gerald comes to this decision, the ice cream has melted. He is very sad. Piggie shows up with ice cream and shares it with Gerald to make him feel better.

• How does sharing with your friends make you feel?

For additional activities related to this book, visit the following link.

Waiting for the Biblioburro | By Monica Brown

This book is about a young girl named Ana who lives in a small village. One day, a traveling library stops in her village and she gets to read several books that inspire her to write her own book.

• Can you think of a time when you had to wait for something to happen? What did you do while you waited?

For additional activities related to this book, visit the following link. 

The Youngest Marcher | By Cynthia Levinson

This book is about the story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a young girl who was involved in the 1963 Birmingham Campaign.

• How did segregation laws impact Audrey’s life?

For additional activities related to Cynthia Levinson's book, visit our worksheet.

Malala’s Magic Pencil | By Malala Yousafzai

This book tells the story of Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani activist for female education.

• What would you do with a magic pencil?
• What would you draw?
• What would you say?

What Does Peace Feel Like? | By Vladimir Radunsky

 In this picture book, hear what real children from around the world have to say about what peace might feel like. 

• What does peace feel, smell, taste, sound, and look like to you?

Crossing Bok Chitto | By Tim Tingle 

A young Choctaw girl named Martha Tom becomes friends with a slave family and helps them escape to freedom.

• Have you ever noticed how some people do not seem to be noticed?

The Great Peace March | By Holly Near

This book is set to the lyrics of Holly Near's song The Great Peace March, which was inspired by an actual peace march.

• Do you think we can have peace in the world?

• Do you have friends that are different from you?

• Do you think different is beautiful?

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything | By Linda Williams 

One day, a fearless little old lady goes on a walk in the woods. While on her walk, the little old lady runs into several articles of clothing and a pumpkin head that scare her. She runs home, but then she hears something knocking at her door. What will the little old lady do to overcome her fears?

• Can you think of a time you were scared?
• What did you do?
• Was facing your fear as hard as you thought it was going to be?

Sitti’s Secrets | By Naomi Shihab Nye 

This story is about a child  from the United States who visits her grandmother in Palestine and finds that love transcends language barriers, time zones, and national borders.

• How can you see people for who they are as individuals like how Mona sees her grandmother as separate from what she sees on the news?
• What can you do to fight for Palestinians and Palestinian justice?

For additional activities related to this book, visit the following link.

The Legend of Spookley the Square Pumpkin | By Joe Triano 

Spookley is a square pumpkin that is outcasted by the other pumpkins in the patch, until one day he show how being different can help save the day.

•  What is something that makes you unique? How might you use this uniqueness to help others?

A is for Activist By Innosanto Nagara

A is for Activist is an ABC board book that covers topics about activism, civil rights, LGBTQ rights, etc.

• Can you think of a word that describes you for each letter of the alphabet?

For additional activities related to this book, visit the following link.

Peace Week in Miss Fox’s Class | By Eileen Spinelli 

Miss Fox is tired of her students misbehaving and fighting, so she plans a peace week where everyone has to follow the rules and get along. The students follow the rules inside and outside of the classroom. They learn a lot during peace week and decide to continue to follow its rules after the week ends.

• What does peace week look like to you?
• What are some things you would do during peace week that you normally would not do?

For additional activities related to this book, visit the following link.

Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez | By Kathleen Krull 

This book tells stories from Cesar Chavez’s childhood, and how Chavez became an activist for change.

• Why were Cesar’s methods so effective?

For additional activities related to this book, visit the following link.

The Day You Begin | By Jacqueline Woodson

This book is about finding the courage to connect with people when you feel scared.

• Have you ever walked into a room where no one was quite like you?
• How did this make you feel?

Lubna and Pebble | By Wendy Meddour

 Lubna lives in a refugee camp with her family. Her best friend is a rock named Pebble that she tells everything to. A boy named Amir arrives at the camp and he is frightened. Lubna becomes friends with Amir and decides to give him Pebble when she leaves the camp.

• Why did Lubna give Pebble to Amir? Do you think it was the right thing to do?

The Story of Ferdinand | By Munro Leaf

Ferdinand is a bull that would rather look at flowers than fight. One day, Ferdinand is taken to participate in the bullfights. He refuses to fight and is taken back to the farm.

• Why did Ferdinand decide not to fight?

The Seagoing Cowboy | By Peggy Reiff Miller

This book tells the story of the seagoing cowboys who helped those in need at the end of World War II. As you read along with Peggy ask yourself:

• In what ways did the seagoing cowboys display courage?

If You’re Going to a March | By Martha Freeman

This book explains the meaning behind marches and what to expect when you attend one.

• If you went to a march, what would your sign say?

Thank You, Omu! | By Oge Mora

Omu decides to make a stew for dinner. The stew smells so good that several members of the community stop by Omu's place asking for some stew. Omu shares the stew with her community, but she soon runs out and realizes that she does not have any left for herself to eat for dinner. The people who Omu shared the stew with stop by to thank her for her generosity.

• Why do you think that it is important to share?

The Composition | By Antonio Skármeta

Pedro is a young boy who likes to play soccer. At school, Pedro and his classmates are asked by the government to write a composition about what their families do at night. Pedro does not want the government to find out that his parents secretly listen to the radio at night, so he leaves this part out of his composition.

• What would you do if you were Pedro?

Love Will See You Through | By Angela Farris Watkins 

Angela Farris Watkins, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s niece, reveals her uncle's six guiding principles of nonviolence.

• Which one of King’s principles is your favorite?

Stellaluna | By Janell Cannon

A bat named Stellaluna gets separated from her mom and starts living with a family of birds. She learns how to live and act like a bird. Stellaluna ends up finding her mom and tells her about the birds. When you read this book with Priscilla please consider the following question:

• What does Stellaluna’s experience with the birds tell you about friendship?

The Sandwich Swap | By Queen Rania of Jordan

Lily and Salma are best friends. However, they do not like the same sandwiches: Lily likes peanut butter and jelly, while Salma likes hummus on pita. A food fight ensues when they declare that each others' lunch is weird. In the end, they set aside their differences.

• Have you ever swapped a sandwich with one of your friends?

The Hello, Goodbye Window | By Norton Juster

A young girl explains what she does when she visits her grandparents.

• What would you like to see outside of your own hello, goodbye window?

Talk Peace | By Sam Williams

This books invites readers to talk peace!

• What is your favorite part of the story?

God’s Dream & Storybook Bible | By Desmond Tutu

Desmond Tutu retells more than fifty of his most beloved Bible stories. While you following along with this story please think about the following question:

• How does God’s dream come true in the Easter story?

The Golden Rule | By Ilene Cooper

A grandfather explains to his grandson the importance of the Golden rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

• How can you practice the golden rule?