Sparking Peace

“How will the world change if we do not question it?” - Kate DiCamillo

The average toddler asks anywhere between 100 to 300 questions per day. It has been awhile since I had a toddler, but I completely believe this statistic. Even as a teacher of elementary students, I hear the constant“Why?” or “How?" and the all-consuming, “When is lunch?”

It is a natural, beautiful thing to question, and no one does it better than children. Often, we adults are struck with questions out of the mouths of these babes that we just cannot wrap our heads around, nonetheless try to answer them in a way that will make sense to literal, logical young minds.Where do I begin? How can I make this make sense? Will my answer be sufficient? How can we be a safe space for children and youth and their many, many questions? Especially when their questions are filled with such heavy things offered from the world around us and within us?

Sparking Peace, co-authored by myself and Teresa Kim Pecinovksy, was written with the hope that we can begin or continue to offer these spaces and conversations, specifically when it comes to gun violence. Gun violence is an unfortunate prevalence in our lives, and we are often caught between wanting to shield or prepare our next generations. Where do we begin? How can we make this make sense? Will our answers be sufficient? We invite you to begin at the beginning. With a broken window.

Relationships begin in all kinds of weird and wonderful ways, and our story is one where neighbors—a child and Miss Winifred—grow closer to one another. After breaking Miss Winifred’s window, this young child has to make it right. In doing so, they discover friendship, transformation, and new beginnings. This relationship offers readers a hopeful path in the face of gun violence and despair, showing kids how peacemaking can turn conflict into friendship—and forge guns into garden tools.

This book is inspired by the work of RAWtools, a nonprofit organization that turns guns into garden tools through blacksmithing. They are comprehensive in their efforts to move communities away from violence. By using weapons to make garden tools and other hand tools, RAWtools is creating a symbol for change and is asking all of us to participate—to dare to use our imaginations to change our impulse. As a Mennonite, my faith is rooted in a nonviolent Jesus who continuously asked questions and invites us still today to be creative in our responses to what the world and empire offers. The transformation of guns into garden tools and death into life is the same invitation we have received as we attempt to see with a new and creative lens.

Sparking Peace offers children a glimpse through this window, into another way of solving our own conflicts and allowing peace to transform us. It provides a springboard for those seeking to discuss gun violence and trauma with children in a safe way that highlights help rather than harm. This picture book helps children learn about conflict while also carefully addressing gun violence and peacemaking. It is valuable to say that we do not name guns or gun violence throughout the story. Instead, we provide subtle hints in the words and images that will hopefully ignite wonder in children to ask questions. We provide guidance and name these hints at the end of the book to allow caregivers to go as deep or as light as they need to with their young audience. It includes resources that equip parents and educators to talk about gun violence and trauma, using a story of a broken window to show kids how conflict can be transformed through acts of peace.

So, where do we begin? How do we make this make sense? Will our answers be sufficient Well, “How will the world change if we do not question it?”

Hannah Martin 

Associate Pastor, Beth-El Mennonite Church

Reading Interventionist, Elementary Public School

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