Peace, Bugs, and Understanding: An Adventure in Sibling Harmony
Gail Silver, Author
Youme Nguyen Ly, Illustrator
Parallax Press, Fiction, Dec. 9, 2014
Suitable for Ages: 4-8
Themes: Anger, Sibling Rivalry, Mindfulness
Opening: Lily was having a picnic with her father and her little sister, Ruby, but it wasn’t much fun. Ruby was lying on the checkerboard.
Book Jacket Synopsis: Lily and her sister are having a picnic when Ruby spoils their game of checkers. Lily lashes out but soon gets absorbed in a wonderful book, the story of her great-grandfather Lahn’s encounter with a strong-looking frog-like creature called Anger. The precious old journal teaches Lily about Metta, a technique that has helped people transform anger into loving kindness for thousands of years.
Why I like this book:
- Gail Silver, author of Ahn’s Anger, has written a positive and resourceful book for children and adults about transforming negative feelings. This book focuses on anger, but I believe it can be used with feelings of jealousy, frustration, anxiety, disappointment or any negative feeling that causes disharmony. It’s a book children and parents will want to read together.
- Peace, Bugs and Understanding, introduces its readers to a very simple calming technique called “Metta,” which means loving kindness. Silver suggests “that when you practice Metta, sit quietly and become aware of your own breath.” Once you calm yourself, you focus on the person you are angry with and wish for them “to be happy, be strong, be safe and live with peace.”
- This is a wonderful tool for children and adults to cultivate forgiveness towards others and even themselves. How can you be angry at someone when you are sending them kind, happy and loving thoughts?
- The book is a story within a story. Therefore, Youme Nguyen Ly’s illustrations are colorful and warm watercolors in Lily’s world, but are gray and white pen and ink for Lahn’s journal. The illustrations project a sense of calm that fits beautifully with the theme. This is a lovely collaboration between author and illustrator.
Resources: My favorite part of the book is a “Reader’s Guide” at the end that helps parents teach “Metta” to their children. There is also a page of discussion questions to use with children. This is also a book to pair with Ahn’s Anger, which I reviewed in 2013. You can visit Gail Silver and Youme Nguyen Ly at their websites.
Gail Silver is the founder of Yoga Child, a program that develops curriculum for school-based yoga and mindfulness programs. She is the author of Anh’s Anger and its sequel Steps and Stones.
Every Friday, authors and KidLit bloggers post a favorite picture book. To see a complete listing of all the Perfect Picture Books (PPB) with resources, please visit author Susanna Leonard Hill’s Perfect Picture Books.
Ooh I like the sound of this, Pat. I’ll look out for it.
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Glad you like the book. I think it’s a wonderful technique to teach children and use as a family.
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Gosh! I wish I could that with the people and things that make me angry. 🙂
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This really is a great book for kids and families. I haven’t used the exact words, but have always silently blessed people. But, I like this mantra so much better.
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Love the title, Patricia. I could use this today – the neighbor’s realtor dug in some deep mud tracks into my dirt driveway this morning, and I’m still steaming!
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You know I think this book is as much for adults as it is parents. Now you have a tool to use. Tell me if it works. I use some similar mantras when I am driving when there’s a lot of traffic or someone cuts me off. It really does put me in a completely space.
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Then I DO need it!
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🙂
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These are great opening lines! They say so much with so little. I am looking forward to reading the rest. Thanks.
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I am glad you like the book. Gail Silver has written some excellent books for children about dealing with anger. Great for adults too!
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The title hooked me! I can’t wait to read this PB. Thanks for sharing!
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It is an unusual title. Hope you read the book as you’ll like it for kids and adults.
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Managing anger is something that people of all ages could stand some teaching in. I look forward to checking this one out. 🙂 Have a lovely Friday, Pat!
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Thanks Teresa! Hope you check out the book. Happy Friday to you!
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What a great title and skill to impart to children and adults.
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Yes, it is a great technique for both children and adults. Glad you enjoyed it. I like Gail’s anger books.
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The title is absolutely clever – and this sounds like a fabulous book. Probably could have used it myself the other day 😉 Thanks, Patricia!
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I’m glad you enjoyed the review. The title is catchy. Hope you read the book. You’re right, adults could benefit from such a simple mantra.
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That would have been perfect for practising with children after the Paris terrorist attack in January! There was a lot of anger and fear in their hearths. I bought a book with some simple meditations to do with children and it worked well, but this book could have helped too.
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Yes, I’m sure it would be helpful. I hope you read a copy because you would love the techniques. I wish I knew about this book when we talked earlier.
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This sounds powerful! I love the thought to wish – be happy, be strong, be safe and live with peace to someone you are angry with. Very cool.
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Happy you like this book and its message, Erik. Yes, such a simple and powerful thing to do for someone else, that also benefits you.
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