Peas on Earth

Children's Literature - Suzanne Javid

Peas on earth? What if there really was peace on earth? This book promotes a world filled with love and peace where everyone and everything cooperates harmoniously. A world where giraffes help turtles reach the treetops and where ants say bless you when anteaters sneeze. Where dogs get along with cats and cats get along with mice and pigs give everyone piggyback rides. A green world where the air is clean and the water clear. Imagine a wonderful world like that. Although quite a wish list, the message to readers is clear: peace, harmony and being green. Older preschoolers will relate to the messages and simple play on words, possibly adding to those in the story. Adult readers will relate to the peas/peace concept and understand the message in the broader context of global issues. Cute, colorful and charming artwork with simple, playful and sometimes rhyming text. It is never too early to introduce important social issues to children through modeling and reading. Plant a seed. Let there be peas! A peas-ful pop-up completes the story. The author/illustrator's name is a pen name for Todd H. Goldman, a pop artist and designer. As a child, he dreamed of being a Russian figure skater. Unfortunately for him, he could not skate and was not Russian, so he decided to doodle instead. Fortunately for young readers and the adults who love to read to them, he decided to become a children's author. Reviewer: Suzanne Javid