Realities of War: Using Picture Books to Teach the Social Effects of Armed Conflicts

Teachers regularly evaluate children's literature for literary quality and age-appropriate information. Today's picture books address issues such as world population, homelessness, climate change, and other socially important themes, but when faced with social studies lessons on sensitive topics such as war and its reality, elementary teachers may hesitate when faced with realism in text and images. School librarians provide excellent opportunities for teachers to collaborate in the selection of suitable titles which will maximize student learning and understanding, especially when reading about sensitive or controversial topics. A strong social studies program provides students opportunities to explore similarities and differences within varied cultural contexts. Placing the right books at the right time in children's hands can make an important impact in developing children's worldview. In this article, the authors review a variety of picture books that look at the realities of war from several periods in recent history and from several perspectives: (1) protection of innocence; (2) Japanese experiences in World War II; (3) experiences of the Holocaust; (4) costs of war; and (5) resiliency. In this brief exploration, the authors discuss titles that will engage student attention, provide room for discussion, and address serious issues in ways that children can comprehend. They address considerations in title selection, classroom use, and Common Core Anchor Standards connections.