RECOMMENDED BOOKS AND RESOURCES
FOR SAFE SCHOOLS/CONFLICT RESOLUTION

The following resources have all been reviewed. They are recommended as both useful and useable. There are organizations and websites, books for adults, and books for children.

Organizations and Websites:

Association for Conflict Resolution, 1015 18th St NW,
Ste 1150, Washington, DC 20036, (202) 464-9700, www.acrnet.org. Dedicated to enhancing the practice and public understanding of conflict resolution. Has an Education Section, which is committed to creating safe schools and civil communities by making conflict resolution education universally available.

Canadian Safe School Network (CSSN), 111 Peter St,
Ste 617, Toronto, ON, M5V 2H1, (416) 977-1050, www.canadiansafeschools.com. A national, charitable organization dedicated to reducing youth violence and making schools and communities safer. Offers resources and activities.

Creative Response to Conflict, Inc. Box 271, 521 N Broadway, Nyack, NY 10960, (914) 353-1796, www.planet-rockland.org/conflict. Workshops and resources for educators, parents, and youth leaders on conflict resolution, mediation, problem solving, and bias awareness.

Educators for Social Responsibility. 23 Garden St, Cambridge, MA 02138, (800) 370-2515 or
(617) 492-1764, www.esrnational.org. Supports schools, families, and children in character education, conflict resolution, violence prevention, and intergroup relations. Offers training, resources, and programs, including a K-12 school-based program in conflict resolution.

Pathways to Peace. PO Box 1057, Larkspur, CA 94977, (415) 461-0500, www.pathwaystopeace.org. A nonprofit peace building, educational, and consulting organization.

Peace Education Foundation. (800) 749-8838, www.peace-ed.org. A nonprofit educational organization that promotes peacemaking skills in homes, schools, and communities. Offers classroom-tested curricula for pre-K through grade 12 as well as training and implementation support.

Rethinking Schools. 1001 E Keefe Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53212, (800) 669-4192 or (414) 964-9646, www.rethinkingschools.org. A nonprofit organization working toward school reform. Offers publications and a journal.

Workable Peace Project. c/o Consensus Building Institute, 131 Mount Auburn St, Cambridge, MA 02138,
(617) 492-1414, ext 24, www.workablepeace.org. A high school curriculum, teaching, and learning project that integrates the study of intergroup conflict and the development of civic and social skills.

www.peacejam.org. An international education program built around leading Nobel Peace Laureates who work with youth to pass on the spirit, skills, and wisdom they embody.

www.sadako.org. Inspired by the Sadako story from Japan (One Thousand Paper Cranes: The Story of Sadako and the Children's Peace Statue by Takayuki Ishii). Home of the World Peace Project for Children, which has as its goal educating children and giving them tools to build positive connections with children in other cultures.

www.tolerance.org. Information and resources for teachers, parents, and children on fighting hate and promoting tolerance.

www.unicef.ca/education/lesson_plans.php. Activities and school lesson plans around the theme "Building a Culture of Peace."

Books for Adults:

Borba, Michele. Building Moral Intelligence: The Seven Essential Virtues That Teach Kids to Do the Right Thing. Jossey-Bass, 2001. Ideas for understanding, evaluating, guiding, and inspiring children in seven areas: empathy, conscience, self-control, respect, kindness, tolerance, and fairness.

Collopy, Michael. Architects of Peace: Visions of Hope in Words and Images. New World Library, 2000. A stunningly beautiful and provocative book by a noted portrait photographer that profiles 75 of the world's greatest peacemakers -- politicians, scientists, spiritual leaders, artists, and activists.

Coloroso, Barbara. The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander: From Preschool to High School -- How Parents and Teachers Can Help Break the Cycle of Violence. HarperResource, 2003. An extremely helpful book that offers practical, thoughtful solutions.

Edelman, Marian Wright. The Measure of Our Success:
A Letter to My Children and Yours. HarperPerennial, 1992. An inspiring, wise book about the legacies parents should pass down to future generations.

Faber, Adele and Elaine Mazlish. How To Talk So Kids Can Learn at Home and in School. Simon & Schuster, 1995. A resource to help parents and teachers develop their skills to help children learn, communicate, cooperate, and problem solve in productive ways.

Fisher, Roger, William Ury and Bruce Patton. Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In (second edition). Penguin, 1991. The classic book on a step-by-step strategy for constructive conflict resolution and negotiation. From the work of the Harvard Negotiation Project.

Greer, Colin and Herbert Kohl (eds). A Call to Character: A Family Treasury. HarperCollins, 1995. A wonderful reader for parents and grandparents to share with children. Includes stories, poems, plays, proverbs and fables which will prompt discussion and help develop character and values.

Jaffe, Nina and Steve Zeitlin. The Cow of No Color: Riddle Stories and Justice Tales from Around the World. Henry Holt, 1998. More than simple folktales, these stories can be used by adults or children to explore the theme of justice from the perspective of different cultures and times.

Johnson, David W. and Roger T. Johnson. Teaching Students To Be Peacemakers. Interaction Book Company, 1995. A useful overview to reducing violence in schools that includes creating a cooperative context, conflict strategies, and conflict resolution program implementation.

Kreidler, William J. Creative Conflict Resolution. Good Year, 1984. Over 200 activities for bringing and keeping peace in the K-6 classroom.

Kreidler, William J. Teaching Conflict Resolution Through Children's Literature. Scholastic, 1994. Activities and suggested books to introduce and reinforce conflict resolution concepts and skills.

Lantieri, Linda and Janet Patti. Waging Peace in Our Schools. Beacon Press, 1996. By leading experts, this is a practical guide filled with stories, voices, ideas, and advice.

Macbeth, Fiona and Nic Fine. Playing With Fire: Creative Conflict Resolution for Young Adults. New Society, 1995. A practical, ready-to-use guide for helping teenagers and young adults deal creatively with interpersonal conflict and violence, using the analogy of a fire growing from a spark to a blaze.

Nolte, Dorothy Law and Rachel Harris. Children Learn What They Live: Parenting to Inspire Values. Workman, 1998. Since its publication in 1954, Dorothy Law Nolte's inspirational and educational poem has been published worldwide. Each of the 19 couplets of the poem is developed into a chapter -- on jealousy, criticism, praise, recognition, honesty, fairness, tolerance, and more -- to offer a clear, constructive perspective on teaching basic life lessons.

Prutzman, Priscilla, Lee Stern, M. Leonard Burger and Gretchen Bodenhamer. The Friendly Classroom for a Small Planet: A Handbook on Creative Approaches to Living and Problem Solving for Children. New Society, 1988. A comprehensive selection of ideas and activities based on the work of the Children's Creative Response to Conflict program.

Sapon-Shevin, Mara. Because We Can Change the World: A Practical Guide to Building Cooperative, Inclusive Classroom Communities. Allyn and Bacon, 1999. Includes cooperative games, children's literature selections and activities, and ideas on handling teasing, bullying, and exclusion.

Seligman, Martin. Learned Optimism. Pocket Books, 1998. A renowned psychologist provides insights into one of the most important life skills you can develop and pass on.

Seligman, Martin. The Optimistic Child: A Proven Program to Safeguard Children Against Depression and Build Lifelong Resilience. HarperPerennial, 1996. Children need realistically-grounded optimism to deal with many of the challenges in today's world, and helping them develop that life skill is one of the most important legacies you can give them.

Stone, Douglas, Bruce Patton and Sheila Heen. Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most. Viking, 1999. How to handle difficult situations, communicate effectively, and constructively resolve conflicts in your family, with your friends, and at work. Based on the work of the Harvard Negotiation Project.

Ury, William. Getting to Peace: Transforming Conflict at Home, at Work, and in the World. Viking, 1999. An insightful, thought-provoking, accessible exploration of human conflict and the prospect for peace in our world. From the work of the Harvard Negotiation Project.

Whitehouse, Éliane and Warwick Pudney. A Volcano In My Tummy: Helping Children to Handle Anger. New Society Publishers, 1996. A resource book for parents, caregivers, and teachers with practical ideas for helping 6 to 15 year-olds deal with anger.

Books for Children:

Bang, Molly Garrett. When Sophie Gets Angry -- Really, Really Angry... Scholastic, 1999. When Sophie has to share a toy with her sister, she gets very, very angry. The story follows her as she works through her rage and gets back into a good mood.

Bosak, Susan V. Dream: A Tale of Wonder, Wisdom & Wishes. TCP Press, 2004. Illustrated by 15 of the world's top children's illustrators. Each illustrator offers a gorgeously illustrated page in a beautifully told poetic story about life's hopes and dreams from childhood to adulthood, inspiring both children and adults.

Castle, Caroline. For Every Child. Penguin Putnam/Phyllis Fogelman Books, 2001. Based on the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, an evocative text about the rights children throughout the world should have.

Cooney, Barbara. Miss Rumphius. Viking, 1985. A beautiful, inspiring book about an older woman who, as a young girl, vows to see faraway places, live beside the sea, and do something to make the world more beautiful. She does all of these things, with the last one being most important of all.

Cooper, Floyd. Mandela: From the Life of the South African Statesman. Puffin, 2000. From his boyhood days in the South African countryside, to the protests he led in school, his leadership of the African National Congress, and his 27 years in prison, Mandela always stood firm for what he believed was fair and right, and achieved great change through peaceful means.

Durell, Ann and Marilyn Sachs (eds). The Big Book for Peace. Dutton, 1990. Thoughtful and inspiring stories, poems, and artwork from 34 well-known authors and illustrators of children's books that look at peace, conflict, war, and resolution from a variety of perspectives.

King, Jr., Dr. Martin Luther. I Have a Dream. Scholastic, 1997. A beautifully illustrated edition of Dr. King's famous, inspiring speech of peace and justice. It reminds young and old that the dream must be kept alive.

Knight, Margy Burns and Anne Sibley O'Brien illus. Talking Walls. Tilbury House, 1992. An illustrated description of walls around the world and their significance, from the Great Wall of China to the Berlin Wall. An excellent Teacher's Guide is also available.

Lincoln, Abraham and Michael McCurdy illus. The Gettysburg Address. Houghton Mifflin, 1998. The important words of America's sixteenth president are brought to life for a new generation of children trying to make sense of violence and war.

Marsden, John. Prayer for the Twenty-First Century. Star Bright Books, 1998. Strikingly illustrated with paintings, photos, and collages, this compelling call from the heart contains a message of hope that is a legacy we would wish for all our loved ones.

Payne, Lauren Murphy and Claudia Rohling illus. We Can Get Along: A Child's Book of Choices. Free Spirit, 1997.
A great book for use with children 3 years and up that promotes peaceful behaviors and positive conflict resolution. It teaches essential skills like thinking before you speak or act and treating others the way you want to be treated.

Pin, Isabel. The Seed. North-South Books, 2001. A cherry stone drops from the sky right on the border between two territories and, as two tribes declare war in their desire to claim it, an unexpected resolution evolves.

Polacco,Patricia. Pink and Say. Philomel Books, 1994. A moving, true story about an interracial friendship between two 15-year-old Union soldiers during the Civil War.

Robb, Laura and Debra Lill illus. Music and Drum: Voices of War and Peace, Hope and Dreams. Philomel, 1997. A thought-provoking, discussion-inspiring international collection of poetry by children, war survivors, and such renowned authors as Langston Hughes, Carl Sandburg, and Eve Merriam. It reflects on the horrors, fears, hardships, and loss of war and the hope, determination, and wonder of peace.

Scholes, Katherine and Robert Ingpen illus. Peace Begins With You. Time Warner, 1994. Explains in simple terms the concept of peace, why conflict occurs, and how conflict can be resolved in positive ways to protect peace.

Seuss, Dr. and Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher illus. My Many Colored Days. Alfred A. Knopf, 1996. A rhyming story that describes each day in terms of a particular color and emotion. Great for prompting an intergenerational discussion about emotions.

Seuss, Dr. The Butter Battle Book. Random House, 1984. As Grandpa reveals to his grandchild one day, there's a very serious difference between the Zooks and the Yooks: the Zooks eat their bread with the butter side down! A cautionary tale about the foolishness of the escalation of war.

Spier, Peter. People. Doubleday, 1980. There are differences among the billions of people on Earth, and these differences are what makes each person unique and the world an interesting place.

Udry, Janice May and Maurice Sendak illus. Let's Be Enemies. HarperTrophy, 1988. John and James, who have always been friends, have a fight when John gets tired of James' bossy ways. But a funny thing happens -- as soon as they agree to be enemies, they become friends again.

Van Leeuwen, Jean and Brad Sneed illus. Sorry. Penguin Putnam/Fogelman, 2001. In a poignant tale about the power of a single word, two brothers who cannot apologize to each other extend their feud down through the generations to their great-grandchildren.

Vaugelade, Anais. The War. Carolrhoda, 2001. As Prince Fabien matures from apathy to wisdom, he uses an ingenious trick to end the war between the Reds and Blues without violence.

Weiss, George David, Bob Thiele, and Ashley Bryan illus. What a Wonderful World. Sundance, 1994. Inspired by Louis Armstrong's wonderful old song, this book is a great way to share a timeless message that can bring young and old together.

Wood, Douglas and Yoshi and Hibiki Miyazaki illus. Making the World. Simon & Schuster, 1998. The world isn't finished yet, and it is up to everyone, including you, to play their part -- because everything is interconnected.

Zolotow, Charlotte and Arnold Lobel illus. The Quarreling Book. HarperTrophy, 1982. Gruffness and anger are passed along from person to person until a little dog starts a chain reaction that reverses the trend.

Organizations and
  Websites
Books for Adults
Books for Children