“'Wherever we are / we search for a place / to be unafraid /wherever we are.' From Native Americans displaced from their land to young protesters in apartheid South Africa and a Muslim girl in Iraq, the clear, stirring words and beautiful mixed-media collage illustrations in this picture book show particular wars across time and place as well as suggesting the universal fears, dreams, and courage of children caught up in terrifying conflict. On one of the first double-page spreads, a child imagines how fights begin, in the schoolyard and on the battlefield ('This one was mad at that one / and that one was angry, too'). On the following pages, photos and original art filled with realistic details come together to create an evocative picture of each historical conflict, which is identified in notes at the back of the book. The rhythmic connections in words and pictures will move peace activists, old and young."–BOOKLIST

"Anxiety and resilience are the major themes twining through both Greenfield's free-verse testimonials and Gilchrist's impressionistic collages. Using Langston Hughes's 'Hold Fast to Dreams' as her touchstone, the poet takes the voice of children though the ages: wishing that 'Warriors' would only march in parades; sharing both fright and laughter with 'A Child Like Me' on the other side of the world; waiting for 'Papa,' a veteran whose mind is still on the battlefield, to come all the way back home; pretending that soldiers riding by are off to some rescue or other constructive task; finding joy in toys and music—'Still, we play/Our toys take us/to happy places.' Gilchrist blends paint and reworked photos into kaleidoscopic arrays of children's faces, snatches of historical detail and streams of mixed colors; the effect is panoramic, and ties the poems, which are not specific, to particular cultures or conflicts. Ending on a reassuring note—'We give to the world/still,/our wonder, our wisdom,/our laughter, our hope'—this gathering keeps the violence mostly off-stage, while providing several sad but hopeful ways to relate to its hard reality." –KIRKUS REVIEWS

"Combining 17 rhythmic poems with dramatic illustrations, this title addresses a complex topic. Greenfield's deceptively simple verses express universal truths about both conflict and childhood. The introductory piece, 'I Think I Know,' offers an innocent explanation of the causes of war, much like a playground scuffle. Other selections highlight moments such as a parade of battle-ready warriors in ancient Egypt, a shell-shocked father's return from the American Revolution, and a young artist who tries to hold onto dreams despite the effects of combat in Iraq. The final poem summarizes the book's message: 'We are surrounded by love,/taking us through/the danger days….We are the children…still.' Gilchrist's artwork captures the intensity of the verses, depicting conflicts from different historical periods and locations, as well as typical childhood pursuits. The spreads employ a combination of line-and-wash paintings, charcoal sketches, and photographs, and the use of collage underscores the sense of war's effects being superimposed on a youngster's world. This special book, which needs to be introduced and placed in context by an adult, makes a great starting point for discussion." –SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL