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In the beautifully illustrated picture book A Prayer for World Peace, world-renowned naturalist Jane Goodall asks readers to join in her call for unity, understanding and action to preserve the beauty of our world. Goodall ignores specific creeds and dogmas. Instead, she calls on “the Great Spiritual Power in which we live and move” to open our eyes and minds to a “generosity of spirit and true compassion and love for all life.”
Her powerful call to embrace generosity and compassion has a very specific aim. A lot of work needs to be done in our world. We must “heal the hurts that we have inflicted on nature” by controlling our greed for natural resources, which harms the Earth and imperils the future of our children. We must value every human being because each individual has the power to change the world. We need specific action to help the starving, the homeless, slave laborers, prostitutes and child soldiers. Victims of violence and war, particularly refugees, need our assistance. Animals everywhere need to be protected against threats such as scientific experimentation, intensive farming, trapping, training for entertainment, cruelty and abuse.
Goodall sees a world where peace is achieved through the strength of love and forgiveness. She knows the way is difficult, but she believes the end is essential, “a faith in the ultimate triumph of the human spirit.” Jane Goodall’s wonderful words, combined with Feeroozeh Golmohammadi’s amazing pictures, give readers a unique insight into what the world needs for a better future. The vibrant and colorful artwork gives voice to the beauty and richness of nature. The artwork is both symbolic and realistic at the same time. Readers will experience the beauty of the sea, the mountains and the sunrise. However, they will also experience the pain and suffering of refugees and marginalized peoples in our world.
Jane Goodall is a world-renowned expert on wildlife conservation. For fifty years, she has been working on chimpanzee research and conservation. She has received numerous awards and founded a program for youth called Roots and Shoots. She currently lives in England and travels to Tanzania twice a year.
Feeroozeh Golmohammadi is an Iranian artist whose unique style explores universal ideals. She currently lives in Tehran with her family, where she teaches art and manages a children’s book illustration association. These two accomplished women have joined forces to send a powerful message in A Prayer for World Peace: “We pray that we may learn the peace that comes with forgiving and the strength we gain in loving.”
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Myra Junyk/2017 for curled
up with a good kid's book |
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visit our sister site Curled Up With a Good Book (www.curledup.com)
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A Prayer for World Peace