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The Enemy: A Book About Peace

(2009, Fiction - Picture Book, Written by Davide Cali, Illustrated by Serge Bloch)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 4, age appropriate for kids over 7; suggested age 8.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Simple lesson about war and enemies; not for little kids.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 8 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    The soldier realizes his enemy is a human being too, rather than a beast, and that he has a family and that they share many of the same feelings.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Cartoon-like illustrations show soldiers, guns, axes, and other weapons being thrown from foxhole to foxhole. The soldier also talks about fears of being killed.

  • Sex:

    Not an issue.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Enemy: A Book About Peace

Parents need to know that they should be prepared to talk about war, soldiers, weapons, killing, and fear with their children. The message is one of peace, but the problems are those of war.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the two soldiers, how similar they are, and what keeps them at war. Why do they shoot at each other when they do not even know each other? Why don't they stop? What are they afraid of? What does the soldier see when he goes to his enemy's hole? How does it change the way the soldier thinks?
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