On the Wings of Peace: Writers and Illustrators Speak Out for Peace, in Memory of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Dedicated to the memory of those who perished when atomic bombs fell on Hiroshima and Nagasaki half a century ago, this poignant, hardhitting book collects the work of more than 60 noted writers and artists who, mostly through depictions of war, underscore the world's acute need for peace. A number of the entries tie into the devastating bombings of 1945, including Greg Mitchell's crisp if rather dry account of the origins of the Pacific war and nuclear physicist Michio Kaku's searing projection of what would happen if a hydrogen bomb were dropped on the Empire State Building. Other memorable selections include Joseph Bruchac's ""Rabbit Foot,"" involving five warring Native American nations, and Katherine Paterson's ""The Grandmother with Her Own Bomb,"" a true story about a bomb that falls through the roof of a Russian woman's house. Unfortunately, the biased note accompanying ""Come Back, Palestine, Come Back"" (``Due to wars in 1956, 1967, 1973, and 1982, Jews took territories from Arabs and created large refugee populations'') undermines the pacifist cause. Jerry Pinkney, Wendell Minor, Peter Catalanotto and Keiko Narahashi are among the distinguished artists included here. Ages 11-up. (Aug.)