Book Illustration

Illustration from the Internationally Acclaimed,
Award Winning Book Tug of War- Peace Through Understanding Conflict

Selected by the American Booksellers Association for it's resource listing of "Children's Books About Peace".

Resources: Youth

Books for Youth ages 8-16

  All the books in the Youth Peace Literacy Online Free Library can be downloaded free via our download page.

new directions in children's literature - don't judge a book by its cover

The covers of Youth Peace Literacy books are intentionally graphically designed to show the fact of conflict, of what actually creates violence without any judgment. They do not glorify it nor do they sentimentalize it by creating ideal “peaceful images” that avoid looking directly at what the roots of conflict are. Glorifying violence or idealizing peace both avoid understanding the facts, the actual movement of human conflict as it occurs both in ourselves and in the world.

 

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Book Cover image
Award ImageRecipient of the Silver Benjamin Franklin Award
Named one of the 10 best books by the Omega New Age Directory

Why is everybody always picking on me?

a guide to handling bullies

Lively color illustrations, exciting stories, and practical tips and role-playing exercises help give children the tools to avoid being victimized.

  • Cope with the "Schoolyard Bully"!
  • Stop bullies by using the "School of No Sword"!
  • Gain the confidence to win without fighting!

This book is also for adults searching for constructive ways to help young people peacefully confront hostile aggression. Illustrated by award-winning artist, Rod Cameron.

"Webster-Doyle's insight is that by recognizing, understanding, and accepting our violent tendencies, we can avoid acting them out. These new books are good for teachers and parents of school children who need appropriate language and activites to help children deal with their feelings and the violence-provoking parts of their environment. To this reviewer, they are realistic and practical."
- YOUNG CHILDREN, Magazine of the National Association for the Education of Young Children

Rights and Responsibilites for a Bully Free Society

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Why is everybody always picking on Us?

Understanding The Roots of Prejudice

The first book of its kind to explore the roots of prejudice. For young people ages 8-14 who are interested in understanding how prejudice is created, through conditioned thinking. This book offers:

  • Insights into what motivates prejudice
  • Insights to understand prejudice and its consequences
  • Ways to help young people free themselves of prejudice

This book is also for adults to help young people see how conditioning and prejudice affect us all.

Illustrated by Award-winning artist, Rod Cameron.

"This book , ‘Why is Everybody Always Picking on Us?’ explores the roots of prejudice. I don't think I've seen another book like it. This book looks at stereotypes, bigotry, discrimination, scapegoating, racism, and more.  How wonderful if this book could be used in one's social studies classroom!” – American Pride Through Education

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¿Por Qué Están Siempre Metiéndose Con Nosotros?

Entendiendo las Raíces del Prejuicio

El prejuicio y la intimidación pueden hacer que tu cerebro haga que actúes de maneras que lastiman a las personas, ¡incluso sin que lo sepas!

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Award ImageRecipient of the Silver Benjamin Franklin Award

Tug of war

PEACE THROUGH UNDERSTANDING CONFLICT

This book is for all children interested in a peaceful world - and in understanding the forces that cause conflict, both in personal relationships and across the globe. Tug of War describes ...

  • What the roots of war are.
  • How we create "The Enemy".
  • A new way to handle violence.

This book is also for adults to help young people gain the skills to successfully cope with individual and global violence.

Illustrated by award-winning artist, Rod Cameron.

"The book excels at helping children understand how conflict works within themselves. Tug of War offers engaging exercises that enhance a child's ability to understand the world. These exercises inspire self-observation, and the drawings of award-winning illustrator Rod Cameron enliven the book."

- FORUM - Newsletter of Educators for Social Responsibility, Cambridge, Massachusettes, USA

"I realize Tug of War's urgency for every child and adult—especially at this moment of unrest. My daughter couldn't stop reading it!"

- Marina Dubrovskaya, Assistant Director, Department of Sociology, Library of Foreign Literature, Moscow

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Cover Art: Why is Everybody Always Picking On Us? Understanding the Roots of Prejudice
Award ImageRecipient of the GOLD Benjamin Franklin Award

Fighting the invisible enemy

understanding the effects of conditioning

This book helps young people see how preconditioned thinking and actions - behavior influenced by war toys, violent television, gender stereotypes, racial prejudice, peer pressure and more - can lead to division and violence. This book explores:

  • What conditioning is and how it can make you act like a robot!
  • What made the boy think he could fly like Superman!
  • How war is created by the way we think.
  • Creative, nonviolent alternatives to fighting.

This book is also for adults concerned about the psychological welfare of young people.

Illustrated by award-winning artist, Rod Cameron.

Fighting the Invisible Enemy – Understanding the Effects of Conditioning was translated into Russian and serialized into the leading Russian teacher’s magazine and distributed to all schools in that country.

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No Image
No Enemy
No War

OPERATION WARHAWKS

HOW YOUNG PEOPLE BECOME WARRIORS

This book helps young people to understand what creates war and to see that being a warrior is not a humane and healthy way to resolve conflict. Operation Warhawks is full of information about how to create a more intelligent and peaceful world.

This book also helps young people to understand the conditioning that goes into creating a Warrior Robot that will kill on command.

A powerful book designed to help young people understand the conditioning employed by the armed services to psychologically shape and influence their recruits. The book does not present an anti-war or pacifist argument--instead, it raises critical questions of free will and intelligent living. Full-color illustrations.

Illustrated by award-winning artist, Rod Cameron.

 

“Every publication from the pen of this author should make a significant contribution to peace within and without. Highly recommended!"
— New Age Publishers and Retailers Alliance Trade Journal.

 

“Hello Dr. Webster-Doyle, I am a school principal, a parent and martial artist. I just wanted to thank you for this incredible book about how young people become conditioned to be warriors. This is the most unusual book that I have ever bought for my children! And perhaps the most important! I want to tell people that if you are concerned about war and what you can do to help your children understand what creates it then get this book. You could save their lives. Again many thanks for this intelligent peace-educating book.
—Dr. Phillip Ramos

 

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Award ImageRecipient of the Silver Benjamin Franklin Award

FACING THE DOUBLE EDGED SWORD

THE ART OF KARATE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

This book is for young people interested in finding nonviolent solutions to conflict! It is filled with exciting stories about Karate, and explains ...

  • What a great Master of Karate does with an umbrella.
  • How to stop a bully from hurting you.
  • How to get Real Power.
  • This book is for adults too!

Facing the Double Edged Sword can help parents, teachers, and counselors who are searching for healthy and humane ways for young people to cope with conflict.

Illustrated by award-winning artist, Rod Cameron.

"Facing the Double-Edged Sword is excellent for young readers...your analysis and definitions of various Karate terms and philosophical discussions about nonviolence are superb." - Craig L. Gilley, Instructor Yakima School of Karate, Washington

"Facing the Double-Edged Sword is the best volume I have ever seen written to appeal to the young mind. It encourages understanding of aggression without glorifying it. - Sensei Kraxberger, Kenpo Karate School of Self Defense, Oregon

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Award ImageRecipient of the Silver Benjamin Franklin Award

ENFRENTANDO LA ESPADA DE DOBLE FILO

EL ARTE DEL KARATE PARA JOVENES

Este libro está dedicado a los jóvenes que han sido intimidados y se han sentido atrapados entre su deseo de venganza y el deseo de resolver las cosas pacíficamente. Este libro también está dedicado a los padres, maestros y consejeros que quieren ayudar a los jóvenes a entender sus sentimientos violentos y hacer frente a éstos en formas más humanas y sanas.

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Martial Arts Masters

BLACK BELT WARRIORS FOR PEACE

This book is about martial arts that are for peace.

It will teach you to resolve conflict peacefully, which is the true intent of all martial arts. It will also introduce you to the Martial Arts Code of Conduct, which all martial artists for peace have to understand in order to master these arts.

As you come to understand, your life will change for the better. This is because the martial arts that are for peace are meant to help you in your everyday life...

  • To resolve conflict
  • To build character
  • To create peace.

"Helps young people deal with conflict and violence by describing practical skills for peace." - Holistic Education Review

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BREAKING THE CHAINS OF THE ANCIENT WARRIORS

TESTS OF WISDOM FOR YOUNG MARTIAL ARTISTS

Inspirational stories for martial arts students presenting tests of wisdom involving attributes including...

  • Honor
  • Strength
  • Humility
  • Peaceful conflict resolution
  • Love.

Each test contributes to character development.

"The books of Dr. Webster-Doyle are the first attempt I have seen to explain to young people and adults the concept of martial arts as a peaceful, nonviolent 'way of life' and to give students the tools to accomplish this goal." - Linda Lee Cadwell

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Award ImageRecipient of the Silver Benjamin Franklin Award

Eye of the hurricane

Tales of the Empty-Handed Masters

Can you discover the secret in the riddle of the Empty-Handed Masters?

"What is it that...
You cannot see if you look,
You cannot hear if you listen
You cannot take hold of if you grasp,
Is silent when you speak,
Speaks when you are silent,
And you can only have when you don't want it?"

If you can discover the secret of this riddle, you will discover how the Martial Arts can become a way to Peace!

Dr. Terrence Webster-Doyle demonstrates convincingly how conventional instruction in martial arts—focused on physical skill only—is not enough to help young people understand and resolve conflict. However, if they are introduced to a whole martial art, one that teaches how to avoid and therefore prevent conflict, young people can learn to deal with threatening situations powerfully and effectively, without resorting to physical violence.

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Award ImageRecipient of the Silver Benjamin Franklin Award

Flight of the Golden Eagle

Tales of the Empty-Handed Masters

How does your Martial Arts training help you to understand the mysterious teaching of the Empty-Handed Masters?

"Teacher, I have no peace of mind. Please help me to calm my mind."
"Student, will you bring your mind here so I can calm it for you?"
"Yes, but when I look for it, I can't seem to find it!"
"There, you see. I've calmed your mind already!"
"Teacher, how is that you always think so clearly?"
"I close my eyes," the Teacher responded.

If you understand this then you too will be an Empty-Handed Master.

This book's intent is to help create an understanding of the Martial Arts as a way to peace. Adults reading it together with young people can assist them in their education about relationship - what it means to live with dignity, caring and beauty in their daily lives.

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Award ImageRecipient of the Silver Benjamin Franklin Award

Maze of the Fire Dragon

Tales of the Empty-Handed Masters

Can you escape the Maze of the Fire Dragon? Here is a puzzle for you to figure out:

"You are caught in a maze of never-ending passages. Behind and gaining on you is a Fire Dragon! In front of you, down dark passages, around every corner, are unknown dangers. It is certain that you will be burnt up by the Fire Dragon coming from behind if you cannot escape. So what can you do to avoid being devoured?"

Solve this puzzle and you will understand the most powerful force in all Martial Arts training. Are you ready for an adventure?

"To say that I am pleased and delighted with the context and content of your literature is a complete and total understatement. The fact is, your writings are so unique and different from the average information on the market, that I find myself reading and rereading it for new and refreshing insights."

- C. Morgan Becker, Head Instructor Ho Ban (Lake House) Tang Soo Do Dojang
San Antonio, Florida, USA

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My First Martial Arts Book

Putting My Shoes By the Door, Just So

For Children 4-8, this book explains the basic concepts of the martial arts, as well as showing what it is like to be a part of a class. A wonderful first book on the Martial Arts for young people.

 

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Respect

The Martial Arts Code of Conduct

This latest book in the award-winning Martial Arts for Peace series teaches young people ages 6 to 9 about Respect, one of the most important goals of the Martial Arts Code of Conduct.

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FIGHTING THE INVISIBLE ENEMY and TUG OF WAR recommended by the Elementary School Library Collection as "fine contributions to materials for children"; both books also chosen by the British Commonwealth Collection.