This post is sponsored by Herald Press. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal views.
MY REVIEW
I just finished reading Sparking Peace by Teresa Kim Pecinovsky and Hannah Rose Martin (with gorgeous illustrations by Gabhor Utomo), and wow… this book left me with such a warm, hopeful feeling.
It’s about a little girl who accidentally breaks her neighbor’s window, but instead of things going badly, that small mistake becomes the start of something beautiful. Together, they turn a painful moment into a chance to grow peace (literally… they plant a garden!) 🌱✨
What I love most is how this story takes a really tough subject—violence—and flips it into something tender and empowering for kids. It’s not preachy or heavy; it’s gentle, poetic, and filled with so much heart. And the art? Utomo’s illustrations are stunning. Each page feels alive, and the diversity of characters really stood out to me.
This book also has amazing discussion questions at the back, so it’s perfect for sparking conversations with little ones about kindness, healing, and building a better world.
If you’re a parent, teacher, or just someone who loves thoughtful picture books, add this to your shelf. Sparking Peace is such a gem. 🌸💛
ABOUT THE BOOK
Sparking Peace
Written by Teresa Kim Pecinovsky and Hannah Rose Martin
Illustrated by Gabhor Utomo
📖 Ages: 5+ | Pages: 40
📚 Publisher: Herald Press
📕 ISBN-13: 9781513813707
Publisher’s Book Summary:
Broken into beautiful. A story of friendship and healing.
After breaking a neighbor’s window, a young child discovers friendship, transformation, and new beginnings in an unlikely story of peace. Gentle and moving, this poetic tale offers readers a hopeful path in the face of gun violence and despair, showing kids how peacemaking can turn conflict into friendship and new beginnings—and forge guns into garden tools.
Children grow up with lockdowns and gun violence as part of their reality. As parents, caregivers, and educators, how should we respond? Sparking Peace provides a springboard for those seeking to discuss gun violence and trauma with children in a safe way that highlights help rather than harm.
This picture book helps children learn about conflict while also carefully addressing gun violence and peacemaking. It includes resources that equip parents and educators to talk about gun violence and trauma, using a story of a broken window to show kids how conflict can be transformed through acts of peace.
📖 Suggested reading for ages 5–9.
PURCHASE LINKS
GIVEAWAY
Enter for a chance to win one of TEN signed copies of Sparking Peace! Plus, one lucky grand prize winner will receive a signed copy AND a $50 Amazon gift card!
👉 Click here for the entry form:
https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/sparking-peace-by-teresa-kim-pecinovsky-and-hannah-rose-marti-awareness-tour/
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Teresa Kim Pecinovsky holds a Master of Education from the University of Houston and a Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt Divinity School. She is an ordained minister through the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Rev. Teresa is the author of the children’s book Mother God and coauthor of The Peace Table. A healthcare chaplain, she lives with her family in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Hannah Rose Martin has had a passion for children’s education since she was in 2nd grade, which led to a bachelor’s degree in education. She began teaching in an elementary school and is now a reading interventionist and Mennonite pastor in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She is a wife and mother of two energetic children who love books. Hannah was inspired to teach and write because she saw a need for curriculum and books that engage children’s creativity and their role in the community around them. She hopes Sparking Peace encourages parents and caregivers to have deeper conversations with children and discover they are just one imaginative idea away from a transformed world.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Gabhor Utomo was born in Indonesia. He moved to California in 1997 to pursue a career as an artist and received his degree from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco in 2003. Today, he works as a freelance illustrator and has illustrated numerous children’s books. His first children’s book, Kai’s Journey to Gold Mountain, tells the story of a young Chinese immigrant on Angel Island. Gabhor’s work has won awards and recognition from local and national art organizations. His painting of Senator Milton Marks is part of a permanent collection at the California State Building in downtown San Francisco. He also created posters for the Mountain Play, an outdoor theater in Marin County, California. Gabhor lives with his wife, Dina, and their twin daughters in Portland, Oregon.
TOUR SCHEDULE
📅 Wednesday, July 9, 2025
The Children’s Book Review – Book Tour Kick-Off
📅 Thursday, July 10, 2025
The Starlit Path – Book Review of Sparking Peace
📅 Friday, July 11, 2025
Deliciously Savvy – Book Review of Sparking Peace
📅 Monday, July 14, 2025
Country Mamas with Kids – Book Review of Sparking Peace
📅 Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Crafty Moms Share – Book Review of Sparking Peace
📅 Wednesday, July 16, 2025
icefairy’s Treasure Chest – Book Review of Sparking Peace
📅 Thursday, July 17, 2025
Get Outside and Read – Book Review of Sparking Peace
📅 Friday, July 18, 2025
Q&As with Deborah Kalb – Author Interview with Teresa Kim Pecinovsky and Hannah Rose Martin
📅 Monday, July 28, 2025
@nissa_the.bookworm – Book Review of Sparking Peace
📅 Tuesday, July 29, 2025
All Done Monkey – Book Review of Sparking Peace
📅 Wednesday, July 30, 2025
One More Exclamation – Book Review of Sparking Peace
📅 Thursday, July 30, 2025
Me Two Books – Author Interview with Teresa Kim Pecinovsky and Hannah Rose Martin
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