Planting SunshinePlanting Sunshine

When does the war over there become the war over here? In this novel in verse, a boy named Theo can't stop worrying about the war he sees on TV. In a distant country, war is wreaking havoc. Theo, safe in his house, is horrified by the images of violence he sees on TV, and he can't stop wondering why: Why the war? Why this senseless violence? Why so much hate? His dad says it's complicated, and has no real answers to give him. His friends at school say that kids shouldn't be worried about faraway wars. But Theo can't stop thinking about bombs destroying houses and schools. He starts to feel very, very alone. Inspired by an unusual act he sees on TV, where a woman gives seeds of the national flower to an enemy soldier, Theo wonders if there's a way that he can help sow the seeds of peace. Weaving poems and striking illustrations, this book shows how war hurts people everywhere. The story reminds us that everyone -- young or old, near or far -- has the power to create positive change. Includes an author's note about ways to build peace.