Publisher's Weekly Review
Long (Troublemaker for Justice) recounts the origins of the peace sign for a new generation of young activists in this brief history of a now-ubiquitous symbol. In 1958, British graphic designer and peace activist Gerald Holtom created the simple design--three lines in a circle--for a 50-mile march to protest nuclear weapons. An endnote explains that the lines represent a combination of semaphore letters for N and D, standing for "nuclear disarmament." Succinct free verse describes how the humble insignia began populating protest movements around the globe, "standing for/ peace/ for all/ and especially for" marginalized folks, including "Black people/ and/ Brown people/ women/ and/ poor people/ LGTBQ+ people/ and/ people with disabilities." The soft textures and rich hues of artist Vélez's illustrations recall 1960s art, for example that of U.S. anti-war protests. Crowds of variously inclusive protestors fill colorful culminating spreads, the peace logo displayed on banners, quilts, and signs. In four stark white circles that pop against this backdrop, the author enumerates current social movements ("Peace and BLACK LIVES MATTER!"), bringing the narrative to the present-day. In an empowering ending, Holtom hands off his symbol to today's youth. Back matter offers a much more detailed history of the peace symbol plus a recent protest timeline. Ages 3--7. (Aug.)
Kirkus Review
A simple sketch that holds so much. Gerald Holtom first designed the peace symbol in 1958. But this celebration begins with Gerry, a tall, thin man with pale skin and a mop of shaggy brown hair, at his drafting table, hoping to "draw his dream." Without any historical context, Long explains in his free-verse text that this man's dream is "a world without bombs." Gerry draws three lines and encloses them in a circle. He shares the design with others, and one person says, "It doesn't mean a thing, / and it will never catch on." However, it definitely does. It begins in England but swiftly travels, showing up in rallies and marches across the world. It stands for "peace / for all / and especially for / Black people / and / Brown people / women / and / poor people / LGBTQ+ people / and / people with disabilities." Long strengthens readers' connection to the symbol by ending with those three lines in a circle "catching on, / fighting on, / moving on… / TO / YOU." Vibrant throngs of all kinds of people fill the pages. The inspiration behind the design is buried in the backmatter (though hinted at in the illustrations), and much more of its history is revealed there, but the spare text echoes the spare symbol. It stands powerfully on its own. Grounded in the discussion of a design, the heart of peace beats on. (timeline) (Informational picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
