Peace and Me

Peace and Me by Ali Winter, illustrated by Mickael El Fathi (Lantana Publishing UK — AU edition 2026) HB RRP $ 26.99 ISBN: 9781911373285

Reviewed by Sylvia Forbes

 Inspired by and based on the lives of Nobel Peace Prize Laureates of the 20th and 21st centuries, Peace and Me profiles twelve international, shape-shifting peacemakers, including Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, and Malala Yousafzai. The book tells how each recipient (through their own particular skill sets, observations, bravery, and heart) dedicated themselves to helping make the world a better, more equitable place for people to live in. 

Peace and Me begins with Alfred Nobel himself, who, after studying chemical engineering, met a man who had invented a liquid called nitro-glycerine — and after seeing first-hand how dangerous it was, became determined to find a way to make it safe. He invented Dynamite. He made a lot of money from its success, but he wasn't happy because he realised his invention was being used as a weapon of destruction. Thus, in his will, he instructed that the money he earned from his invention be distributed each year as prizes to people who had achieved greatness for the good of all mankind in the fields of Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature, and Peace. 

Ali Winter has done a great job in whittling these life stories down to a succinct single page of words — keeping them interesting, informative and easy to read and digest.

Mickael Eli Fathi's outstanding, highly detailed illustrations — crafted in a multi-layered mix of patterns, colours, textures and motifs — complement not only the story for each recipient but also give a sense of their character. My favourite elements (out of many) are — the decorated cow with Mother Teresa's story and the ornate wire cage with Shirin Ebadi's story. 

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, learning about these amazing people and their achievements. (Some I hadn't heard of and some I didn't know enough about.)

I love how each recipient’s story is accompanied by a single line which encapsulates what peace means to them — Peace is ... making sure every child gets to go to school.  

And I love how it concludes with the question — What does peace mean to you?

With peace being an issue of our times, it is important for us all to learn about, discuss and be inspired by these key figures who dedicated their lives to the upholding of peace — and to recognise that they were just regular, every-day people like us. They simply saw an unevenness in society and then did something to rectify it.

Inspirational and beautifully illustrated, Peace and Me is a book for every home, school and library bookshelf.  

Highly recommended for readers aged 7-12+.