Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September, and this year the focus is on the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Here are some books you can share with children to explore ideas around rights, freedom, activism and small ways to be peaceful in everyday life.

You can find even more recommendations of books to read on International Peace Day in our collection below.

We Are All Born Free by Amnesty International

All 30 Articles of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights are explored in this beautiful picture book featuring the work of an all-star cast of illustrators, including John Burningham, Jane Ray, Axel Scheffler, Jessica Souhami and Hong Sung Dam. Each human right is interpreted in a way that children can relate to, through the clean and simple text and illustration. Rights around legal process, for example, are presented through two parents, a little girl, a broken vase, and words around not being blamed for something until it is proved.

This is a book with scope and variety, which can be discussed in very simple terms or delving deeper into what human rights mean in the real world.

For ages 4 and up.

Also by Amnesty International: Dreams of Freedom and My Little Book of Big Freedoms.

Sorry Day by Coral Vass & Dub Leffler

Peace in Australia starts with addressing original and continuing injustices to Indigenous Australians. Sorry Day is told in alternating timelines. In the modern day, Maggie is in a busy crowd with her mother watching the Prime Minister apologise for the actions of a country and government. In the past, several Indigenous children play and then hide from the white men who have come to remove them from their families.

This is a gentle and important book to start conversations with kids about our nation’s past, and what actions could be taken in the future.

For ages 4 and up.

You can browse more recommended Indigenous Australian children’s books here.

Grandad Mandela by Zindzi Mandela, Zazi Mandela & Sean Qualls

Introduce kids to Nelson’s Mandela’s life of peaceful activism and leadership through this lovely dialogue between Mandela’s young great-grandchildren Zazi and Ziwelene, and their grandmother, Mandela’s daughter Zindzi. The children ask questions and their grandmother gives simple answers, covering Mandela’s time as a freedom fighter, in prison, as President of South Africa and as a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.

The dark history of apartheid and concepts of justice, resilience, forgiveness and unification are presented appropriately for young readers and the book is illustrated in a striking paper collage style.

For ages 4 and up.

Independent readers might want to look at Nelson Mandela (Little Guides to Great Lives).

Room on Our Rock by Kate Temple & Terri Rose Baynton

Themes of generosity, sharing and taking care of others in a crisis are woven through this unconventional and high-impact picture book that can be read both forwards and backwards.

Three seals (and an occasional crab) occupy a comfortable and safe rock in the middle of the ocean. When two more seals show up – in great peril from wild and stormy seas – the resident seals seem very certain that they aren’t able to accept any newcomers on their rock, and say so, in no uncertain terms. Or do they? Upon reaching the last page, the reader is urged to read the story backwards and see if anything changes…

Simple words and pictures containing more than one story make this a dramatic picture book that will spark discussions with empathetic young readers.

For ages 3 and up.

If you’d like to learn more about displacement and asylum, please check out our collection of children’s books about refugees & asylum seekers.

The Peace Book by Todd Parr

Todd Parr is renowned for his bright and graphic stick people artwork, and his ability to explore families, feelings, difference, peace, love and acceptance in a way that makes readers feel like they’ve just received a big hug.

In The Peace Book, Parr explores simple ways to experience peace, with suggestions such as: Peace is thinking about someone you love/Peace is everyone having a home/Peace is sharing a meal and more.

For ages 1 and up.

Find more Todd Parr books here.

Leanne Hall is a children’s and YA specialist at Readings Kids. She also writes books for children and young adults.