A Bowl Full of Peace: A True Story

A heartbreaking but essential perspective on war and survival.—starred, Kirkus Reviews

In this deeply moving nonfiction picture book, award-winning author Caren Stelson brings Sachiko Yasui's story of surviving the atomic bombing of Nagasaki and her message of peace to a young audience.

As World War II rages, the sounds of battle grow ever closer to Nagasaki, Japan, where Sachiko and her family live. Sachiko's parents do all they can to keep the family safe, but they are not prepared for what is to come.

On August 9, 1945, an atomic bomb explodes over Nagasaki. Sachiko’s family suffers devastating losses. But in the rubble of their home, they find a leaf-shaped bowl that has miraculously survived without a chip or crack. This bowl—which was passed down through the generations and once held their daily meals—now holds memories of the past and serves as a vessel of hope, peace, and new traditions for Sachiko and the surviving members of her family.

Stelson's sensitive text and Akira Kusaka's evocative illustrations capture the devastation of war and offer readers of all ages a vision for a world full of peace.