Sparking Peace Awareness Tour presented in partnership* with Herald Press and The Children’s Book Review.
Get ready for an extraordinary virtual book tour featuring Sparking Peace, the groundbreaking picture book that shows children how conflict can bloom into friendship and hope can grow from the most challenging moments.
Over the next month, we’ll explore how authors Teresa Kim Pecinovsky and Hannah Rose Martin, along with illustrator Gabhor Utomo, have crafted a gentle yet powerful story that helps families navigate difficult conversations about safety, healing, and peacemaking.
In a world where children face unprecedented challenges, Sparking Peace offers something precious: a roadmap for transformation that shows kids how gardens can grow where conflict once lived.
Don’t miss this chance to be part of a movement that’s reshaping how we talk to children about healing, hope, and the power of peace. Follow along as we discover together how small acts of kindness can forge the tools for a better tomorrow!
AMAZING GIVEAWAY ALERT: Throughout the tour, followers can enter daily to win one of TEN signed copies of Sparking Peace! Plus, one lucky grand prize winner will receive a signed copy AND a $50 Amazon gift card!
Mark your calendars—this is one book tour that will change hearts and minds AND could put this transformative book right in your hands.
Sparking Peace Virtual Tour Dates
| Wednesday, July 9, 2025 The Children’s Book Review Book Tour Kick-Off |
| Thursday, July 10, 2025 The Starlit Path Book Review of Sparking Peace |
| Friday, July 11, 2025 Deliciously Savvy Book Review of Sparking Peace |
| Monday, July 14, 2025 Country Mamas with Kids Book Review of Sparking Peace |
| Tuesday, July 15, 2025 Crafty Moms Share Book Review of Sparking Peace |
| Wednesday, July 16, 2025 icefairy’s Treasure Chest Book Review of Sparking Peace |
| Thursday, July 17, 2025 Get Outside and Read Book Review of Sparking Peace |
| Friday, July 18, 2025 Q&As with Deborah Kalb Author Interview with Teresa Kim Pecinovsky and Hannah Rose Martin |
| Monday, July 28, 2025 @nissa_the.bookworm Book Review of Sparking Peace |
| Tuesday, July 29, 2025 All Done Monkey Book Review of Sparking Peace |
| Wednesday, July 30, 2025 One More Exclamation Book Review of Sparking Peace |
| Thursday, July 31, 2025 Me Two Books Author Interview with Teresa Kim Pecinovsky and Hannah Rose Martin |
Sparking Peace Book Giveaway
Sparking Peace: Book GiveawayAbout the Book
Sparking Peace
Written by Teresa Kim Pecinovsky and Hannah Rose Martin
Illustrated by Gabhor Utomo
Ages 5+ | 40 Pages
Publisher: Herald Press | ISBN-13: 9781513813707
Publisher’s Book Summary: Broken into beautiful. A story of friendship and healing.
After breaking a neighbor’s window, a young child discovers friendship, transformation, and new beginnings in an unlikely story of peace. Gentle and moving, this poetic tale offers readers a hopeful path in the face of gun violence and despair, showing kids how peacemaking can turn conflict into friendship and new beginnings—and forge guns into garden tools.
Children grow up with lockdowns and gun violence as part of their reality. As parents, caregivers, and educators, how should we respond? Sparking Peace provides a springboard for those seeking to discuss gun violence and trauma with children in a safe way that highlights help rather than harm. This picture book helps children learn about conflict while also carefully addressing gun violence and peacemaking. It includes resources that equip parents and educators to talk about gun violence and trauma, using a story of a broken window to show kids how conflict can be transformed through acts of peace. Suggested reading for ages 5–9.
Buy the Book
About the Authors
Teresa Kim Pecinovsky holds a master of education from the University of Houston and a master of divinity from Vanderbilt Divinity School. She is an ordained minister through the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Rev. Teresa is the author of the children’s book Mother God and coauthor of The Peace Table. A healthcare chaplain, she lives with her family in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Hannah Rose Martin has had a passion for children’s education since she was in the 2nd grade, which led to a bachelor’s degree in education. She began teaching in an elementary school and is now a reading interventionist and Mennonite pastor in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She is a wife and mother of two energetic children who love books. She was inspired to teach and write because she saw a need for curriculum and books that engage children’s creativity and their role in the community around them. She hopes that Sparking Peace encourages parents and caregivers to have deeper conversations with children and together find that they are just one imaginative idea away from a transformed world.
About the Illustrator
Gabhor Utomo was born in Indonesia. He moved to California in 1997 to pursue a career as an artist. He received his degree from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco in spring 2003. Today, he works as a freelance illustrator and has illustrated numerous children’s books. His first children’s book, Kai’s Journey to Gold Mountain, tells the story of a young Chinese immigrant on Angel Island. Gabhor’s work has won awards and recognition from local and national art organizations. His painting of Senator Milton Marks is part of a permanent collection at the California State Building in downtown San Francisco. He also created posters for the Mountain Play, an outdoor theater in Marin County, California. He lives with his wife, Dina, and their twin daughters in Portland, Oregon.
Thanks for following along with us on Herald Press’s Sparking Peace awareness tour!
178 Comments
My son is a second grade teacher in Pittsburgh. I would like to donate this book to his classroom.
I love a great mind over adversary tale!
cool book
I live in western North Carolina, and the amazing community we have came together after Helene- I heard from volunteers who have worked several other natural disasters that they’ve never seen community like ours
A young family welcomed a new addition to their family last month. I took a meal to them, as I know how family dynamics change with a newborn.
I’d love to win this for my grandsons.
I was out food shopping with my headphones in when I dropped my wallet without realizing it. Thankfully, someone was kind enough to run up, tap me on the shoulder, and hand it back to me.
Sounds like a great story
I’d love to win this for my kids.
I love the peace and joy I get when I do volunteer work!
Saying good morning is simple and great way to start the day!
This looks like a very entertaining read. Thanks for sharing.
Getting a flat tire and a man stopped and helped me out. A Great act of kindness.
Getting a flat tire and a man stopped and helped me out. A Great act of kindness. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!
My father’s early death taught me to be strong & resilient
My daughter would love this prize pack!
Wonderful book , thank you!
Im looking forward to reading this book. Thanks for sharing.
Great illustration on the cover
Interesting book
Sounds like a good read.
Sounds like a good book
my grands would love this book
Hope I can win this so I can read it to my cousins!
I would love to read then donate to my community library – we need to give peace a chance. Frightening that our President renamed the Secretary of Defense to the Secretary of War.
Great message in this book
Getting a card in the mail is an act of kindness that I truly appreciate.
This book sounds like an intriguing story.
I was grocery shopping with my headphones on and didn’t notice when my wallet slipped out of my pocket. Luckily, a stranger noticed, caught up to me, and handed it back before I even realized it was missing.
Interesting concept for this book.
Greatly illustrated
This looks like a novel I will thoroughly enjoy.
It sounds like a great book – I’d love to win so I can read it!
A child giving me a hug is a wonderful act of kindness that melts my heart.
An amazing book.
Awesome illustrations
sounds great and has a good story
This would make a great library book
Im really looking forward to checking this book out. Thanks for sharing.
Im really looking forward to checking this book out. Thanks for sharing this book.
Looks like a great book – I’d love to win, read it and gift it to a friend!
A good book about friendship.
I’d love to see the inside of the book
Anything empowering is great!
An injury in college left me unable to compete on the track team but that led me to become a physical therapist where I help many attain their goals.
A cracked coffee mug I almost threw away became my favorite pen holder – and now it reminds me every day that even broken things can still be useful and loved…
An interesting book.
My kids would love this book.
Good luck everyone 🍀
Sounds like a great story – i hope I can win to have the chance to read it!
I’m thankful for the text I received from a friend a few days ago that helped me through a rough day. Little acts of kindness do make a difference.
An interesting book with a positive message.
My cousin reminded me of how happy my father was when I was born. He died from cancer when I was 13.
A good educational story.
One of the cashiers at a local store is always so sweet. I appreciate her kindness because it makes shopping a better experience.
Definitely looking forward to checking this book out. Thanks for sharing.
A few years ago, I was very sick. A friend brought over a pot of soup. I’m so very thankful for people that help out. Acts of kindness bless others.
I’d love to see inside the book
I would love my Grand Nephew to read this.
I’d love to win so I can give the book to my friend so she can read it to her daughter!
My superpower would be shape-shifting…to be able to acclimate to the group I am in.
And perform acts of kindness to the group..
I wonder what happens on this adventure.
I like books like these. Thanks for sharing.
Do you have any advice for new writers?
Sounds like a wonderful book.
We are so excited to check this book out.
Looks very interesting
Would be nice to win to gift it to my friend so she can read it to her son!
Thanks again for the giveaway opportunity!
This is an interesting book.