Books

The illustrated and children's non-fiction book by the Swiss author Lisette Bors tells in a child-friendly way how one man's idea gave rise to the unique humanitarian organisation of the Red Cross, which is active worldwide. Embedded in today's everyday life of children, it introduces the young reader or listener to the subject. The historical information is carefully checked with experts from the SRC, ICRC and Société Henry Dunant.
  In the first part, which is illustrated with numerous colourful drawings, the reader learns how Lisa, soon to be six-year-old kindergarten girl, and her cousin René spend the holidays with their grandparents. There is a lot to do. Lisa helps her grandmother in the kitchen and in the garden and when her grandmother, who is a Samaritan teacher, prepares the next Samaritan exercise in the village, Lisa also learns how to make bandages.
  The grandfather, a former teacher, gives Amira, an Iraqi refugee girl, German lessons during the holidays. Lisa and René want to know where Amira comes from, why she had to flee, how people live in her country and why there is a war there. They wonder what it's like to have to leave home and how they could help Amira. When they hear that Amira's father is missing and the Red Cross is looking for him, they want to know more about the Red Cross.
  In the second part, the grandfather tells his grandchildren the story of Henry Dunant and the founding of the Red Cross. Illustrated with numerous photographic documents, the grandfather brings the story to life in an entertaining and exciting way in conversation with the children. At the end, the author takes us back to the time of Lisa, René and Amira and to the question that is on everyone's mind: "Where is Amira's father?
  The author succeeds extraordinarily well in gently introducing the children to what is happening in the world, e.g. to the question of war and peace, from their concrete world of life. She does not stop at misery, however, but uses Dunant's example to show how the idea of a single person could grow into a humanitarian organisation that alleviates human suffering all over the world. The children realise that it depends on each individual, that it is the people who make history.
  The book does not provide quick answers, but leaves room for reflection and questioning. It offers many suggestions for discussions in the family, kindergarten, school and youth groups. The appendix of the book contains many suggestions and interesting facts about Henry Dunant and the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
  It has already been tested in practice from kindergarten to upper school with good success and is recommended for ages 6 and up.
  Lisette Bors is herself a Samaritan teacher and has been working as a kindergarten teacher for over 25 years. In the context of integrating foreign-language children, she developed her own form of communicating simple to complex facts with the help of drawn pictures.
  The book is also available in German, French, Italian and Spanish.

Two children discover the story of Henry Dunant and the Red Cross
96 pages, 21 pictures and 28 illustrations;
ISBN 978-3-909234-10-3
CHF 26.- / EUR 20.- (plus shipping costs)

The book can be ordered from:
Zeit-Fragen. Editor and Publisher,
P.O. Box 247, CH-9602 Bazenheid.
E-Mail: currentConcerns@zeit-fragen.ch,
abo@zeit-fragen.ch