Building Bridges: Peace, Salaam, Shalom
Guides by Deb – Keeping your books in the hearts of young readers and in the hands of those who care for them.
Building Bridges: Peace, Salaam, Shalom
Written by Melissa Stoller, Callie V Lovvorn and Shirin Rahman
Illustrated by Kate Talbot
Published by Spork, an imprint of Clear Fork Publishing
ISBN: 978-1950169788
Synopsis: From the same team who created PLANTING FRIENDSHIP: PEACE, SALAAM, SHALOM . . .
Three friends from different faith traditions discover that the bridge to Peace Park is in danger. Drawing upon their cultural traditions, the girls take action to help solve the problem, building bridges of friendship and community. Written by three women authors from the same faith traditions as the girls in the story, this book brings more kindness and understanding into the world.
PEACE, SALAAM, SHALOM.
Teaching Values & Instructional Focus
Building Bridges: Peace, Salaam, Shalom offers a thoughtful, values-centered approach to literacy instruction by inviting students to explore kindness, empathy, and community through story. The guide emphasizes interfaith understanding by respectfully introducing Christianity, Judaism, and Islam through the lived experiences of child characters, helping students appreciate cultural differences while recognizing shared values. Through guided discussion, character analysis, and reflective writing, students examine themes of friendship, inclusion, cooperation, and civic responsibility, reinforcing social-emotional learning skills such as perspective-taking, problem-solving, and community awareness. Symbolism plays a central role as students explore both literal and figurative meanings of bridges—representing connection, unity, and peace.
Educational Content, Standards & Age Range
This standards-aligned guide integrates English Language Arts, Social Studies, and STEM learning in meaningful, hands-on ways. Students engage in reading comprehension, character comparison, theme analysis, written reflection, and collaborative discussion aligned with Common Core State Anchor Standards for Reading, Writing, and Speaking & Listening. Engineering concepts are introduced through an accessible NGSS-aligned bridge study, allowing students to identify and compare beam, arch, and suspension bridges while learning how structure supports function. Project-based activities—including foldables, sorting tasks, illustration work, and symbolic craft-making—support multiple learning styles. The guide is best suited for grades 2–4, with flexibility for use in grade 1 through teacher-led instruction and enrichment opportunities for upper elementary learners.
