WHAT IF SOLDIERS FOUGHT WITH PILLOWS?

Fifteen quirky, thoughtful what-if statements trace the history of lesser-known social activists and organizations.

Taking inspiration from J.K. Rowling—“We do not need magic to change the world. We carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better”—Camlot ponders the power of imagination. Some people were not only able to envision a better world, they put their thoughts into action. Desmond Doss, a conscientious objector in World War II, carried a Bible instead of a weapon into battle. It’s not quite the pillows of the titular question, but it does paint the picture of a peaceful way to fight. “What if battlegrounds were soccer fields and spectators cheered for every team?” Les Éléphants of Ivory Coast brought their warring nation together when they qualified for the World Cup. “What if everybody showed up to a political party with their dancing shoes on?” A young Palestinian who dared to dance in spite of strict militant restrictions now shares his story to promote peace. Bloch’s cartoons extend the theme, depicting, for instance, the power of music to effect change with a picture of airlifted refugees clinging to a musical staff dangling from a helicopter. The uncluttered design—display type for the leading question, Bloch’s fanciful sketches, and one page of text per topic—make this an accessible, bite-sized look at powerful change.

Inspiring and hopeful.