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2007-12-18 issue:

Peace advocates finish their final children's book

by Anna Groff

Print Article

Ruth Eitzen, peace advocate and author, never saw a bound copy of her children’s book Tara’s Flight, which will be released in February by Boyds Mills Press, Honesdale, Pa.



Illustration from Tara's Flight by Allan Eitzen.

Ruth, who died in April, 2007, wrote the story about a dove of peace—a retelling of Noah and the ark—last year, and her husband Allan illustrated it. It didn’t take long for Ruth’s illness to progress, but they continued to work on the book together. Ruth finished the writing months before Allan finalized the illustrations.

Allan, who now lives in Lititz, Pa., said it is bittersweet to have the book released after her death and that it means something special to him. The couple also wrote and illustrated The White Feather and Ti Jacques: a Story of Haiti.

After they spent four months in Nepal 10 years ago working with writing and illustrating workshops and programs at an orphanage, Ruth returned to the United States with a desire to write a new book about peace for children and had the idea of a dove carrying a message of peace to people.

Ruth worked with children’s programs in Europe with Mennonite Central Committee after World War II before she married Allan.

“I don’t know a time when she wasn’t concerned about peace,” he says.

The complete article will be in the January 22, 2008, issue.

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