Anabel Kindersley

My kid finds all these other children a bit overwhelming I think--it doesn't help that each page is divided up into a series of little blurbs; it would have been better to have a main writeup on each child and their country/family/hobbies/whatever--but the way these children naturally inhabit their different lives and the way the book celebrates that makes me think how much we've lost (since the nineties when this book came out, that is, since the open world), how fast, in terms of our way show more of celebrating cultural diversity--I feel like the book is essentializing and exoticizing even as I know it's not. I really like it though. show less

I think of this picture book as an encyclopedia of children's lives. The information it provides on these 35 children is comprehensive and enlightening. Because the text is so detailed, it is suited towards intermediate aged students and would be a wonderful resource for introducing different cultures. The language is inclusive and the photos are interesting. My only concern is that it might be a bit too positive at times about issues such as poverty and children living in orphanages. show more Nonetheless, it could open discussion on those topics. show less

This is such a great book. Each two page spread highlights a child from a different country, with pictures of the child's home, family, toys, and school, along with responses to interview type questions about his or her life. The book is appealing to children, but it is also a great tool for helping children gain a wider understanding about the world around them.

This book is loaded with information about holidays around the world. Many different cultures are included as well as many pictures related to each holiday. The book can feel a little cramped, but it does include a plethora of interesting information. Since it is so heavy in content, I would recommend this book to be used as reference material for older elementary students. It would also be a great book to keep in the classroom library for casual perusing.