My School in the Rain Forest: How Children Attend School Around the World

Having already surveyed some of the libraries of the world, in My Librarian Is a Camel: How Books Are Brought to Children Around the World, Margriet Ruurs turns to schools in this informative picture-book, profiling thirteen educational venues from around the world. Here, young readers will learn about the school founded in the small Afghani village of Shin Kalay, how it gave more than a thousand children (both boys and girls) the gift of literacy, before being destroyed by a group of armed men. Here is the floating school of Tonlé Sap, the great freshwater lake at the heart of Cambodia, and the rain forest school of Punta Arenas, Guatemala. An online "school of the air" in Australia, a boarding school (in a castle!) in Scotland, a show more school under a tree in Kenya, a home-school in the United States, these are just some of the diverse school presented here!

I was very impressed with My School In the Rain Forest, finding it both educational and fun. Children will enjoy learning about how their international peers go to school, and will gain an insight into the role of both economics and geography, in shaping something as basic as how we go to school: on a boat, in a forest, under a tree. Profusely illustrated with color photographs sent to Margriet Ruurs from schools all over the world, this book is also a visual feast, sure to keep children's attention! I highly recommend this title to young readers with an interest in the world around them (or to those educators attempting to instill such an interest), and can't wait to read Ruurs' book about the world's libraries! show less

I find it fascinating that education is so highly valued no matter where you go in the world. Education is the means to a peaceful world, and so many places work so hard to achieve that. The photographs are great and provide a picture of what Margriet is writing in her text.

Children around the world go to school in a wide range of ways and learn about many different types of subjects. While traveling to thirteen different countries, pictures and stories from children and teachers in these countries reveals what their schooling is like and the hardships that they face.

"Examines differences in school settings around the world in the form of a photographic essay that depicts virtual classrooms and schools that exist on a river, high in the Himalayas, or in the rainforests of Guatemala."