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 (keGlobal Chapter books
Read a young reader's chapter book (or several picture books if it's more applicable to your grade level) and post comments here about how one might use the books in their classroom or any other reactions you may have. Please remember to sign your first name. __Wake Up, World!__ by Beatrice Hollyer This book was mentioned in the article, "//**Including Voices from the World Through Global Citizenship Education**"// and features eight children 's homes in eight countries. It provides children and educators with a glimpse of how children in different countries sleep, eat, learn and play. This book has beautiful photographs and descriptive paragraphs for each country. It is appropriate for children in grades 3-5. Tracy

__You and Me Together: Moms, Dads, and Kids Around the World__ by Babara Kerley This stunning picture book features photographs of families all around the world. The text is limited - just a few words on each page - and appropriate for all grade levels. Despite the limited text, the book is powerful because it shows children and their parents doing similar activities all over the world (like eating or dancing or fishing) and captures the love shared between the children and their parents. As Barbara Kerley writes in her author's note, "Love between parents and children is universal, and we see it shining here from Tanzania to Germany, fro Bhutan to New Mexico." Tracy

__Tsunami!__ by Kimiko Kajikawa; illustrated by Ed Young. A Japanese folktale about how one man's simple sacrifice saves hundreds of lives. A wealthy man in a Japanese village on an island, who everyone calls Ojiisan, which means grandfather, sets fire to his own rice fields at the top of the island's hillside to warn the innocent people of an approaching tsunami. Stunning collage illustrations. Char

__The Buddha's Diamonds__ - Carolyn Marsden and Thay Phap Niem This short chapter book (97 pages plus backmatter) is based on the childhood experiences of co-author Thay Phap Niem following the Vietnam war. As a storm sweeps in, Tinh's father tells him to tie up their fishing boat, but Tinh is frightened by the storm and runs away. Their boat is damaged, his sister is hurt during the storm, and Tinh has to face the truth, his father, his sister and himself. I found the writing very soft and gentle, like Buddha. In fact, Thay Phap Niem became a Buddhist monk largely because of his experiences in the storm's aftermath. Backmatter includes a glossary and short history of Buddhism. Char

__Masai and I__ by Virginia Kroll This is the beautiful picture book that Char talked about in class. It is about a young girl named Linda who learns about East Africa in school and compares her American city-life to what her life would be like if she lived among the Masai. The book was well written and explored many aspects of the young girl's daily life (comparing her living conditions, foods she eats, where she sleeps, and so on). The illustrations are also well done and are organized so that the left side of the page shows what the girl's life is like in America and the right side of the page shows what her life would be like in East Africa. This book may be used in all elementary grades. Tracy

__Play!__ by Arlett N. Braman This book is similar to __Play With Us__ (listed below). The games are divided by country and each game includes a "culture link" describing the origins of the game in greater detail, and there are several "game history" sections that tie the game to the country's history as well. There is also a glossary to define unfamiliar terms that are used in the games. This is an excellent resources and some of the games could even be used during Morning Meeting. Tracy

__Play With Us: 100 Games from Around the World__ by Oriol Ripoll This (how-to) book tell how to play more than 100 games both indoors and outdoors. Some of the games do not require any materials, and some require basic materials like dominoes, marbles, tops, and so on. The directions are concise and no more than about 10 steps (many games are less steps). The book is easy to read and a great reference for all elementary aged children. Tracy

[|**//Taj Mahal//,**] by Caroline Arnold and Madeleine Comora. The Taj Mahal, whose beauty has inspired poets and artists for centuries, is one of the world’s best known monuments. Behind its creation lies the love story of Emperor Shah Jahan, one of the great rulers of the Mughal Empire, and his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Echoing the style of the magnificent illustrated manuscripts that chronicle royal life in 16th century India, this book recalls both history and legend in the story of a striking beauty who captures the heart of a young prince, of the epic events of their life together, and of the ultimate fulfillment of a promise.

I was reading [|//**Beneath the Marble Sky**//], a historic fiction love story between the Emperor and his wife. It's a wonderful book and the //**Taj Mahal**// proved to be a great companion reference. Kathy

__kira-kira__ by Cynthia Kadohata (chapter book 4-6) A story that made me smile and cry as I read it. It touched me in a way the other books I read did not. This Japenese-American family struggles to overcome mounting medical bills, poverty, improving life for their family, and the loss of a young family member. Katie has always looked up to her sister Lynne. Sadly, Lynne becomes ill and Katie takes on the role of caregiver for Lynne when the family begins to fall apart and the parents spend many of their hours working to pay the bills. After Lynne passes, Katie tries to find a way to bring her family back together. The commitment and empathy Katie shows to her sister and her family is one to be admired. I would use this as an interactive read aloud in the classroom as the discussion points are not only abundant, but also sensitive. Raylene

__The Jade Dragon__ by Carolyn Marsden and Virginia Shin-Mui Loh (chapter book 2-5) This story had an interesting spin on it. Ginny is a first generation Chinese-American and knows her culture is important to her family but also doesn't want to be different from the other students in her class. Stephanie is a new student at school and is also Chinese but was adopted by an American family. Stephanie wants to be like everyone else and doesn't feel the same connection to her culture that Ginny does. Since Stephanie is also Chinese, Ginny is disappointed when an immediate friendship isn't developed. The girls do eventually become friends and discover that they both struggle with their own identities but in different ways. I think in the lower grades, I would read this aloud, but in the upper grades, it could be ready independently. The themes of acceptance and being different, both in the way you look and culturally, are two themes most students can relate, but the differences in the girls situations may need to be discussed more with younger students. Raylene

__The Gold-Threaded Dress__ by Carolyn Marsden (chapter book 2-5) A shorter story which focuses on the themes of peer pressure, acceptance, and bullying. Oy, the main character, is Thai and is desperate to belong and be accepted by the other girls in class. When one of the popular girls sees a picture of her dressed in her Thai dancing dress made by her grandmother, she finds herself stuck between a rock and a hard place. Oy needs to decide whether to bring the dress to school so the other girls can try it on knowing this goes against her families traditions. Her need to be accepted has her bringing the dress to school where it is torn while the girls try it on. Now Oy must face her family and explain to them what has happened. Students can connect to Oy's dilemma and have probably been in a similar situation at one time. Another piece of the story which would be a good discussion point is that Oy is teased (bullied) by a boy in class, Frankie. When Frankie discovers the predicament Oy is in, he softens and a friendship begins to develop. Raylene

__Chinese Cinderella: The true story of an unwanted daughter__ by Adeline Yen Mah (chapter book 4-6) From the moment I began this heart wrenching memoir, I couldn't put it down. Adeline Yen Mah immediately draws you into her world of the cruelty and injustices she and her siblings suffered at the hands of their stepmother. From the time the author was born, she was an outsider in her own family. Blamed for her mother's death (died after giving birth to her) she found solace in the company of her aunt and grandfather. Treated poorly and ignored by her stepmother and many times her father, Adeline worked hard to thrive academically thinking this would give her the acceptance she desperately craved from her family. Unfortunately, this brought on more scorn at times from her siblings. The inner strength and courage the author finds to survive is one that truly can be admired. I feel this should definitely be used as an interactive read aloud. Raylene

__If America Were a Village: A Book about the People of the United States__ by David J. Smith I absolutely loved the concept of this book. It takes the countries population, 306 million, and puts it into a more manageable number. The author has us imagine America as a village of 100 people. With this concept, the author then takes us for a journey across the world using interesting facts to help children have a better understanding of our country and its place in the world. I particularly like how the author compares America to the world based on the things we own such as cell phones or cars. The last page of the book is a list of resources which the author used and teachers/students could use in the classroom. Raylene

__If the World Were a Village: A Book about the World's People__ by David J. Smith Using the same concept he used in __If America Were a Village__, David J. Smith, takes the world's population and turns it into a more manageable number, a village of 100 people. Looking at food, nationalities, religions, etc., children learn amazing facts and statistics about these topics and how they compare around the world. What I love about this book is it enables children to see America in terms of the world and puts it in perspective. The last two pages of the book offer suggestions for expanding children's learning about the global village and then sources used and how the numbers were calculated. Raylene

__Gervelie's Journey: A Refugee Diary__ by Anthony Robinson and Annemarie Young A true story about a young girl and her experience escaping from her homeland during wartime. The story is told from her point of view and in simpler terms that children can understand. The book follows Gervelie from Brazzaville, Republic of Congo to England. The combination of real pictures and illustrations is powerful and the pictures give an accurate depiction of what life may have been like for her. At the end, there is a page which gives a recent brief history of the Republic of Congo and a fact page titled "Did you know?". Raylene

__Four Feet, Two Sandals__ by Karen Lynn Williams & Khadra Mohammed A touching story about two young girls living in a refugee camp who discover the meaning of friendship after each picking up one of a pair of sandals. They must decide what to do with them and choose to take turns wearing them each day. As they wait for a new home, the girls endure the harsh conditions of a refugee camp together. A great book to use with students to give them a glimpse into the world of refugees and their life in a refugee camp. Raylene

__My Two Grannies__ by Floella Benjamin Alvina has two grannies, one from the West Indies and the other from England. It is apparent throughout the book the love Alvina has for her two grannies and their love for her. When her parents go away for their anniversary, the two grannies vie for Alvina's attention and love. Alvina comes up with solution that Ganny Vero will choose the games, food to eat, and trip out one day and Granny Rose will get the next day. With this solution, the grannies soon realize they have many things in common besides their love for Alvina. Raylene

__Ziba Came on a Boat__ by Liz Lofthouse The story begins and ends with Ziba, a young girl, traveling on a fishing boat heading to her new home. While on the boat, she thinks about the things in her life before her mother and their escape. The thoughts begin with positive memories of the friends she left behind and her family experiences, but then turn to the the war happening in her home. The author uses the weather and the patterns of the sea to express her feelings along the way. For example, as a cool wind blows while they are on the boat, she thinks about the cold nights while at home. As the sea turns angry, Ziba's thoughts go to how fearful her life was when war began in her country. Even with all the hardship she has experienced, she is able to maintain a positive attitude about her future in this new land. Raylene

__How I Learned Geography__ by Uri Shulevitz One of the first things that struck me with this book was its illustrations. On many pages, the illustrations are done in bright, vivid colors. I spent time just studying the pictures. I like that in this story, based on the author's experiences, the family fled where they lived to find safety in another country, but that other country was not America as many of our students believe this is where all immigrants come. The story tells of how the character's father went to the bazaar to buy bread but came home with a map of the world instead. The family wasn't happy with this decision since they were hungry and now had no food. The young boy becomes enthralled with the map and is able to travel around the world using his imagination. Raylene

__Brothers in Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan__ by Mary Williams This is a touching story about the Lost Boys of Sudan and their journey which ended with them living in the United States. I am in awe of their perseverance to survive and make a new life for themselves. The colors the illustrator used are limited, but they are used in such a powerful way. I think this is a great story to use as a read aloud with children. To see the struggles and hardship the boys endured in their escape would make for a rich discussion especially when compared to our childrens' lives. Even through all the hardship, you can fell the hope and faith they continue to have as they struggle to survive. At the beginning of the story, there is an author's note which tells how she became aware of the Lost Boys and at the end an afterword which summarizes what happened once they arrived in the U.S. Raylene

__How Many Days to America?: A Thanksgiving Story__ by Eve Bunting One thing I find interesting about this story is that you don't know what country the family escaped. Even though that is not the purpose of the story being told, I have always wondered this. It would also give the reader perspective of how long their journey was to America. It is difficult to get that sense of time from the story. The family escapes a country where unrest has begun to intensify. They travel to America in a small fishing boat and along the way you see the dangers and hardships they encounter along the way. The young girl who tells the story continually asks, "How many days to America?" When they finally arrive, it is Thanksgiving Day. This is an opportunity to have a discussion about how people celebrate Thanksgiving differently and what people are thankful for depends on their current circumstances. Raylene

__Landed__ by Milly Lee Told from the perspective of a Chinese immigrant coming to America through Angel Island. This is a great book which tells the true story of Sun and his experience of being held at Angel Island while waiting to be approved to land. The experiences of immigrants coming through Angel Island were dramatically different than those who came through Ellis Island. Children can compare by recording the differences and similarities of both experiences. In the author's note at the end, the author gives background information about the Chinese immigration wave and what happened to Sun once he began his life in California. Raylene

__Africa Brothers and Sisters__ by Virginia Kroll This is a picture book about a father sharing with his son about the people who live in Africa and the ways they are connected. The story refers to twenty-one different African tribes, noting their names (with pronunciation), local trade, and customs. The last page of the book has a political map of Africa connecting the tribes discussed in the book to the different regions in Africa. Maria

__First Come The Zebra__ by Lynne Barasch The picture book begins talking about the millions of animals that pass through the grasslands of Kenya during the great migration. Each group of animals eating only what it needs, sharing the land, leaving plenty for all animals to eat. Two young Kenyan boys are introduced, each from different regions of Africa, upon first meeting, they are hostile toward each other based on traditional rivalries. However, after working together to save a baby, the boys become friends. The author ends the story by drawing comparisons between the boys and the great migration, that the different regions will find their own peaceful way of sharing the land similar to the animals. Maria

__African Acrostics: A Word in Edgeways__ by Avis Harley This book highlights acrostic poems of different animals found in Africa. In the back, the author provides factual information on each of the animals mentioned in the poems. Additionally, the author talks about how to write an acrostic and its different variations. Maria

__Mama Panya's Pancakes: A Village Tale From Kenya__ by Mary and Rich Chamberlin Mama Panya is going to make pancakes, so she takes her son, Adika, with her to the market to buy the needed ingredients. They don't have much money and won't be able to make many pancakes, but Adika invites all their friends over for pancakes. Mama Panya is nervous that there won't be enough food for everyone. However, with the generosity of their friends bringing food over as a gift, there is plenty for all. The last few pages talk about Kenya life, insects, reptiles, and plants found in Kenya, speaking Kiswahili, facts about Kenya, a map, and a recipe for Mama Panya's pancakes. Maria

__Here Comes Our Bride__ by Ifeoma Onyefulu This is a story from a little boys view of a traditional Nigerian wedding. A traditional Nigerian wedding is very different than the American custom. For example, the groom's family is given a list of tasks to do and a time limit for completing them. How well the family completes the tasks indicates how successful the union will likely be. Maria

__Bulu, African Wonder Dog__ by Dick Houston This is a chapter book for 3-5th graders. It's about a runt dog who no one thinks will amount to anything, but who turns out to be a fabulous companion for many injured and orphaned wild animals. His owners, Steve and Anna, live in a wild animal park in Zambia, Africa, where they try to help conserve the vast array of wild animals that live there from the terrors of poaching, diseases, and other human and animal predators. The story is very engaging as Bulu raises warthogs, monkeys, and even baby elephants. He survives diseases and parasites and other near-death experiences, including a lion attack and his owners absolutely adore him. The end of the book left me with tears in my eyes. Cindy

__Akimbo and the Lions__ by Alexander McCall Smith This is a chapter book appropriate for 2nd-4th graders. It's about a young boy, Akimbo, whose father is a wild game ranger at a park in Africa. He needs to try to trap a wild lioness who's been attacking a village. Accidentally, the lioness is driven away but she abandons her young cub. Akimbo is allowed to raise the cub, who follows him around everywhere. Eventually the cub gets into too much mischief by following Akimbo to school, terrifying everyone, and he's required to set the cub free. The cub's returned to the wild, and joins the pride his own mother is in, and learns to be an adult lion. Cindy

__An African ABC__ by Jacqui Taylor This is an educational ABC book written in quatrain form, using lots of alliteration! I actually learned a lot of animals, plants and customs as I read this. It would not be appropriate for the grades 1-2. The vocabulary is too advanced. Cindy

__We All Went on Safari__ by Laurie Crebs and Julia Cairns This is a simple counting book for grades 2-4 introducing animals, geography, and customs of the Maasai people of Tanzania. It also teaches how to count in Swahili up to 10. It has a very nice glossary at the back of animals and maps of the land. Cindy

__14 Cows For America__ by Carmen Agra Deedy This is an extremely touching picture book for older children about a young Maasai man who leaves Africa to go to school in America. While he's there, the terrible 9/11 attack on the World Trade centers in 2001 occurs. He then returns to his village to teach them what he's learned, and the people show such compassion for the grief stricken people in the U.S. that they dedicate 14 cows to the U.S. in order for healing to take place. These sacred cows can never be killed, and the herd has multiplied since then greatly. The connection between the Maasai and the Americans brings many comfort and peace. Cindy I loved this book! The final illustration is powerful. Char

__Beatrice's Goa__t by Page McBrier This is a lovely picture book about a young girl in Uganda whose family can't afford to send her to school. They're too poor to buy her the required uniform worn by the students. Her family is given a goat from some people far away, (Heiffer International) which leads to many good things happening to her family. They can sell the goat's milk to earn money, and gives them all better health, and the goat gives birth to a kid, which expands the herd. This is a sweet story about how simple gifts can change the lives of people who just need a little help. Cindy

__Mount Everest__ by Jill Kalz This non-fiction book has stunning photographs of Mt.Everest and wildlife, as well as some historical photographs of climbers Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. Chapters were a short 4 pages with photos and sidebars. It discusses the geology, history, problems of climbers and the problems they present, and what is being done to address the problems (c2005). I learned that the news of Hillary and Tenzing's conquest reached London the same day Queen Elizabeth was crowned and the //Times// published a big photo of the mountain, not the new queen, at the top center of the front page! Has a short index. Char

__Himalaya: Vanishing Cultures__ - Jan Reynolds I loved the writing in this non-fiction book, as well as the beautiful photographs to capture the people who live in this part of the world. Author Jan Reynolds says"We are all alike no matter where we live. We all belong to the same family, and every time a culture disappears, we lose part of ourselves." She describes the customs and day-to-day life of a family living in the Himalaya Mountains. This book would be useful for fourth grade in describing the trade route between Tibet and Nepal. The backmatter was fascinating as the author described her experiences in writing the book. She has written other books about vanishing cultures. Char A biography of an important but little known Chinese sailor who navigated large fleets throughout the Indian Ocean from Africa to China. He made his travels in the early 1400s and kept detailed accounts of his trips, the fauna and flora he saw and the many treasures traded. He was only in his 30s. Expeditions to East Africa brought back a "qilin", a legendary creature that would only appear when a country was governed well and its people content. This animal was a giraffe! The first zoo in China was set up to house the giraffe and other animals brought from East Africa. He set off on his 6th voyage in 1421 but died before returning home. Leadership in China changed and the magnificent fleet of ships that Zheng He navigated were left to rot on their moorings and all the records of their journeys destroyed. Columbus and the other European explorers never knew. Endpapers have a map of Zeng He's journeys. Written in English and Chinese. Would be useful for 4th grade explorers unit. Char || __Chee-Lin: A Giraffe's Journey__ - James Rumford A storybook in chapters that traces the chee-lin's journey from Africa to China weaving a tale not just of a giraffe but of the people he meets along the way. A great follow-up book to the previous book about Zheng He. This book has beautiful illustrations. Char
 * __The Great Voyages of Zheng He__ - Song Nan Zhang

Akimbo Book Series (Abby) The children’s books I read were Akimbo and the Elephants, Akimbo and the Crocodile Man and Akimbo and the Snakes by Alexander McCall Smith. There is one other book in this series called Akimbo and the Lions, but I didn’t read that one. These books are leveled at Fountas and Pinnell level P. These are short chapter books with less than 70 pages and are highly engaging and adventurous. In each book the main character a boy named Akimbo find himself in many dangerous and exciting situations and always prevails by the end. Akimbo’s father is the head ranger on a game preserve somewhere in Africa, which is the setting for two of the books. I can see students being very interested in these books, and I do think they would make a great reading group book. I recommend these books being read with check-ins from a teacher in grades 2-3, as there are some parts that may be scary. Also, in Akimbo and the Elephants, Akimbo has to learn about the reality of elephant poachers and he does some deceptive things that I know I would want to discuss with children. While I recommend these books to teachers, I don’t think these books help break the stereotype of Africa being a continent that is wild and where people live in villages.

__A Child’s Day in a Ghanaian City__ by Francis Provencal and Catherine McNamara Benchmark Books, New York 2001 (picture book) This book describes the day of a seven-year-old boy who lives in an unnamed city in Ghana. He seems to be middle class. As the story of his day is told in pictures and words, the culture, food and customs of the country are also explained. The photographs support the text well. Posted by Maggi __A Child’s Day in a Chinese City__ by Sungwan So. Benchmark Books, New York 2001 (picture book) A companion to the above book, the main character in this story is a seven-year-old girl who lives in the Shanxi Province in China. Posted by Maggi

__A Child's Day in a Brazilian Village__ by Maria de Fatima Campos Benchmark Books, New York 2001 (picture book) The Author's Note in this book does a great job setting the stage for the book's context because it briefly describes how Brazil is a mix of cultures, and then transitions into providing background knowledge about the main character, Cassiano, age 6. The photographs are beautiful and young readers will easily recognize similarities and differences between their own lives. When a term that is specific to a culture is used, it is typically explained further in italics below the main text. The book follows Cassiano through the course of his day. At the end of the book, there is additional information about Brazil: the land, the people, the religions, a few words and phrase. (Kelly)

__A Child's Day in a Russian City__ by Andrey Ilyin Campos Benchmark Books, New York 2001 (picture book) Similar to all the other books in this series the book begins with an author's note, giving a brief history of St. Petersburg highlighting that it has changed names 3 times and then introduces Polina, the 7-year old main character. The book begins with Polina's morning routine, continues through the course of her school day and then ends bedtime rituals. The vivid images bring the text to life. At the end of the book, there is additional information about Russia: the land, the people, the religions, a few words and phrase. (Kelly)

__Play With Us: 100 Games from around the World__, by Oriol Ripoll, Chicago Review Press, Chicago 2002 Elementary students would need some help negotiating this book that is full of games from around the world. The index lists the games by in the native language of its country but the games are in English. Some games just take your hands to play; others have more complicated materials. Posted by Maggi

__A School like Mine__ by Penny Smith and Zahabit Shalev; Dorling Kindersley Limited, New York, 2007 With a page or two devoted to each child, this book gives us a glimpse with words and pictures into the schools of 78 countries around the world. In DK style, the photos are bright and detailed, laid out in collage style around the page. This is an excellent reference book for a quick comparison between schools and life in these countries. Posted by Maggi

__Families,__ by Susan Kuklin, New York, Hyperion Books for Children, 2006 This book devotes 2 pages to each family, with both a large color picture and a description, in the children’s voices, of their family. Most types of American families are represented, from biracial, international, adoptive, divorced and standard. The positive tone of the book, even when the challenges of family life are described, make this book a great book to use after introducing the range and variety of family configurations. Posted by Maggi

__Planting the Trees of Kenya: The Story of Wangari Maatai__ by Claire A. Nivola, Francis Foster Books, New York, 2008 (picture book) The recipient of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize, Wangari Maatai founded the Green Belt Movement in Kenya. Her story is simply told and beautifully illustrated in this book. After Kenya won its independence from Britain 1963 while Wangari was studying life sciences in America. When she returned in 1966 and in the years beyond, Kenya’s natural habitat was falling prey to commercial farming. The destruction of the habitat caused poverty and sickness in the Kenyan laborers because it could no longer support their needs. Maatai began a movement to plant trees in order to restore the natural balance and a means of farming for the laborers. Her efforts spread and greatly improved the life and health of Kenyans. The author’s note in the back of the book gives a solid adult explanation of her Maatai’s movement and story. Posted by Maggi

__One World, One Day__ by Barbara Kerley, National Geographic, Washington DC, 2009 (picture book) As one would expect from National Geographic, this is book is a luscious visual experience. The author couples simple words with beautiful photographs of one day’s activities of children all over the world. In the back of the book, each photo is listed with the locale, a caption and credit. As the author explains in her note, “. . . all of us around the world have so much in common, and that the more we can embrace our commonality, the more tolerant we can be of our differences.” This book beautifully illustrates both the differences and the similarities in life around the globe and would serve as a wonderful springboard for discussion. Posted by Maggi

__Every Human Has Rights: A Photographic Declaration for Kids__, Forward by Mary Robinson, Based on the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, National Geographic, Washington DC, 2009 (picture book) Based on Internationally recognized bill of human rights, this book supports each of the 30 rights with poems and pictures from all over the world. The concept of some of the rights are abstract and may be difficult for children to understand, but many are not and could serve as spark classroom discussion as well as highlight the freedoms we have here in the United States. Posted by Maggi

__My Day, Mi Dia, A book in 2 languages/Un Libro en dos Lengas__ by Rebecca Emberly, Little, Brown and Company, Boston (picture book) This delightful, brightly colored book provides simple text in both English and Spanish. A great deal of vocabulary is packed into the pages, illustrated by collage and drawings. Home, School and Playground provide the settings for the objects that outlines the objects and actions in the 2 languages. Posted by Maggi

Listen to the Wind: the Story of Dr. Greg and Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and Susan Roth, Dial for Young Readers, New York, 2009 This is the children’s version of the adult title Three Cups of Tea.... This beautifully illustrated book tells the story of Greg Mortenson’s first building project in Pakistan, a school. Dan

I Is for India by Das, Prodeepta, Frances Lincoln Children's, New York 1999 This photographic alphabet book introduces young readers to some of the customs, different religions and forms of culture- both ancient and modern- which can be found all over India. Dan

Buddha by Demi, Henry Holt and Co., New York, 1996 Many centuries ago, in a kingdom in the foothills of the Himalayan mountains, a miraculous child was born to the king and queen. The young prince, Siddhartha, was raised in the greatest luxury, sheltered from all pain and ugliness. But one day Siddhartha left the palace and saw, for the first time, human suffering and death. He knew then that he must relinquish everything-- his family, his wealth, his position-- to discover the Truth of life and death. With only a few humble possessions, he began a remarkable spiritual journey that ended many years later under a bodhi tree. There he finally discovered the Truth and became an Enlightened One, a Buddha. The Buddha taught the Truth and the path to inner peace for forty-five years, attracting thousands of disciples. Today millions of people around the world live by his teachings. Beautiful illustrations. Dan

//Made in China// by Deborah Nash, Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, London 2004 Fly though China with paper butterfly. Help her solve the riddle and ride home other dragon’s back. Full of drawings and interesting facts about China. Dan

How Many Donkeys?: an Arabic Counting Tale by Margaret Read, Nadia Jameel. Taibah, and Carol Liddiment., Albert Whitman and Co., Morton Grove, IL 2009 Count to ten in Arabic in this silly story of a father having trouble keeping count of his ten donkeys. Dan

Bringing in the New Year by Grace Lin, Alfred A. Knopf, New York 2008. A simple primary story of a Chinese American family preparing for and celebrating the Lunar New Year. There are two information pages at the end of the book. Dan

New Clothes for New Year's Day by Bae, Hyun-Joo, Kane/Miller, La Jolla, CA, 2007 is a primary story that follows a girl putting on traditional clothing for the new year, Dan

Celebrate Diwali: with Sweets, Lights and Fireworks by Deborah Heiligman., National Geographic Society, Washington, DC : 2006 is part of the National Geographic’s Holidays Around the World series. The book is full of large bright photos and written explanations. Dan

Celebrating Ramadan by Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith and Lawrence Migdale. Holiday House, New York: 2001 The book is full of large bright photos and written explanations about Islam and Ramadan. Dan

Celebrate Ramadan & Eid Al-fitr by Deborah Heiligman and Neguin Yavari. National Geographic, Washington, D.C.: 2006 is part of the National Geographic’s Holidays Around the World series. The book is full of large bright photos and written explanations. Dan

Holidays around the World: Celebrate Passover with Matzah, Maror, and Memories. by Deborah Heiligman and Neguin Yavari. National Geographic, Washington, D.C.: 2006 is part of the National Geographic’s Holidays Around the World series. The book is full of large bright photos and written explanations. Dan

Celebrate Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur. by Deborah Heiligman, National Geographic, Washington, D.C. 2007 is part of the National Geographic’s Holidays Around the World series. The book is full of large bright photos and written explanations. Dan

__Let's Eat! What Children Eat Around the World__ by Beatrice Hollyer Henry Holt, New York 2004 A picture book full of photos about children's food around the world. Gardens and markets are included. Recipes at the end of the book connect the information to your kitchen. Maggi

__It's Back to School We Go: First Day STories from around the World__ by Ellen Jackson Brief stories told in the child's voice are followed by facts about schooling in 10 countries. It's book of illustrations versus photographs. It would be a nice beginning of the year book, or as a resource to other books on the individual countries. Maggi

__Children's Traditional Games: Games from 137 Countries and Cultures__ by Judy Sierra and Robert Kaminski A great book full of simple games from around the world. Many of the games are familiar with variations that reflect the it's country of origin. The games are easy to understand and look like fun to play. Maggi



__What the World Eats__ by Faith D'Aluisio Tricycle Press 2008 This book's weight reflects it's heavy reading type text. However, the pictures are so powerful that this book could and should definitely be used with younger readers by just using the photographs. You could even use the book to illustrate how much information a reader can get from comparing and contrasting photographs. The book highlights families from 22 different countries (each continent is covered). The first photograph of each section is the family gathered together with a week's worth of groceries displayed all around them on the kitchen table and counter-tops. On the page opposite of this main photo, is a fact chart that lists every food item, including the weight and prices. This information could be used in a variety of math activities! Some of the 22 families share a recipe. Scattered in between the family vignettes are graphs (bar graphs, pie graphs, charts, pictographs, etc.) (Kelly)

DK __A School Like Mine__ As the subtitle states, this book is "a unique celebration of schools around the world." The first page introduces the 41 children from the six continents. As the book's content travels from one continent to another, the continent is introduced through a map, famous landmarks, and countries found within that continent. Each child's life is spread across two pages; the main text introducing the child's age and a bit of information about his/her family. Then in smaller photographs, other parts of the child's life are illustrated and explained through smaller captions. This book would appeal to more competent readers and lower readers because information could be gained through just a picture walk. A beautiful exploration of life throughout the world.

DK __A Life Like Mine__ Readers are introduced to children from around the world through the lens that we all have one common goal--to lead a good life. The text is broken into four sections: Survival, Development, Protection, and Participation. These topic heading are defined at the beginning of each section. The Survival section's elements are focused on food, water, shelter, and staying healthy. Development is focused on education and play. The third section, Protection, includes loving and caring for each other, working for a living, war destroying daily life, and living with a disability. The Participation section illustrates how our name, nationality, religion, family, culture, and community are all contributing factors to our identity. The stunning collection of photographs and captions come together in the conclusion that every child deserves a happy life! (Kelly)