THE BAREFOOT BOOK OF CHILDREN

A book to engage children in thinking about their peers the world over.

The simple text declares children’s needs and wants (homes, families, play, work, food, water) and then asks readers to think about their own lives in comparison to those depicted. Religion and beliefs are mentioned in universal ways: “Some people worship. Some people pray. Some meditate. Some like quiet time to think. Some people prefer to take life as it comes.” The glowing acrylic double-page spreads employ different layouts to add visual interest. Many small vignettes—in circles, rectangles, triangles, even drops of water—depict children from different cultures doing similar activities. Occasionally there is a large painting, such as the one about languages and communication set in a railway station, with speech bubbles indicating many languages. The translations are included in several pages of backmatter that provide further information about each spread, vital to taking this book beyond its initial first look at global diversity. Though the book omits mention of the wars (there are parents shown in uniform) and refugee situations that children face in some places, this volume should be dipped into again and again, as children are able to absorb more details. Readers may find themselves consulting a separate map, as the one included lacks sufficient detail.

Definitely add this to the mix to create interested world citizens.