Children of the World

Gr 1–4—This coffee-table-style book is the brainchild of two photographers who founded an organization called Art in All of Us, whose mission is to help children from all over the world gain a global understanding of their peers. Using artwork, photography, and writing sessions, the photographers, partially funded by UNICEF, traveled the globe visiting all 192 member countries of the United Nations and worked with children ranging in age from 6 to 18. The results of these workshops are found in the pages of this book. Original artwork and poems in native languages, which are translated into English, appear with brief facts about the countries and full-color photographs of children who live there. The youngsters' artwork is sweet and thoughtful, and the poems lovely, if occasionally repetitive with nearly 200 selections on the theme of national pride. The accompanying photos are vibrant and lush, immediately drawing the eye. While there are some great browsing opportunities for kids here, the exact audience and usages are difficult to pinpoint. Libraries on a tight budget may want to look for titles that provide more substantive information about children around the world and their homelands.—Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA