To Be a Kid (Global Fund for Children Books) by Maya Ajmera

To Be a Kid (Global Fund for Children Books) Reviews

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  Roxy Ledesma

  To Be a Kid was in the preschool I worked in, I remembered it when it came time to build my own child's library. My young child loves this book. My only edit when I read aloud is the last page that reads "...friendships that last forever," and I say, "friendships that last 'as long as they do'", or "friendships that last 'as long as the relationship is healthy.'" haha but that's just me trying to teach my own child things. The book is wonderful and beautiful.
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  Ciara White

  “To Be A Kid” expresses what it means to be a kid, hence the title. This Nonfiction book questions just how different are we from one another. There is a sense of unity for all children from all over the world. The message behind the book is that all children share commonalities no matter where they are from. The book does not address any issue or solution. However, it illustrates the broad diversity of us all and yet no matter how much we differ from one another, we are all united in some aspect. The language is simple and age appropriate. The examples presented throughout the book are well relatable to most children. There are some outside the norm examples not taken into consideration that the book does not cover. Examples include not all children are able to attend school in some parts of the world nor do all children come from a loving family/environment. These are unfortunate events many children face in the world but are not represented in this novel. I figure the author wanted to focus on positive aspects rather than negative ones. Each sentence begins with the phrase “to be a kid” then is followed by some short of common characteristics. Below the words are multiple realistic illustrations which match the words. In each picture pertaining to the text, are different cultures, ethnicities, or races. One thing I really enjoyed about this book was under each photograph, it labels the culture or ethnicity of the people. There were many cultures presented that I had never even heard about. The pictures definitely enhance the story because it provides insight to contrasting cultures demonstrating the same traits. The images use accurate representations of different lifestyles, capturing their real culture and norms. I found none of the images to be stereotypical or overly simplified. Altogether, the book did an excellent job of expressing the beauty of diversity while illustrating unity.
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  Jacquelyn

  Genre: Nonfiction Reading level: Ages 3-8
  This book, filled with wonderful photos, is an excellent introduction for the young child to the beauty of the world, its cultures, and its people. There are a few words on each page, but many pictures with captions indicating the country of origin. The various scenes depict family life, school, recreation, and art. The first two pages contain a map of the world and an introduction by the familiar faces from PBS’s series Zoboomafoo. At the end of the book is a list of headings with suggestions for discussion and activities. The text is simple, but contains a plethora of things familiar and comfortable to children. Peace Corps volunteers and prize-winning photographers provide the pictures in the book and include images of kids of various racial and cultural backgrounds. The chapters feature children from all walks of life in engaged in numerous activities. The overall effect is one of happiness and celebration of children all over the world.
  Other books about manners and customs:
  Fancy Nancy series, Jane O’Connor (picture books and easy readers)
  How my parents learned to eat, Ina R. Friedman
  Ride on Mother’s back: a day of baby-carrying around the world, Emery & Durga Bernhard
  
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  Sheniqua

  This book is all about kids. It contains beautiful photos of kids from all around the world doing the same activities but in different ways. I would use this book in a geography lesson about the seven different continents and to also talk about similarities and differences in individuals and families. This book has definitely become one of my favorites!
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  Mommywest

  Wonderful book that shows children how they are like children from other parts of the world. Simple text and lots of great photos show children doing things like being with family, going to school, and more, and make this book perfect for kids of any age! Foreword by Chris and Martin Kratt. Preschool Unit: Friends in Many Lands
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  Linda

  Lots of pictures and a few well chosen words help children (and older folks) realize how much we have in common, yet how unique each person is. A great book to share with a child (or grown-up) you love.
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  Colleen

  Let's Go to School - unit 1 & 2
  Nonfiction
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  Betsy

  A great photographic representation of kids being kids all around the world. Back matter includes a bit more information on the various topics covered.
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  Cheyenne

  Great pictures and book about kids from around the world and how they are all the same. I love the babywearing picture!
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  Gail

  Multi-culti trend book. My daughter liked the pictures, though.
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  Sofia Morales

  This book is about the unity of a childs life between different cultures around the world. The message is basically that all these kids share a lot more in common than they might think. Different cultures, same activities. It could create a sense of solidarity and empathy in the world, which wouldnt be the worse thing. There is no specific characters, and no specific plot in this book. There isn't an agenda behind this book, its not that kind of message. It really just says things ike "To be a kid means to spend time with your family" and the book shows pictures of children and their families in places around the world like Canada, Nepal, Israel, etc. The photos are completely unique and different than each other, what with some taking place in a forest, a busy city, a desert hut, and so on, yet all the kids are with their loved ones. Because of the simplicity, I would recommend this book for children of all ages in elementary really. It has simplicity and vivid pictures, which would mostly entice the younger crowds, I think.
  
  This book reminded me of the opposite message of the article we read by Anyon is saying. That article spoke of how communities are separated and basically segregated by things like social and socioeconomic class, creating a divide in this world. This is due to how our system allocates resources and how teaching methods between these communities are so different. However as this book points out, we aren't as different as it may seem.