Click
anywhere in the world, and we'll take you there.Do you have favorite books you've read with your children that take you to far away places? Share your suggestions with other parents here. Both fiction and nonfiction recommendations are welcome. Please include a short (2 or 3 sentence) description of the book, the location, and the title and author.
Click
anywhere in the world, and we'll take you there.
| Africa | Antarctica |
| Asia | Australia |
| Canada | Europe |
| Mexico and Central America | South America |
A is for Africa by Ifeoma Onyefulu (Cobblehill Books, 1993) is a beautiful picture/alphabet book with photographs from Nigeria focusing on family life and traditional villages. For example, kids from Seattle might be surprised that the main purpose of umbrellas is not to keep off the rain:
U is for Umbrella, even better than a big leaf for giving shelter from the hot sun. A mother may use an umbrella to shade a new baby, and market traders will use one to keep their goods from the wilting sun.
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Learning to Swim in Swaziland - A child's-eye view of a southern African country by Nila K. Leigh (Scholastic, Inc., 1993) Nila, a native New Yorker, lived in Swaziland when she was 8 years old. The book is in her handwriting, with lots of her drawings. Not only will you learn lots of facts about Swaziland from this book, but it's an inspiration to the budding authors in your family. If your child got to meet the U.S. ambassador to Swaziland when he visited JSIS, this is a great way to follow up.
A is for Antarctica by Jonathan Chester (Tricycle Press, 1995) will take you on an alphabetic exploration. Filled with pictures, you'll learn about everything from Albatross to Zooplankton.
China
The Jade Horse, the Cricket and the Peach Stone by Ann Tompert and illustrated by Winson Trang (Boyds Mills Press, 1996) will take you back to ancient China. You will travel with a boy named Pan Su, who comes from a poor village, on a trip to meet Emperor Wu Ti in his elegant palace. In this beautifully illustrated book, you'll share the worries, adventures, surprises in each step of Pan Su's journey. (Reading level: ages 4-8)
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery is the first in the well-known series of chapter books. Anne is a spirited orphan living in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Even if you've seen the movie, don't miss the book -- recommended for older kids. (Reading level: ages 9 - 12)
France
Degas and the Little Dancer by Laurence Anholt (Barron's, 1996) is a picture book telling the story of the French girl who posed for Edgar Degas for his famous statue The Little Dancer. (Reading level: ages 4-8)
Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully is a Caldecott Medal winner about a Parisian girl who learns how to walk a tightrope from the famous Bellini. The story takes place in a boardinghouse in Paris in the late 1800's. Lots of pictures. (Reading level: ages 4-8)
Italy
Gondola to Danger by Robert Quackenbush (1983) is a book about a duck detective who travels all around Venice. It's great for introducing the famous sites in Venice, and a fun story besides. (Out of print, but available at the Seattle Public Library.)
Spain
Aunt Elaine Does the Dance from Spain by Leah Komaiko (Scholastic, 1992) is a fun book about a Spanish dancer. OK, it's not really about a Spanish dancer, but about a woman from Maine who thinks she's a Spanish dancer. Great pictures, a few Spanish words, and it reminds us that there's a bit of Aunt Elaine in all of us.
Switzerland
Bloomability by Sharon Creech (Scholastic, 1999) is a popular chapter book about a girl who spends a year at a boarding school in the Italian part of Switzerland. Filled with adventure and emotion, most kids (and their parents) can't put it down. The author, Sharon Creech, is a Newberry Medal award winner. (273 pages, Reading level: ages 9-12)
The Netherlands (Holland)
The Wheel on the School by Meindert De Jong is an award-winning chapter book about a group of Dutch schoolchildren in a small village. They begin to wonder why there are no storks in their village, and a delightful tale of friendship, perseverance, teamwork, and community evolves. (298 pages, Reading level: ages 9-12)
Belize
Children of Belize by Frank Staub (1997) gives pictures and descriptions of the many different cultures in Belize through the eyes of children. (Reading level: ages 9-12)
Rain Forests and Reefs: A Kid's-Eye View of the Tropics by Caitlin and Thane Maynard (daughter and father) (1996) is a description of a field trip taken by a group of middle school students to Belize. As the title suggests they travel to the rain forest and then out to the reefs, with lots of adventures (and bugs) along the way. It is based on the daughter's diary of the trip.
Central America
The Gold Coin by Alma Flor Ada and illustrated by Neil Waldman is a picture book about a thief in Central America. He sees an old woman, Doña Josefa, with a gold coin. He ends up traveling the countryside trying to catch up to the old woman, and in the process learns a new way of life. Most elementary school children would enjoy this book.
Guatemala
Abuela's Weave by Omar S. Castañeda and illustrated by Enrique O. Sanchez (Lee & Low Books, 1993) is a picture book that takes you into the life of a Guatemalan girl named Esperanza. You learn about the weaving she does with her grandmother, see wonderful pictures of their daily life, and feel the nervousness they have about going to market to sell their beautiful tapestries. Appropriate for elementary school kids of all ages. (32 pages, Reading level: ages 4-8)
Haiti
Aunt Lilly's Laundromat by Melanie Hope Greenberg (Dutton Children's Books, 1994) is a picture book about Aunt Lilly's memories of her life in Haiti. Now she runs a Laundromat in Brooklyn, but as she works and when she paints she thinks of smells and sights of her tropical island home. For younger kids (reading level: ages 4-8).
Mexico
La Boda by Nancy Van Laan and illustrated by Andrea Arroyo (Little, Brown and Company, 1996) will take you to a Oaxacan village in Mexico. Maria is visiting her grandmother, and it is the wedding day of Alfonso and Luisa. Enjoy the food and festivities with her, and pick up a few Spanish phrases along the way. For younger readers.
Secrets in the Mayan Ruins by P.J. Stray is a chapter book based in the Mexican archeological site of Chichen Itza. Although not very academic, it's a painless way for mystery lovers to get an introduction to Maya culture.
Peru
Frozen Girl by David Getz (Henry Holt and Company, 1998) is a true chapter book about the discovery of the mummy of an Incan girl. It begins with the adventure of an archaeologist/mountain climber who wants to get a closer look at a smoking volcano. The analysis and investigation that follows after the mummy is discovered is also discussed, so you'll learn lots about both archaeology and the ancient Inca. It's a fascinating tale - but be sure that your child is ready for a discussion of the Incan custom of child sacrifice before you embark on this book.
Amelia's Fantastic Flight by Rose Bursik (Henry Holt and Company, 1992) is a nice introduction to world geography for the younger kids. With short sentences and lots of pictures we see young Amelia build an airplane and take it for a spin around the world. Each page has a picture of a scene from a different country, with an inset world map showing her location. (Reading level: ages 4-8)
Children Just Like Me by Barnabas and Anabel Kindersley (Dorling Kindersley, 1995) has pictures and descriptions of children from all over the world. For example, learn about Meena from New Delhi, India. She lives in a temporary house without electricity near a construction site. She likes to wear dresses with ruffles, paint her fingernails with henna, and eat roti (Indian bread). Great for browsing, or reading from start to finish.
Buried Treasure: Roots & Tubers by Meredith and Tom Hughes (Lerner Publications, 1998) tells all about the science and history of potatoes, sweet potatoes, cassava, carrots, turnips, beets, and radishes. It has lots of wonderful pictures from all over the world. It also includes recipes using roots and tubers, and all sorts of facts. Did you know the potato was the first food grown in space? If you like this book, there are plenty more in the series. Try, for example Glorious Grasses, Stinky and Stringy, or Tall and Tasty. Or follow up on their web site: www.foodmuseum.com/hughes
Material World: A Global Family Portrait by Peter Menzel (Sierra Club Books, 1994) gives you an amazing perspective on the world. Thirty families were chosen to represent a cross-section of the world. Each family was interviewed, and then a picture was taken of the family in front of their house with all of their precious belongings. The Thai family shows you their ploughs, chickens, motorscooter, and handheld video game. The Guatemalan family proudly shows their religious painting. Other possessions include a pair of sneakers, a spinning wheel and loom, and some machetes. The family from Texas had quite a job to do, moving all of their furniture, many appliances, computer and toys out into the front street. This book is a great way for people of all ages to develop a new understanding of the world.