(3) K-3 Foreword by Julianne Moore. This photo-essay's cleanly designed double-page spreads feature crisp, compelling photos, many of children from different (unidentified) cultures. In their simple, straightforward text, Ajmera (Be My Neighbor) and Browning introduce oxygen's properties (it carries sound and smells) and functions (life on Earth depends on it), with emphasis on the importance of clean air. An appended section expands on the concepts.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) K-3 The title conveys this book's straightforward message: music is a universal pleasure, from Canada to Timor-Leste. Proof is demonstrated by a simple yet energetic running text and large photos of children exuberantly making and enjoying music worldwide. Direct captions impart information uncondescendingly: "Playing a traditional Andean zampoña. PERU." A world map and suggestions for homemade musical instruments are included. Glos.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) K-3 In this noble health-concepts book developed by The Global Fund for Children, beautiful, color-rich photographs show kids worldwide with what every child should have access to: healthy food, clean water, safe shelter, hygiene, play, and caring adults. A simple sentence describes the action on each spread. An appended note expands on the concepts, and a color-coded map identifies the photos' origins.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 Children from every continent are the stars of this picture book. Well-reproduced, engaging color photographs depict kids involved in various activities wearing sports or school uniforms, cultural dress, dress-up costumes, and everyday clothes. Unfortunately, the minimal text doesn't add much information: "We wear all the colors of the rainbow."

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) K-3 This tribute to grandmothers and grandfathers around the world celebrates the special relationship between grandparents and their grandchildren. The minimal text serves mostly as accompaniment to the clear, vivid photographs of smiling family members of different ethnicities; each photograph includes a small label indicating country of origin. It's a warm and effective love letter to grandparents.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) K-3 Engaging photographs and simple text work together to introduce religious beliefs and practices to readers. Children are shown praying, reading holy books, attending religious schools, celebrating, eating special foods, and wearing traditional clothes. The universal concepts of caring for others, helping those in need, and making peace are highlighted. A world map is included. Glos.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) K-3 Children from all fifty states and the District of Columbia are featured in engaging photos that showcase the diversity of the country. Each double-page spread focuses on a particular city or town (Providence, Rhode Island; Cheyenne, Wyoming) and includes some information about life in that community. The book barely skims the surface, but readers will return for diverting browsing. Reading list, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) K-3 This book's creators honor different types of art making, including painting, dancing, singing, and writing. The accompanying color photos, outlined in solid colors and set on bright backdrops, show kids from around the world being creative. A sense of joy permeates the book, from which readers will learn about both creativity and children from other cultures. Map.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke

(2) PS Each double-page spread introduces a particular aspect of neighborhoods ("Neighborhoods have schools...places to worship...places to play"), while accompanying photos feature children from different countries to illustrate the ideas in the brief text. The engaging color photos and the simple words make this an excellent resource for multicultural community units.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2005

(4) PS More overextended greeting card than book, this package pairs a few amiable sentiments about dogs ("A dog is a best friend for playing, and rolling, and running like the wind") with lively color photos of children from around the world and their canines. The photos, each labeled by country, will delight dog lovers; the banalities of the text can be ignored without effect.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton

(4) PS The small format of this book doesn't allow children to pore over these images from schools around the world. The children, from such countries as the Dominican Republic, Iraq, and South Africa (shown in integrated schools), are portrayed in all kinds of learning situations. The large font text pulls the photos together in themes but competes with the small captions noting specific activities and the location of each setting.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) PS Spanning the world, this photo-essay shows children having fun, playing alone or with friends, using store-bought toys or handmade creations. Each double-page spread features a phrase in large type and short photo captions in smaller type. Two pages at the end of the book describe the universality of play. The page layout is busy, with four or five photos vying for attention. A map and a country index would have been useful.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) K-3 Paragraphs describing the physical and psychological benefits of participating in sports ("Sports give you a chance to dream"; "Sports bring people together all over the world") accompany dozens of color photos depicting school-aged kids and teenagers from around the world at play. Unfortunately, the dull, generalizing text fails to generate the excitement that the images of active boys and girls do.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Kids will be kids, no matter where they live, claims this celebration of the universality of childhood experience. Brief sentences describing activities (playing ball, sharing time with family) are accompanied by color photographs of children from countries around the world. Text and photos share an infectious joyfulness that tempers what could have been a heavy-handed message.

Reviewer: Jackie C. Horne

(4) 4-6 A celebration of girls from around the world bursts with attractive full-color photos and a text that, by underscoring individuality and uniqueness, emphasizes the traits and potential that girls everywhere share. Each chapter contains a brief collection of affirmative paragraphs and addresses topics like "Religion and Spirituality" and "Friendship," but the material could be more clearly organized. Still, this is a spirited self-esteem booster for girls. Bib.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute