A Life Like Mine: How Children Live Around the World (Children Just Like Me)

First of all, this is a gorgeous book. There are beautiful photographs, and it is arranged well. Typical of many DK books, each page offers a wealth of information and is very inviting. However, like another reviewer, we homeschool. I thought emphasizing that *going out* to school is a basic human right was a little aggravating. Many children around the world are being taught at home, as all Americans once were in this country's history. Perhaps they could have briefly pointed out a few more ways that children learn, like through the internet, by going to a library, or being taught at home by a parent or tutor. We also felt that the book overemphasized vaccinating, by obscuring the difference between treating measles in a first world country with the high death rate of measles in the third world. Children need access to clean water, good food, antibiotics, and health care to stay well. Vaccines can be an important part of staying healthy, but I want my children to understand the terrible living conditions faced by these children, not come away with the idea that vaccination is the end all be-all of human health. For parents who agree that malnutrition is a far bigger problem than the lack of HPV vaccines in third world countries, you may be a bit put off by this.There are several other bits and pieces thrown in that you may take issue with. Did you know that your children have a RIGHT to privacy? Neither did I. They also highlight the struggles of a Palestinian girl whose family left the "occupied" territories in 1967. They don't bother to mention WHY those areas were occupied, leaving a false impression. It also leave kids with the idea that we should pity or scorn those parents who don't understand that kids should not have to work, rather than understanding that those parents probably feel pretty awful already, but require the extra pennies to eat. Passing laws against child labor will simply lead to starvation. The whole book, while lovely and bright, is filled with some very Western, Liberal assumptions about the world. We still use it, but we read it together and discuss it. The cover mentions that it is "in association with UNICEF", which reminds me of the controversial UN "rights of the child", which has been used to argue that kids have a right not to be included in family religious practices if they so choose. This is NOT a typical DK book. Buyer beware.

We just received this book, but the pictures are great. I like the map on each page showing where the child is from, the nice large picture of the child and then all the pictures depicting their lives. It makes it very relatable. I'm looking forward to reading this with my children.Update: My daughters are 7 & 8. We've been picking one child to read about. So far we've read about 3 children in Israel, Afghanistan, and Colombia. This book exceeds my expectations. It has sparked so many good discussions about refugee camps and girl's education to civil war but in a very simplified way. Its an introduction to the realization of how different life is in other countries and how we are grateful for what we have and how we can give back.

We purchased this book for our homeschool curriculum and it is one book that is incredibly useful for very, many studies. My kids have enjoyed reading about all the kids that are portrayed in this book and it does a great job of introducing many cultural themes at a young age. You quickly get a good idea on how people live, many different types of houses are shown, different sorts of food and resources, how kids get educated or even play in their environment. Critical subjects like war and health are also brought up but in a way your child won't feel too overwhelmed about the subject. A great way to get a glimpse into different parts of the world and notice even though so many things are different, there are so many things how we are all alike !

I purchased this to supplement my 4th grade homeschooler’s world geography-social studies curriculum and it is perfect! We are able to read about the lives of real children in the countries that my daughter is studying and she loves it. We have so many DK books that I love and this is definitely one of them!

I think this will be of use for my 6 year old to initiate discussion but some of it has a rather overly adult approach that won’t be appropriate

I love the format of this book. Rather than being structured around regions of the world (like most), it is formatted around basic human needs--clean water, healthy food, safe home, education, protection, love, an identity, freedom of religion and expression, etc... In the course of that, specific children from various countries are profiled throughout, with a focus on how that particular need is being met in their own life. The book is visually appealing, with a very reader-friendly lay out--well organized, colorful, and packed with beautiful photos. This book is perfect for kids and adults alike. It also handles tough issues such as exploitation of children through work and war sensitively, yet clearly. I bought this book to use in teaching a geography/world cultures class, along with several others, and this one really stands out!

Ties in nicely with my "KIDZ AROUND THE WORLD TEACHING UNIT" . .. It's part of my TAI JI FUN . .. CREATIVE DISCOVERY LEARNING APPROACHES helping kidz use their MULTI ~ Intelligences and various hands-on senses . . . W - A - A - A - H what a fun- der- ful way to engage our kidz' attention !!! I would like to have more Mid-Eastern countries & Australian Indigenous Peoples included

DK Publishing, again, provides a treasure in assisting children in becoming acquainted with children in other countries/cultures. For students in urban communities, many can identify with the children from countries they grew up in as it validates their culture. If used in a rural communities that are isolated, this resource is rich in detail of how children in different countries live, work, and sometimes play. This certainly isn't a disappointment, it helps to break down cultural barriers as children see the ways children in other countries are like them in some ways and are different in others.

This is a book that every child must have/read. My kids love it and they fight over it. My kids got a chance to read about the realities of Children all over the world and see how different their lives are. The illustrations are amazing too.

This book is very informative with great pictures, but the age range is definitely off. As a teacher, I would put the age range for this book at 10-12 year olds. It's very busy with some complex issues addressed.

Love books that help kids see their uniqueness as well as how they have similarities

Bel libro dell unicef suidiritti violati di molti bambini. C'è anche la versione in italiano. Utilissimo per insegnanti di inglese che vogliono trattare l'argomento. Linguaggio abbastanza semplice, bellissime immagini.