Wake Up, World!: A Day in the Life of Children Around the World
Grade 1-3-A simple look at some of the ways in which people differ in the details of their lives but are similar in their overall values. Two-page spreads of full-color photographs focus on a specific aspect of daily life, such as waking up, school, or playtime, and convey information about the homes, families, and lifestyles of a group of youngsters from eight different countries. A brief explanatory paragraph introduces each topic and each child's blurb is accompanied by a symbol that follows his/her story throughout the book. At bedtime, Anusibuno from Ghana and Cidinha from Brazil are shown falling asleep in the heat listening to sounds of the animals outdoors, while Shakeel from India and Alexis from Australia listen to stories before drifting off to sleep. There are some beautiful photographs here, but the effectiveness of a few of the spreads is marred by the small size of some of the images and/or the lack of distinguishing details. An outline map pinpoints the location of each country, and a short end section explains aspects of each nation's culture. There is a good balance of children from a variety of cultures, and the periodic use of their own words makes their stories inviting. While geared to a similar audience as Patricia Lakin's Growing Up: Around the World (Blackbirch, 1995; o.p.), Hollyer's work is more personal and provides more information.Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan, LaSalle Academy, Providence, RICopyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.