Today’s children live in a multicultural world with access to global foods, music and languages. Shouldn’t their books reflect this diversity as well? Learning about different cultures and hearing their stories from a young age, opens up many windows to new people and new worlds.
This year, Children’s Book Week began on April 29, 2019. On their 100th anniversary they are celebrating their love of children’s books and reading the theme "Read Now. Read Forever". Established in 1919, it is the longest-running national literacy initiative in the US. The program is administered by Every Child a Reader with the Children’s Book Council (CBC) as the anchor sponsor.
Here is a list of some of our favorite books that provide a worldview all in one book. From board books for babies to books for the advanced readers, each book helps make the world your oyster!
Board Books
Global Babies and Global Babies Bedtime: These board books are a visual delight since they have close-up and super adorable photos of faces of babies from around the world.
Babies Around the World: This brand-new board book is great for babies and older kids too! It even includes how to say hello in various languages around the world!
Picture Books
Around the World in a Bathtub: Millions of children around the world take a bath every day. As every parent knows it’s struggle to get them in, but once they’re in, do they want to get out? Just a few minutes more is what we all always hear! Learn about the bathing rituals of families around the world in this fun picture book.
At the Same Moment Around the World: Different kids nap, drink chocolate and catch a school bus - all at the same time around the world! Discover a fun way to learn about time zones and timekeeping with different children around the world.
Around the World in Numbers: A fun book for kids who love numbers or trivia, with bright and colorful illustrations!
Every Month is a New Year: Different cultures around the world celebrate new year during different times of the year. Told in poetry this wonderful book shines the spotlight on diverse traditions around the world.
From Pancakes to Parathas: Breakfast around the world: Look at how children around the world begin their day. This book is a delightful compilation of breakfast foods from all over the world.
Home!: Home is where the heart is. In this unique picture book, children would learn about homes around the world, and how they can vary from shoe boxes to large sprawling houses.
This is How We Do It : In this globalized world, children are often curious about the lives of children in other countries. This book provides exquisite details about the daily lives of seven kids from Italy, Japan, Iran, India, Peru, Uganda, and Russia. We applaud the extensive research and attention to detail by Matt Lamothe in creating this book.
Amelia to Zora: 26 Women Who Changed the World : A wonderful introduction to girl power! The short biographies of each of the 26 diverse women achievers from A to Z in literature, science, and the arts focus on their significant contributions as well as how they persevered in the face of the many barriers they faced.
A World of Cookies for Santa: Santa gets a global feast on Christmas Eve! From ginger-tea in the Philippines, to honey-spice cookies in Russia and sweet potatoes ones from Malawi, this book is a treat!
Barefoot Books World Atlas: Fasten your seat belts, it’s going to be an interesting ride! Learn how different countries have been shaped by their local environments, and examine the ideas and initiatives that are shaping the future of the world.
Wake Up, World! A Day in the Life of Children Around the World: Follow the lives of 8 different kids around the world from sunrise to sunset, and explore similarities and differences with your kids to help them understand the different ways of the world!
Chapter Books
Girls who rocked the world/ Boys Who Rocked the World: These fun and inspiring collection of influential stories provide illustrated examples of strong, independent role models, all of whom first impacted the world as teenagers or younger. Highly recommend!
The Barefoot Book of Riddles: Quick - What sits in the corner and travels the world? A stamp! Travel the world with this wonderful collection of riddles and puzzles from all over the world, and sharpen those grey cells!
If the World Were a Village: A Book About World’s People, that converts complex issues into understandable terms by reimagining the population of the world as a 100 person village. Using data in a fun and accessible way, this book helps children discover life in other countries and see similarities for themselves.
Puffin Book of World Myths and Legends: Learn about the different stories that have been passed on from one generation to another in countries around the world in this engaging and informative middle grade book.
Games and Puzzles
Memory Games : This trio of games - Children of the World, Cities of the World and Around the World is a great spin-off on building those memory skills along with learning how to say hello in different global languages, taking a trip to famous monuments and learning about the capital cities around the globe!
Check out our favorite travel books
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