2003-03-15 A Life Like Mine

What a fantastic and moving book! The layout is bright and engaging, the text informative and accessible even to small children. The format means that the book can be approached in small chunks without losing meaning. This is far more than an information book.
The highly innovative front sections focusing on childrens' rights to nourishing food, clean water, safe housing and health care were both profound and yet simple enough for a five year old to use as a basis for discussion. The mid sections inform the reader of how UNICEF tries to achieve these basic rights for children around the globe. The last part of the book gives profiles of individual children in different parts of the world through top quality pictures and text.
The book avoids stereotypes and instead offers meaningful and humorous insights into real children. Facts are presented in a realistic yet never mawkish manner. I read sections of the book to my class of 5 & 6 year olds and found one half-hour session inadequate. The children demanded more and I was pleased to oblige. If you want your child to understand both the diversity and wonder of this tough old planet, buy this book.