To Be a Kid [Hardcover]

Maya Ajmera (Author), John D. Ivanko (Author), Global Fund For Children (Organization) (Author), Chris Kratt (Foreword), Martin Kratt (Foreword)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Children from around the world celebrate the joys of being a kid.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3-From Antigua to Oman, children from a variety of countries are represented in this attractive album. Two to three photographs on each page show the youngsters engaged in a similar activity. The simple, repetitive phrase "To be a kid means..." flows well as an introduction to each set of pictures and follows with a brief description of the activity portrayed. The large and colorful photographs of mostly smiling children imbue the book with a sense of vitality and optimism. The authors successfully convey the idea that children from diverse cultures remain singularly constant in their creative play and love for family and friends. To Be a Kid is remarkably similar to Ajmera's previous publication Children from Australia to Zimbabwe (Charlesbridge, 1997)-even to the point of including a photograph of the same girl from Ecuador taken at a slightly different angle-and compares favorably with Barnabas and Anabel Kindersley's Children Just Like Me (DK, 1995). However, unlike the latter title, it does not contain any factual information about the countries or cultures represented in the book.
Paul Kelsey, East Baton Rouge Parish Public Library, LA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

Harking directly back to Edward Steichen's classic Family of Man (1955, 1983) in design and tone, this portfolio of full- color photographs captures children around the world joyfully engaging in common pursuits. The photos, captioned only by their countries of origin, are grouped thematically, linked by a few words of text``To be a kid means playing ball . . . running races. . . . or playing a board game''and depict clean, well-kept young people busy, for the most part, with shared activities. A follow- up essay reinforces the message that the lives, needs, and goals of children the world over are very similar, though the details may differ. Without descriptive notes, many of those details may be lost on viewers, but the theme is a worthwhile one, appealingly presented. (map) (Picture book/nonfiction. 4-9) -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing (February 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881068411
• ISBN-13: 978-0881068412
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 11.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #256,313 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Terrific At Exploding Many Stereotypes, April 19, 2002

By 

Art Blaser (Orange, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: To Be a Kid (Paperback)

As a parent I wanted my four-year-old daughter to see other kids who "looked like her" and yet others who didn't. She enjoys the same things as the kids pictured: spending time with family, playing games, and dancing. The pictures are wonderful, not just from my perspective but also from hers.

My only disappointment was that she didn't see parents with disabilities like her father, nor kids with disabilities. Of course kids with disabilities spend time with family, dance, and play games. That they wouldn't is a pernicious stereotype. I wish the photographers had combated it.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Rewarding Book for Kids of All Ages, July 21, 1999

By 

Max (Boston) - See all my reviews

This review is from: To Be a Kid (Hardcover)

This book offers glimpses of the individual lives of children while it paints a portrait of the similarity of experience that children of all ages share. The photos are beautiful and the message simple - as equally appropriate for adults as for children.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars To Be A Kid, March 18, 2006

By 

Sandra L. Earle (Portland Oregon) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: To Be a Kid (Paperback)

"To Be A Kid" is simple text book showing how kids are the same and different. The photographs accompanying the text are rich in visual context. My three and four year olds love to look at and find the differences and similarities in each of the photos. How wonderful to find pictures of kids from six different countries all in basic clothing and doing the same things with their friends! Eight activities kids from all over the world frequently enjoy are shown in four to six brightly colored pictures for children to enjoy.