Global Babies (Board book)

by Global Fund for Children (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
*Starred Review* Striking in its simplicity and effectiveness, this colorful board book takes into account two fundamental facts. First, babies like to look at faces, particularly the faces of other babies. Second, today's babies will grow up in a world that is, increasingly, a global neighborhood. This introduces young children to their neighbors throughout the world by providing clear photographs of babies in Guatemala, Thailand, Greenland, Mali, the U.S., India, South Africa, Fiji, Peru, Afghanistan, Malawi, Spain, Iraq, Rwanda, and Bhutan. Like Ajmera's earlier books connected with the nonprofit organization Global Fund for Children, such as To Be a Kid (1999) and Be My Neighbor (2004), this title seeks to form a broad, inclusive sense of community. Each page features a single child in a photo shown against a rich, solid background color. Appearing phrase by phrase at the bottom of the pages, the book's complete text reads, "Wherever they live, / wherever they go, / whatever they wear, / whatever they feel, / babies everywhere / are beautiful, / special, / and loved." Attuned to its audience, the book's close-ups emphasize the children's faces and create a feeling of connection between subject and viewer. In an era when board books too often recycle picture book stories intended for older children, here's one that is just right for babies and toddlers. Phelan, Carolyn

Product Description
Seventeen cultures, seventeen gorgeous babies. Appealing color photographs depict diverse traditions and showcase clothing worn by babies from around the world. A simple narrative helps demonstrate that no matter how different babies appear, they are all very much alike -- nurtured and loved by those who care for them.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Baby-Preschool
  
• Board book: 18 pages
• Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing (June 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580891748
• ISBN-13: 978-1580891745
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 5.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #15,171 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #3 in	Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Social Science > Customs, Traditions, Anthropology
  #4 in	Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Family Life > New Baby > Nonfiction
  #7 in	Books > Children's Books > Baby-3 > Picture Books

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful for any collection, December 25, 2007

By	Christopher J. Deangelis - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book has beautiful photographs and a decent text as well. I bought it for a daycare, and now I plan on ordering one for my son as well...

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars going global, December 1, 2007

By	A. Tarmy (Germantown MD) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I really want to encourage a diverse veiw of the world and allow my daughter to know we are all the same no matter the color of our skin or the place of our birth and this book is very sweet and allows me to do that.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, captivating photography introduces little ones to babies all over the world, February 16, 2009

By	The Well-Read Child "http://wellreadchild.blo... - See all my reviews

Kids are fascinated with babies. They love to touch them, beg to hold them, and enjoy looking at them, so I think they will really love this week's baby/preschooler pick. Global Babies is a board book that features 17 beautiful photographs of babies around the world. Gorgeous babies from Thailand, Mali, the United States, Afghanistan, and more are dressed in customary clothing and show their distinct personalities. For example, the baby from Fiji sits on its knees with its hands behind its head just grinning at the camera, and a baby with large, glowing eyes from Rwanda peeks out from the multi-colored wrap that holds it close to its mother.

The text itself is one sentence that spans across the book, demonstrating what all babies have in common, regardless of where they're from.

Young children will be captivated by the photographs of all the babies in the book, and older preschoolers may be inspired to learn more about the different countries represented in the book. I can think of a number of expansion activities to teach children more about geography, different, cultures, and more.

In a simple, approachable format Global Babies helps children develop an appreciation for diversity and teaches us that despite all of our differences, we are all the same.