One World, One Day (Barbara Kerley Photo Inspirations) [Hardcover]

Barbara Kerley (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 12, 2009 | Series: Barbara Kerley Photo Inspirations

One World, One Day uses exquisite, moving photographs and Barbara Kerley’s poetic text to convey a simple yet profound concept: we are one global family. This is a sophisticated concept book, presented as an elegant picture book with contributions from top international photographers.

This beautiful photo book follows the course of one day in our world. Sunrise to sunset is captured in the essential things we all do daily, wherever we live in the world, and in the different ways we do them. The first meal of the day will take on a whole new dimension for American kids as an American pancake breakfast is contrasted with porridge in North Korea and churros in Spain.

At the end, each image is reprinted as a thumbnail and accompanied by a detailed caption. Selected images feature photographers’ notes that share the thoughts and methodology involved in the making of the picture and reveal fascinating behind-the-scenes information. The photographers reflect on how the pictures might resonate within the theme of the global family. Such reflections are rooted in the life experiences of these well-traveled professionals. Their global viewpoints, in tandem with Barbara Kerley’s powerful message, set an ideal example for all future world citizens.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Sixty crisp, skillfully composed photographs follow children from all corners of the globe through a day, revealing activities that are strikingly similar yet widely divergent in the details. The juxtaposition of images is often remarkable. A photo of a girl waving from the back window of a Pennsylvania school bus appears beside a picture of a child in China's Yunnan Province, whose commute entails crossing a river in a seat suspended from a zip line. Many of the photographers (the images come from numerous sources) use light to dramatic effect: a soft glow illuminates the faces of eight girls in Gujarat, India; sunlight streams through windows as four boys stand at prayer in an Indo-nesian mosque. Supplementing Kerley's (A Cool Drink of Water) minimal, pithy text (Recess rocks! And so does lunch) are substantive concluding notes that specify the locations, provide cultural context for the photos and—most intriguing—offer occasional photographers' perspectives: the photo of the Indian girls was taken in a refugee camp (They were wonderful and full of laughter despite the terrible conditions). An arresting, eye-opening compilation. All ages. (May)
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About the Author

Barbara Kerley is the author of National Geographic’s A Cool Drink of Water, You and Me Together, and A Little Peace. As a former Peace Corps volunteer in Nepal and a one-time resident of Guam, who now lives in northern California, Kerley is interested in showing how a richly diverse world shares much in common.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: National Geographic Children's Books (May 12, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1426304609
• ISBN-13: 978-1426304606
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 0.4 x 7.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #277,630 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

From the author:

I had two favorite pastimes as a kid.

One was playing dress-ups with my friends. We were fancy ladies with oh-so-complicated lives or pioneer women crossing the prairie. As a teen I became very involved with theater, both on and off the stage. (Basically, still playing dress-ups, only now with makeup, lights, and a stage.)

My other pastime was reading stacks and stacks of books--and sometimes, reading the same book over and over.

The dress-ups, the theater, the stacks of books, and, I now see, my work as a writer, have all been fueled by my life-long fascination with people and the story of their lives.

Come visit my website to see the stories I tell. www.barbarakerley.com

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a stunning book of photographs showing how children around the world spend their day! June 26, 2009

By D. Fowler TOP 50 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Library Binding

All around the world children begin to rise after the sun comes up. They get up out of their beds, wash themselves "and celebrate a new day." Mmmmm, it's time for breakfast. The children have many different kinds of breakfasts to start their day. Some have porridge, some have pancakes while others have churros or toast. "Hot sweet tea with plenty of milk" is a good way to top it off. Eight little girls with smiley impish faces are getting ready to head to school. Some children only have to walk a short way to school while others have to cross a river using a cable. Riding a bus or hopping on a bus is a very easy way to get to school!

At school it is time to get serious. Children around the world read, write, have music lessons, write math problems on the board, work on their science projects and dabble in arts and crafts. Of course everyone seems to love recess and lunch. In the afternoon there's more learning to do and then "kids stand up, clean up and head for home any way they can." Some children aren't done when school is out. They have to work, play, do homework, finish chores and then think . . . about "what's for dinner?" Of course everyone has something that's a bit different than the next person. When the sun sets it's time for family and then time to get to bed. Sleep well, for the next day will come soon!

This is a beautiful pictorial book that captures the daily lives of children around the world. Despite their differences, on some level they are all alike. As the author states, "Kids go to school, they play, they spend time with their families. This book represents one day, from sunrise to sunset, around the world-a day we share together." The photographs are stunning and very appealing.... They capture everything from impish grins to beaming smiles (no crying here!). In the back of the book each photograph is reproduced and has a location and most have a "story" underneath. There is also a map showing where the photographs were taken. This is a book that school children will be fascinated with. How did you spend your school days? Read more ›

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Get This Book! October 26, 2009

By Portianay VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

I cannot think of a better way to express how I feel about it, other than to urge you to buy it or borrow it NOW. It is informative, educational, poignant, heart wrenching, jolly, lighthearted--the photos are beyond words.

To actually see how children around the globe spend their day--just amazing. it will make the American youngster sit up and take an interest, that's for sure.

I love this book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One World, One Day May 20, 2010

By Crease in the Page

Format:Hardcover

I read this aloud to my kids. Then they wanted to individually page through the book and look at the pictures. Then they wanted to look at the last few pages of the book which tell where each picture was taken. It was bedtime so I made them go to sleep, but I wouldn't be surprised if tomorrow they're eager to look on a globe to find where each picture is from. Excellent photos, and although the faces and places look different, the book emphasizes similarities in our day-to-day lives.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Global Connections December 29, 2009

By Susie D

Format:Hardcover

"At dawn, as the sun slips over the horizon, kids around the world get up, wash up, and celebrate a new day." Barbara Kerley has combined Simple text with dynamic photographs to create a powerful statement of global connectedness. Based on Kerley's Peace Corp Volunteer experience in the early `80s and continued travels since then, she has been "convinced ...that all of us around the world have much in common, and that the more we can embrace our commonality, the more tolerant we can be of our differences."

This book with its divergent compilation of photographs and minimal text is a great read-a-loud even with the youngest of children, yet also provides in the appendix additional information about each photo for the curious child or adult. Each reference has a thumbnail photo as well as a page number reference (which is great since the book has no page numbers?) There is also a world map giving the locale of each photograph.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book!! March 20, 2012

By Liz T

Format:Hardcover

This book is absolutely stunning. As a lover of photography, I really like this book. I think the photographs and simple captions are a perfect way to capture the global community and to teach children and adults alike just how similar cultures around the world truly are. This book walks through a typical child's day from brushing teeth to playing games and is presented through pictures and short captions. It shows pictures of many different children from multiple cultures and backgrounds all doing various activities. It is unique to see four different photos of four different children eat four different types of breakfast food. It is wonderful for students at any grade level to be able to see that everyone around the world eats breakfast and does the same type of activities that they do. I think that teachers would be able to use this in their own classrooms in Social Studies.

Based on the National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies, this book is notable because it teaches children about culture, which is number one on the standards list. Culture is something that every single child needs to appreciate, value, and know about. This does not mean solely their own culture but branching out and discovering all about many different cultures from around the globe. This standard can be taught and presented to students by reading this truly beautiful book with the students. After reading, the students could create their own little book of pictures and compare it to pictures from other cultures in the book. Also, students could write many essays or prompts about what they see in the book. Any of these activities would promote the value of culture in Social Studies.

Another standard from NCSS that can be developed by reading this book is number nine, global connections.... While this definitely correlates to the standard of culture, it really ties in the feature of being a global community and recognizing that children are children no matter what culture they live in. Students need to understand that cultures and communities are all connected in some way and this book really depicts just that. I believe in the statement that "a picture speaks a thousands words" because with just one picture of a child playing his/her own version of hopscotch, the American student will be able to make a connection with that child. While reading this book with children, many discussions can come of it about how we are connected and what makes us connected.

Overall, this book is great and I will definitely be using this in my future classrooms, no matter what grade level. I'm thrilled that such a unique book has come into this world. Read more ›