Books in Christmas around the World series

No matter where they live, children are always curious about the world. But nothing proves more fascinating to them than other children. Exploring the themes of commonality and diversity, this informational picture book introduces young readers to 12 children from around the world. Speaking in the first person, the children briefly describe such things as the language, food, clothing, schooling and daily life of their region. One of the most appealing aspects of this book is the artwork, which features the use of fabric, paper, mesh, string and felt in multimedia collage. Through the use of colors and textures, each child emerges with a distinctive and endearing personality.

A successor to the popular Children Around the World written and illustrated by Donata Montanari, this book allows young readers to visit with fourteen children, each from a different country, to learn about their families. Based on real children, each one's story fills a two-page spread and is told in the first person, beginning with a greeting in the child's native language. From Ryan, who lives on a Texas cattle farm, to Nkoitoi, who tends the family goat in Kenya, to Baatar, who moves regularly with his nomadic family in Mongolia, there is a vast range of homes, locations, customs and activities presented here, all of it enthusiastically illustrated with bright colors and vivid detail by illustrator Jessica Rae Gordon. There is variety in the heads of the families as well: a single parent, multiracial parents and same-sex parents are all represented. For all the children's different experiences, however, it is clear how much their lives have in common with one another, and likely with the book's readers. The love they have for their family members, the joy they find in play and the beauty they see around them wherever they live are experiences that cross borders. This is a wonderful, uplifting global studies title perfect for exploring cultures and geography. It would also be useful for a social studies unit on families and family relationships. Adding to its value as a teaching tool are suggestions for lesson plans built around the book, as well as a glossary and pronunciation guide for foreign words.

Stalks of oats called juleneks hang outside for birds to eat. Homes are decorated with pinecones, heart shaped baskets, and colorful paper chains. On Christmas Eve people leave bowls of porridge for the nisse, an elf like spirit who protects farms. During the Christmas season, people bake many kinds of cookies. They eat pork, boiled potatoes, and a sweet bread with raisins called julekake. These are the sights and sounds of Christmas in Norway. Come explore the many Norwegian traditions that bring people of this country together at Christmas.

From the Indian sari and Mexican Day of the Dead costumes, to Chinese wedding dresses and Scottish tartan, we take kids on a seriously stylish journey to discover the fashion, clothes and fabrics worn by different cultures around the world. Full of fun activities, there's plenty of space for kids to get creative and design their own outfits. Lonely Planet's Around the World Fashion Sketchbook explores many of the planet's most famous and iconic clothing styles. Children will get to visit Brazil's amazing Carnival and marvel at its colorful samba dancers, meet Indian women and their beautiful patterned saris, get streetwise with New York's hip-hop scene, take to the saddle in a poncho with Argentina's cowboys, and lots more. Inside, kids will discover: The stories behind colors, festival dresses and fabric patterns Fun and amazing facts about people, culture and their clothing Lots of space to doodle, design and color in their own outfits About Lonely Planet Kids: Lonely Planet Kids â?? an imprint of the world's leading travel authority, Lonely Planet â?? published its first book in 2011. Over the past 45 years, Lonely Planet has grown a dedicated global community of travelers, many of whom are now sharing a passion for exploration with their children. Lonely Planet Kids encourages the next generation of global citizens to learn about the world around them with engaging books on culture, sociology, geography, nature, history, space and more. Whether at home, in school or on the road, every day can be an adventure. Come explore!

People pray or sing to presipios, mangers that remind them of where the baby Jesus slept. They decorate Christmas trees with angels, stars, and glass balls. Strings of lights hang from shop windows and decorate the streets. Musicians play in markets while shoppers buy gifts and food for the holiday. These are the sights and sounds of Christmas in Italy. Come explore the many Italian traditions that bring people of this country together at Christmas.