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International Children's Books |
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January 2007 update This is an initial selection of books for children, both fiction and non-fiction, which have an international focus and are therefore suitable to be used to support the Primary and Middle Years International Baccalaureat or any school curriculum with an international focus. New titles are marked with ¥ Please Note All prices are in Australian dollars and include the 10% GST tax. However this GST does not apply to exports from Australia. If you would like to order any of the books on the list, send the orders to Austral Ed by post, fax or by email. Payment can be made with bank cheques in Australian dollars, by direct bank transfer or by Credit card. Freight is sent by the most economical method within Australia or overseas, depending on urgency. Recommended by Kate Shepherd Picture Books* Around the World series by Kate Petty in association with Oxfam Playtime, Home, Bicycles and Hair hardback $24.95 each This series has a special charm and interest as the books show children from around the world living in a variety of homes, riding bicycles, playing many different games or with a marvellous variety of hairstyles. The large detailed photos make for interesting discussion. The text is simply written and informative and in large clear type. These books could be used very effectively with beginner ESL students as there is much to discuss as well as read. Suitable for pre-school, beginner readers and ESL. * Houses and Homes by Ann Morris, photographs by Ken Heyman pb $17.95 The very simple text is contrasted by the complexity of the photos which show a wonderful varietyof houses and homes from around the world. (4 - 7 yrs) In the same series are On the Go pb $17.95 shows a wide variety of the ways in which people from around the world get around. Great for discussion. Also Tools pb $17.95 shows a wide variety of tools and how they are used around the world. Also Hats Hats Hats pb $17.95, and Shoes Shoes Shoes pb $17.95 show people from around the world wearing hats and shoes for protection, for fun, for work, for sport, or just to keep warm. Also Loving pb $17.95 W is for World by Kathryn Cave (in conjunction with OXFAM) pb $14.95 Big Book $39.95 A large number of countries are included and the daily life of adults and children is brought to life with simple text and stunning photographs. It is much more than just an alphabet book as it also has a message about people's basic rights of shelter, food, water, health care and education. (5 - 9 years) Similar beautifully photographed and informative titles in this series are A is for Africa by Ifeoma Onyefulu pb $14.95 Big Book $39.95 B is for Brazil by Maria de Fatima Campos pb $14.95 C is for China by Sungwan So pb $14.95 I is for India by Prodeepta Das pb $14.95 Big Book $39.95 * J is for Jamaica by Benjamin Zephaniah hardback $27.95 Prodeepta Das Geeta's Day: From Dawn to Dusk in an Indian Village pb $14.95 Geeta's day is typical of children in villages throughout India. Vivid photographs and simple text show us Geeta's family, her school, the jobs or crafts of village people and the games she plays. Also: Bongani's Day (South Africa), Boushra's Day (Egypt), Cassio's Day (Brazil), Enrique's Day (Peru), Huy and Vinh's Day (Vietnam), Iina-Marja's Day (Lapland), Nii Kwei's Day (Ghana), Polina's Day (Russia), Yikang's Day (China) hardback $27.95 pb $14.95 each (Geeta and Yikang only available in paperback) For Every Child. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in words and pictures, text adapted by Caroline Castle pb $21.95 A beautiful picture book which restates in simple language fifteen of the most important Rights of the Child. Each Right is illustrated in a very different style by a different artist from round the world. There is much to discuss (7 - 11 years) Mick Manning and Brita Granstrom Out There Somewhere pb $16.95 An exuberant picture book which looks at the different time zones round the world so that young children can discover that when it is midnight in New York, it is lunchtime in Taipei and breakfast time in Amsterdam. (5 - 8 years) PoetryFloella Benjamin (collected by), illustrated by Sheila Moxley Skip across the Ocean : Nursery Rhymes from around the world pb $16.95 A collection of nursery rhymes and lullabies from round the world, some of which are written in English and also in their original language. (5 - 8 years) James Berry (Selected by), illustrated by Katherine Lucas Around the World in Eighty Poems pb $22.00 An excellent collection of poems from over 50 different countries round the world. It includes traditional poems as well as modern ones. (8 years up) Edited by Tessa Duder Illustrated by Anton Petrov A Book of Pacific Lullabies. pb $14.95 A collection of traditional and modern lullabies from authors and poets from New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands. (6 - 12 years) Reeve Lindbergh (collected by) illustrated by Christine Davenier, Bob Graham, Anita Jeram and Elisa Kleven In Every Tiny Grain of Sand: A Child's Book of Prayers and Praise pb $19.95 A beautiful collection of poems and prayers that comes from people of many different ages, cultures and religions from round the world. Beautifully illustrated and divided into different sections, each illustrated by a different artist: For the Day, For the Earth, For the Home and For the Night (9 years up) Naomi Shihab Nye This Same Sky A collection of poems from around the world pb $22.00 An excellent collection of poems from round the world. A very impressive range and choice of inviting poems from a truly wide range of countries and cultures. (8 years up). Fiona Waters (compiled by) Poems From Many Cultures hardback $38.50 This is a wonderful collection of poetry from many different cultures round the world. It includes well known poets such as Wole Soyinka (Nigeria), Michael Ondaatje (Sri Lanka), Grace Nichols (Guyana) and Benjamin Zephaniah (Jamaica/England) and many more not so well known. Some poems are traditional though most are modern. All the poems give us an insight into the way people think and feel and see from different cultures round the world. A very impressive selection. (11 years up) Collections Kirsty Murray Tough Stuff: True Stories about Kids and Courage pb $14.95 A fast paced and inviting collection of short stories about children who have done amazing things. It includes the story of Iqbal Masih the 12 year old bonded carpet maker who led a movement for children's rights, as well as stories of exceptional children including those who saved lives, or were geniuses, earned a fortune or survived war and oppression (9 - 14 years) Michael Rosen South & North, East & West pb $16.95 An excellent collection of stories from round the world, illustrated by a variety of artists. Perhaps my favourite of these collections of stories. Non-fictionOne World series: On the Move hardback $35.00 The text contains lots of detail and the photographs are good for discussion of the different types of transport that people use around the world. Also in the series: Going to School, In the City and In the Country show children attending school and life in different parts of the world. (5 - 8 years) Kids Around the World Play! by Arlette N Braman illustrated by Michele Nidenoff pb $21.95 This is an excellent array of games from round the world clearly described and illustrated so that children can make their own and then play them. The games are divided into those that Tease Your Brain, Games of Chance, Board games, Toys and also Games of skill. They include word games from Russia, games of chance from India, China and Italy and Board games from Kenya, Germany and Ancient Egypt. It also contains some interesting additional information about games. I hadn't realised that the first crossword puzzle was invented only in 1913. There is also information on the history and culture of each country. (8 - 12 years) Life Be In It: Book of World Games pb $29.95 This has an even larger and more varied selection of games from round the world. The descriptions are a little shorter and instructions for making or playing the games perhaps less detailed and so the book is suitable for an older age range. There is an amazing range of games from round the world. (9 years up) Beatrice Hollyer Wake Up World! A Day in the Life of Children Around the World pb $14.95 An exploration of the lives of eight children, each from a different country, showing the similarities and contrasts as the children wake up, get dressed, go to school, play, have dinner and get ready for bed. We look inside their homes and see their families and the things they like. The children come from Australia, Brazil, Ghana, India, Russia, Vietnam, UK and USA. There are very different levels of comfort in their way of living but the excellent photographs show us the vitality of the children, the strength of their family life and the ingenuity of their games. A very appealing books which celebrates the diversity of the children of the world. This book has been published in association with Oxfam and all royalties got to Oxfam. (8 - 12 years) Also: Let's Eat! Children and their Food Around the World hardback $27.95 pb $14.95 The format is similar to Wake Up World! with a slightly more difficult text. Children in South Africa, Mexico, Thailand, France and India describe the food they love to eat on an ordinary day and the special food they love to eat when there is a festive occasion. There are many contrasts and similarities to discuss. (8- 12 years) Barnabas and Anabel Kindersley (In Association with UNICEF) Children Just Like Me hardback $29.95 This is a celebration of children round the world. We learn about the lives of 36 children. Where they live, their families, their hobbies etc are shown through expressive photographs and a lively text. This book gives a feeling for the very wide range of peoples and cultures in different countries throughout the world. (7 - 11 years) A Life Like Mine: How Children Live Around the World hardback $29.95 This book has been published in association with UNICEF. The Convention on the Rights of the Child sets out the basic needs of all children and this book explores how these needs are met in countries throughout the world. The book is divided into sections on Survival, Development, Protection and Partcipation. There are also major sections on Education, Play, Love, Care and Work. This is a very appealing book with excellent photographs. It provides a good introduction to some very complex questions. (8 - 12 years) Suzanne Bukiet Scripts of the World hb $49.95 This beautifully presented book mainly in black and white illustrations makes us aware of the beauty of the different scripts throughout the world. Discusses how writing came about and the five scripts most in use in the world. Finally there are five traditional beautifully illustrated stories written in English with examples of the script of the original language (Latin, Arab, Cyrillic, Indian and Chinese). (8 - 14 years) Meryl Doney Discover other Cultures series pb $19.95 each Baskets around the World Festivals around the World Games around the World Jewellery around the World Masks around the World Musical Instruments around the World Papercraft around the World Puppets around the World Textiles around the World Toys and Dolls around the World An excellent source of practical information on crafts from around the world. Background cultural information on the crafts is given as well as step by step instructions on how to make puppets, jewellery, masks, paper etc. (8 - 13 yrs) Children's Rights series hardback $34.95 each Education, Health, Home, Safety and Voice These five titles have been published in conjunction with the Save the Children Fund. Each title begins with a brief explanation of how Children's Rights were first proposed in 1919 but were not accepted as International Law until 1989 at the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child. In addition to a general introduction to each subject, each book has individual portraits of particular children from different countries. There is also discussion of the various rights that should be provided under each of the headings of education, health, home, safety and voice and as a result the reader gains a good idea of how many childhood rights are regularly violated and the many problems involved. However many positive individual stories of cases where children's rights have been improved are also included. (9 - 14 years) Anita Ganeri Life Times series pb $19.95 each New Beginnings: Celebrating Birth A look at how the six major religions of the world welcome a new born baby into the world. Other titles in this series which looks at how rites of passage in people's lives are celebrated in different religions are Growing Up: From Child to Adult Wedding Days: Celebrations of Marriage and Journey's End: Death and Mourning. (8 - 12 years) Melanie Guile Culture in... series hardback $29.95 each Culture in Australia, Culture in China, Culture in India, Culture in Japan, Culture in Malaysia, Culture in New Zealand, Culture in North and South Korea, Culture in Papua New Guinea, Culture in Singapore, Culture in Thailand, and Culture in Vietnam These books provide a good introduction to the discussion of what is culture and how is it expressed in these countries. It examines the way in which people identify themselves through language, social customs and habits as well as traditions of art, craft, dance, music and spiritual belief. They also look at the different cultures of various ethnic groups within each country. (9 - 14 years) John Nicholson Homemade Houses: Traditional Homes from Many Lands pb $14.95 As well as being beautifully illustrated, this book is very informative about the different styles of housing in various countries that have developed, using local materials which suit the environment and way of life of the builders. There are many detailed sketches showing plans, elevations and cross-sections. (9 years up) Fishing for Islands: Traditional Boats & Seafarers of the Pacific hardback $24.95 pb $14.95 Nicholson links his obvious love of boats and their design, decoration and how they are built with an outline of how the islands in the Pacific were settled. He describes through beautiful detailed illustrations and text the first boats or rafts that must have been built and how they were used, through to dug-out canoes, outriggers and the double-hulled canoes used by the Polynesians on their vast journeys across the Pacific, navigating by memory or by the stars. (9 - 16 years) The State of the Planet hardback $24.95 John Nicholson is concerned "about the mess we adults have made of the world - your world. Long after we're all dead, you will still be facing up to the problems we've created and then stubbornly ignored for so long." This book serves as an excellent catalyst to get students thinking and wanting to research more on these problems. There are sections on Earth, Water, Air and Energy where Nicholson discusses the problems, why they matter, what is being done and what governments should do and what we can do to help. Wherever possible he gives good news about what is being done (11 - 16 years) Exploring History series hardback $37.50 each written in association with The Royal Geographical Society. Africa by Ibazebo China by Wang Tao India by Anita Ganeri Japan by Richard Tames Latin America by Machado North America The Polar Regions by Rootes An excellent series originally published as the Exploration into series. It's an interesting look at the history of these various countries from earliest times to modern times. The accounts of foreign explorers and travellers adds to the interest. (10 - 16 years) Tracy V Spates Picture the World: Children's Art around the Globe hardback $49.95 Tracy Spates wanted children to be able to relate readily to their peers round the world through art. The book features a number of art works from children of different ages and from eight different countries. The art work presents an opportunity for storytelling and discussing similarities and differences between cultures as well as a chance to focus on familiar and new ways of being creative. There are maps of each country and photographs of people, places and folk art to provide an introduction to the country and people. At the end of each section, there is also a hands-on step-by-step art activity. Countries included are Japan, Ecuador, India, Russia, Kenya, USA and Vietnam. (10 - 14 years) Judge for Yourself series hardback $37.50 each Mao Zedong This book contains factual details of Mao Zedong's life but it goes on to encourage students to look at some of the results of his actions in relation to reforms in Agriculture, Industry, Education, Foreign Policy and Women's Status. Students are encouraged to judge for themselves whether they think the reforms were a success or failure. The book gives some statistics, factual information and quotations which can be used to back up both sides of the debate. Extra research would of course be needed to arrive at a sound judgement but this is at least a good introduction to some of the many complexities of historical study. Also in this series Judge for Yourself: Catherine the Great Judge for Yourself: Martin Luther King Judge for Yourself: Mahatma Gandhi (11 - 16 years) Struan Reid East Meets West series hardback $37.50 each An excellent series which describes the importance of the trade and cultural exchanges resulting from the meeting of west and east along the Silk and Spice routes. Excellent photos, a detailed map of the Silk and Spice Routes, informative text and a time chart, all help to inform about these fascinating routes which had such a profound effect on the history of east and west. (11 - 16 years) Exploration by Land Exploration by Sea Inventions and Trade Cultures and Civilisations Rebecca Treays Oxford First book of Children of the World pb $23.95 A simply written look at the lives of children from over 20 countries from round the world. (7 - 10 years) World Organizations series pb $19.95 each This series looks at key world international organizations. It discusses how and why they were established, their structure and their various functions. European Union describes the various reasons behind the formation of the European Union and shows how it has developed and grown from its first days after the Second World War. The book has an Index, a Glossary and a page which includes useful addresses and websites. The complete list of books in the series is: Amnesty International European Union NATO International Red Cross UNICEF United Nations World Health Organization World Wildlife Fund David J Smith If the World were a Village: A Book about the World's People illustrated by Shelagh Armstrong hardback $34.95 pb $16.95 This is such an important book, especially for students trying to gain some comprehension of the huge numbers of people living on our planet. As at January 2005, there were 6.4 billion people. David Smith imagines the whole population of the world in just one village of 100 people. In this global village each person represents 64 million people. He then takes us through the village showing us more about the people living there. In this village 61 people are from Asia, 13 from Africa, 12 from Europe, 8 from South and Central America, 5 from Canada and the US and 1 from Oceania. He looks at the beliefs, languages and ages of these people as well as the food they eat. If the food was divided equally there would be no shortage in the village, but it isn't, and so 50 people are hungry some of the time and 20 are severely malnourished. He also looks at water, electricity, money and possessions and also how many people lived in this village in the past and how many will live there in the future. The text is very simply written and I am sure it would spark spontaneous discussion. This is very much a book with an interdisciplinary world-view which links geography, environment and human rights. (9 - 14 years) Teacher ReferenceGlobal Perspective series Look Global: Global Perspectives in the Upper Primary Classroom pb $34.65 Aims to give students a better understanding of global issues. Has a wide choice of activities, resources and handouts. Also Go Global: Global Perspectives in the Lower to Middle Secondary Classroom pb $43.95.
If you would like to order any of the above books, send orders to Austral Ed by fax, post or email. All prices are in Australian dollars and include GST of 10% not applicable for overseas schools. For additional lists of recommended books and newsletters from Austral Ed, visit our website www.australed.iinet.net.au
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