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He’s eight years old and lives with his parents and siblings
in a house with a vineyard out back. There, he has
rock-throwing contests with his friends after school. Romeo
loves to eat lasagna for dinner, he likes working on model
cars with his father, and he goes to bed covered with a warm
down blanket.
Meet Daphine, whose nickname is “Abwooli.”
Daphine is seven years old and lives in Uganda “in a house
made of wood and mud.” At private school, she wears a red
t-shirt and green shorts, just like every other student
there. Because her school is very far from home, Daphine
lives with her grandmother during the week; even so, she
walks a half-hour to get to class.
Meet Ananya, who is called “Anu.”
Eight years old, Anu lives in India and helps her mother
after school by hanging laundry outside on a line to dry.
Dinnertime for her family is at nine o’clock; afterward, Anu
likes to play with her sister before bedtime; then, the
entire family sleeps together in one huge bed.
Meet Kian, who is seven years old.
Living in Iran in an apartment near the Caspian Sea, Kian
wears a uniform to his all-boys school, where he studies
Farsi and the Quran. One of the things Kian likes to do
after school is to go horseback riding, and he enjoys
helping take care of his baby brother. He also loves to
watch cartoons on TV before going to sleep beneath his
favorite blanket.
Now meet you. What is your life like?
Based on seven real families living in countries around the
world, This is How We Do It is a nice introduction to
other cultures and a “typical day” that the worlds’ children
might experience.
“The world is a huge place…” says author Matt Lamothe, and
though he indicates that his book doesn’t necessarily
represent how each culture is, as a whole, it’s still a
great way to show your child similarities and differences.
Simply-hued pictures allow young readers to see where and
how other kids live, what their teachers are like, and what
can traditionally be found at the table – and though some of
those things may be markedly dissimilar to what your child
is used to, variations are noted matter-of-factly. The book
ends on a note that ties up its whole meaning nicely.
Great for upper-elementary school kids, this book is also a
smart reference and a nice start-off point for a school
report. Or, if your child merely wonders how the other half
of the world lives, This is How We Do It gives them a
big story. |
