Birthdays in Different Places. (Learning About Our Global Community). Lauren McNiven & Crystal Sikkens. St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2016. 24 pp., pbk., hc., pdf & html, $8.95 (pbk.), $22.95 (List RLB), $18.36 (School RLB). ISBN 978-0-7787-2017-1 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-2011-9 (RLB), ISBN 978-1-4271-1652-9 (pdf), ISBN 978-1-4271-1646-8 (html). Subject Heading: Birthdays-Juvenile literature. Grades 2-3 / Ages 7-8. Review by Suzanne Pierson. **** /4
	Clothing in Different Places. (Learning About Our Global Community). Adrianna Morganelli. St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2016. 24 pp., pbk., hc., pdf & html, $8.95 (pbk.), $22.95 (List RLB), $18.36 (School RLB). ISBN 978-0-7787-2016-4 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-2010-2 (RLB), ISBN 978-1-4271-1651-2 (pdf), ISBN 978-1-4271-1645-1 (html). Subject Heading: Clothing and dress-Juvenile literature. Grades 2-3 / Ages 7-8. Review by Suzanne Pierson. **** /4
	Foods in Different Places. (Learning About Our Global Community). Linda Barghoorn. St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2016. 24 pp., pbk., hc., pdf & html, $8.95 (pbk.), $22.95 (List RLB), $18.36 (School RLB). ISBN 978-0-7787-2015-7 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-2009-6 (RLB), ISBN 978-1-4271-1650-5 (pdf), ISBN 978-1-4271-1644-4 (html). Subject Headings: Foods-Juvenile literature. Food habits-Juvenile literature. Grades 2-3 / Ages 7-8. Review by Suzanne Pierson. **** /4
	Homes in Different Places. (Learning About Our Global Community). Cynthia O’Brien. St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2016. 24 pp., pbk., hc., pdf & html, $8.95 (pbk.), $22.95 (List RLB), $18.36 (School RLB). ISBN 978-0-7787-2018-8 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-2012-6 (RLB), ISBN 978-1-4271-1653-6 (pdf), ISBN 978-1-4271-1647-5 (html). Subject Heading: Dwellings-Juvenile literature. Grades 2-3 / Ages 7-8. Review by Suzanne Pierson. **** /4
	Schools in Different Places. (Learning About Our Global Community). Lauren McNiven. St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2016. 24 pp., pbk., hc., pdf & html, $8.95 (pbk.), $22.95 (List RLB), $18.36 (School RLB). ISBN 978-0-7787-2019-5 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-2013-3 (RLB), ISBN 978-1-4271-1654-3 (pdf), ISBN 978-1-4271-1648-2 (html). Subject Headings: Schools-Juvenile literature. Education-Juvenile literature. Grades 2-3 / Ages 7-8. Review by Suzanne Pierson. **** /4
	Transportation in Different Places. (Learning About Our Global Community). Adrianna Morganelli. St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2016. 24 pp., pbk., hc., pdf & html, $8.95 (pbk.), $22.95 (List RLB), $18.36 (School RLB). ISBN 978-0-7787-2020-1 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-2014-0 (RLB), ISBN 978-1-4271-1655-0 (pdf), ISBN 978-1-4271-1649-9 (html). Subject Heading: Transportation-Juvenile literature. Grades 2-3 / Ages 7-8. Review by Suzanne Pierson. **** /4

excerpt:

Climate
The Climate of a place can also affect the kinds of transportation people use. Climate is the usual weather in an area. Nunavut, in northern Canada, has a very cold climate. Ice and snow cover the ground for most of the year. There are few roads in Nunavut. Many people use snowmobiles to travel over the snow and ice. A snowmobile is a sled with skis and a motor. (From Transportation In Different Places.)

There are six books in the “Learning About Our Global Community” series: Birthdays in Different Places, Clothing in Different Places, Foods in Different Places, Homes in Different Places, Schools in Different Places, and Transportation in Different Places.

     Although written by five different authors, the books follow a standard format, including some very similar wording. This isn’t a bad thing since the format is well-organized and attractively laid out.

      Each book begins with a double page spread on the topic “Our Global Community”. This includes a map showing different locations around the world and highlighting some of the content that is discussed later in the books. The books then look at similarities and differences about elements of each book’s specific topic: birthdays, clothing, food, homes, schools or transportation.

      The books all contain a table of contents, index, and glossary. They also contain sections titled “Notes to Educators”, and “Learning More”. The “Notes to Educators” contain open-ended and higher order thinking “Activity Suggestions”.

Invite children to think about the Brooklyn Free School model. How would they choose to spend their school day? Design what a typical school day would look like at their school. (From Schools in Different Places.)

     Information in these books is stated in manageable and organized sections. The text size is large and reader friendly, and the information is enhanced by many colourful photos. The page layout is very attractive.

      Birthdays in Different Places begins by explaining that everyone has a birthday and that your birthday is shared by “around 18 million other people on Earth”. I’m not sure it that makes me feel more or less special, but it is an interesting perspective to share with students. The book looks at culture and tradition, including a section on New Traditions.

      Many people that follow the religion of Islam celebrate a child’s birth by giving gifts to the poor. This is becoming a custom in other cultures as well. Instead of receiving gifts for their birthday, people might ask guests to donate, or give, money to a charity.

      Clothing in Different Places has a picture of Squamish Nation children at a powwow in colourful traditional clothing. Clothing for school and work, for hot and cold weather, for traditions and celebrations around the world are highlighted in photos and text. Girls in hijabs, Inuit in traditional animal-skin clothing, Indian grooms in sherwani, firefighters in fire-resistant uniforms, and graduates in caps and gowns are some of the examples pictured in this book.

      Foods in Different Places shows people around the world eating different foods, but “Hooray! Horray!” all of the pictures are of real food – fruits and vegetables and meat and fish. Students are encouraged to seek out and try food they have never eaten before.

      Homes in Different Places examines the impact climate has on the types of homes around the world. Mud homes in New Mexico, floating homes in Peru, tent homes in Mongolia, cave homes in Turkey, and homes on stilts or poses in Chile are some of the examples.

      Schools in Different Places looks at getting to school, school buildings, subjects, responsibilities and schedules in learning locations around the world. Schools in England, Costa Rica, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Somalia are examined, and the similarities and differences to schools in North America are noted.

      Transportation in Different Places examines how we move people and goods by land, air and water modes of transportation. The role of mass transit in cities and camels in deserts are presented for discussion. The activity suggestions at the end of the book ask children to “explore a form of transportation that is in their local community and another one from the global community.” They are then asked to “create a list or Venn diagram of the similarities and differences between their two chosen vehicles.”

      Each of these books is equally good, and these are all worth considering for your young researchers learning about communities at home and around the world. Although not as durable as the library bound versions, a complete set in paperback is worth considering if price is a constraint.

Highly Recommended.

Dr. Suzanne Pierson is a retired teacher-librarian, currently instructing Librarianship courses at Queen’s University in Kingston, ON.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

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