Reviews (11)

Thrilled to pieces
I just got my book in the mail today. I bought the book because I homeschool my 6 yr. old daughter and thought that this book would shed some light on the subject of other countries and the way they live. The book is absolutely beautiful. Each page has information and pictures of where the children live, the climate, friends, family, where they go to school, food they eat, animals, what type of work their family does. This is a book that is suppose to be for children, yet I found myself wanting to creep off into the next room to look at the book alone. I even took the book to my dad's house and he liked it so much that I left it for him to look at. I would highly recommend this book for any age. Once you get it, you wont want to give it up. I believe my daughter will relate better to this book than any other book, because it deals with kids her own age. Make the investment. You wont regret it.

A simply GORGEOUS book all about kids around the world!
This is a truly marvelous piece of work featuring so many different children from so many different parts of The Blue Planet! Those young folks all present a very insightful slice of their lives in such an amazing diversity of cultures that will really open the eyes of a typical kid here in America and everywhere else. Then he and she will learn that not all kids come in a similar package and that "the small world" is not really at all small in its great variety of human beings and their ways of life. So let all those wonderful kids take you on an eye-feasting tour 'round the whole globe!

I really do love this book.....
I love this book, but I have one problem with it. There is one or two kids each from many different countries, with the exception of the United States. There are 6 kids from the United States. Why are we so over represented? I would have rather seen one or two kids from the United States and the rest from other countries, maybe Scotland, England, etc. There was no reason for all the kids from our country. Many of the kids from the United States were very similar.

Beautifully collected pictures and information
This book is a collection of children around the world and is a wonderfull way to introduce your children to how people live around the world. Children of many different religious, finantial(very poor to quite wealthy), and ethnic backgrounds are given introduction within.

You and your kids will meet children like Carlitos, a boy who lives on an Argintine ranch in a three bedroom house and rides horses and drinks Mate tea. -- Or Suchart, from Thiland, a 12 year old budhist monk in training who lives in a small hut on stilts, has no toys, and starts his day begging for alms in his small village. He likes the cats who live in the temple, and is always losing his sandals because he has to take them off before he goes into the temple and forgets where he left them. -- And Thi Lien, in Vietnam who wears beautiful batik died traditional clothes made by her mother, helps feed the families chickens and harvest rice, and collects firewood. -- And Celina, who lives in the Amazon Rain Forrest of Brazil in a mud brick two room hut. She likes to paint herself with die made from a local root every day, and has never worn shoes. She likes to take the canoe out on the river her family lives near.

There is information about each child's favorite activities, what they eat, what they wear, pictures of thier home, family members, religious practices, and special things about thier cultures. This book has many children from Australia, Africa, The Americas, The Philipenes, Europe, Asia, India, and more. I have enjoyed looking at all the childred in this book and reading about how they live. Even though it's for children, anyone can enjoy this book. I only wish it had more children to meet. This book shows how children and people everywhere have the same thoughts, and fun, even though they may live in vastly different conditions.

This book is a treasure, for children of all ages!
I bought this book for my daughter who is adopted from China, and I subsequently bought it for five or six other children and am buying it again. It's great for kids of all ages. My daughter is four and loves paging through it, asking questions about the children. It is especially good for adopted children from China because the page about the girl in China tells about how in China they may only have one child. I highly recommend this book! ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (4)

inspiring
this book is inspirational and magical--such a simple, basic
concept--yet so elusive for so many.this wonderfully written and illustrated book should be read by all children and
adults alike.

Our Littlest Reader Gives "Beautiful Skin" 5 Stars
This rhythmic poem with pictures of children, encourages each of us to look in the mirror and celebrate who we are and the joy of friendship. This is a collection of simply presented thoughts about self-esteem, acceptance, and diversity.Our Preschooler loves the the rhymes and talks to the children staring at her from the page. We've had nightly requests for this book for more than a week now. What a great book! The message is visible in simple phrases with comparative language that young readers can comprehend. It offers kids a positive, new way to look at the world. Parents will enjoy the book as much for its fun as for its message. The illustrations are bright and engaging; and the poem is just what you want to introduce acceptance and the beauty of diversity ... without being onerous or dour.

WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW
The Skin You Live In is a wonderful book for a world full of children who need to feel special and good about themselves.Everyone looks different on the outside, but the basic human is the same on the inside.This teaches children and adults with rhyme and colorful pictures, about being themselves and accepting others for themselves. WE live in a world where hate,fear and prejudice are still around.Please stop the cycle by reading to your child and instilling in him the joy of all the different children in the world.

A Wonderful Book
As a Jewish father of four who is very conscientious about the social development of his children, this book will become the cornerstone of that concern. Every child should have it. Every adult should read it. Every school, library, synagogue, church and mosque should stock it. The Skin You Live In is what America needs in order to finally become "America, The Beautiful". The artwork and illustrations only further serve this point. The book is simply beautiful and transcends any other children's book ever written to overcome what divides us.

... Read more

Book Description

There are currently more than six billion people on the planet! This enormous number can be difficult to grasp, especially for a child. But what if we imagine the whole world as a village of just 100 people?

In this village
* 22 people speak a Chinese dialect
* 20 earn less than a dollar a day
* 32 are of Christian faith
* 17 cannot read or write
* 39 are under 19 years old

In a time when parents and educators are looking to help children gain a better understanding of the world's peoples and their ways of life, If the World Were a Village offers a unique and objective resource. By exploring the lives of the 100 villagers, children will discover that life in other nations is often very different from their own. The shrunk-down statistics - some surprising, some shocking - and David Smith's tips on building "world-mindedness" will encourage readers to embrace the bigger picture and help them to establish their own place in the global village. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

An Appreciated Gift
We received our first copy of this book as a gift last year. It provoked a most interesting conversation in our family (which includes two teenagers). Soon after, we took our copy on a family visit and it generated another lively discussion. We left our copy with our hosts and ordered another one for ourselves. And, we realized that this book could be a first-rate gift for anyone, anytime. Since then, it has become our standard "house present" when visiting. It is universally appreciated and commented on long after its initial receipt. It's a unique gift that delightfully engages giver and receiver immediately.

Read this With a Child Again and Again!
Both thoughtful and equally stimulating, "If The World Were a Village" succeeds in opening the eyes and the minds of young readers through a quite creative format. As a father of two children, the book offers several topical "lenses" to discuss and really share in the wonderful effort to better understand some of these very timely and also profound issues so relevant for each and everyone of us. If the mark of a good book is to provoke our thinking on a topic and engage our minds - adult and child - you've got the perfect thing right here.

An original and interesting book for all ages
I purchased this book as a gift for a friend's child. I left the book on my desk and one of my colleagues leafed through it and was hooked. Before the end of the day the book had been passed through four other interested readers. They all found the book fascinating and informative.

"If the World Were a Village" encourages the reader, regardless of age, to consider the world's population as if it were a village comprised of 100 people. The reader will make discoveries regarding population, ages, religions, literacy, money, and much more. The book ends with what I consider to be the most valuable part of the book -- by very objectively educating the reader on population growth and suggesting ways to further educate children (or adults) on the subject.

There should be more children's books like this one -- excellent for children, and appealing to adult readers as well.

Creating "World-Mindedness" in the Classroom
We love this book! We have host international teachers from all over the world and have given them each a copy to use in their classrooms while teaching in the US. The reading level states 9-12, but our teachers have used it at all grade levels. Thank you for sharing the world with us and giving us such a great perspective.

Great concept, too bad it lost site of it's goal...
I actually wished for a 2 1/2 stars with this book. It's concept of making the world a village of 100 people makes statistics easier to understand. The mind is much more able to visualize the world and it's conditions. However, speaking against the tide of praise, which is never popular, I was very put-off by the pages at the end of the book regarding how to teach children about the global village. More than once, the author tells us that the "ONLY way" the goals of sufficient food, literacy and clean living conditions for everyone in the global village can be met is to stablilize the world's population. A book so focused on presenting facts and figures to children wants us to pump them full of government controlled population or worse, zero population, as the only way to "save the global village". A book that could have, and quite honestly should have, produced healthy conversations about environmental/humanitarian concerns and solutions just became a one way street of population propaganda. ... Read more

Book Description

... Read more

Reviews (10)

Kids love it!
This is one of the books that my preschool class wore out (not tore up!) halfway through the school year! Older children can read the culturally sensitive text and all children love the colorful, interesting pictures.
My only problem with the book is the naked, rear view of Adam and Eve in the beginning. Children tend to giggle at it as well as wanting an explanation of who those people are; which causes a problem in the classroom and occasionally an issue with parents when their chilren tell about it at home. And that's not MY problem with the book; it's just the way it is in our society. society. Someone could simply glue those pages together or exise them with a sharp knife, but I don't recommend that.

Learn AND celebrate our differences!
"People" is a book not just for children, but for adults also. Reading--rather--talking about the pictures in the book with your child or your co-worker is learning about how different our world is and how diversity is beautiful. It's fun to see how people from all over the world look, play, pray, dress and eat in different ways; sometimes in a very silly way--depending on which side you are. I have used the book for many years in my human rights education workshops and I will use it now with adults to do inter-cultural relations and communications workshops. This book belongs in every child, student, family, and human relations manager's bookshelf.

The simple text and many illustrations tell about people
People shows children how different people are, and how those differences make us special. People focuses on a variety of different aspects of a variety of cultures and societies around the world, giving an illustration for each example it references. The simple text allows young children to comprehend the meaning and moral of the story, while the mini illustrations allow older children to briefly explore how people in other areas of the world eat, worship, and write, among other things. In the end, People reminds the reader, that these differences make the world interesting, and that if something someone else does seems weird to us, something we do surely seems just as strange to them!

Such a great book
Im 25 now and although I have since lost the original, this was one of the first books I had when I began to read and really is wonderful. I agree with s. burn's review, the book portrays the diversity within the world without passing any judgement good or bad. This is such a good book that I am buying a copy to replace the one I lost.

people
I think this book is cool. I like this book because it lets you see how others live,eat,and survive. It also tells you how people communicate even if there deaf,blind or mute. ... Read more

Book Description

The skies are alive with kids racking up frequent-flier miles, writes Travel and Leisure. The Children's Travel Journal keeps young globetrotters busy and entertained during any trip and also serves as a keepsake that vividly preserves their memories. The format is thoroughly kid-friendly. Pages on the right side of the book are ruled, with scattered words and phrases to prompt writing. For example, on the Restaurants page, kids are encouraged to think about new tastes and best desserts. The left-side pages are blank for drawing, pasting in mementos, and additional writing. Throughout are witty illustrations, maps, and borders that await the traveler's crayon. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Perfect travel journal for young kids
My daughter is delighted with this journal. It prompts a child to write about things they may not have thought about. It contains a lot of the same information that adult travel journals contain (e.g. record of expenses), but in a kid-friendly format with illustrations. I think it will be a great thing for keeping my daughter busy on the plane ride. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Pumped Up!
It's more than a book. It's more than a toy. It's a glimpse of our world at play. The inclusion of stunning photographs, from cultures and places that most readers have never visited, qualifies this as a "coffee table" book. We have all seen clowns who manipulate balloons into the shapes of dogs or other animals. But, hats? The authors of this book traveled around the world making "crowns" out of balloons, and photographing the people wearing them. Illustrated, step-by-step instructions are given that allow any person with a little creativity to make some fantastic designs. The Balloon Hat Kit provides hours of entertainment for ages 9 to 90. Readers are encouraged to participate in the art of making balloon hats because 30 balloons and a pump are included in the kit. The "Seven Reasons to Make Balloon Hats" will win over even the most doubtful. What I like most about this book is its promotion of the concept that all people of the world are more alike than different. The photos prove that the authors achieved their goal of uniting people across the global through laughter and a sense of fun.

Great
Hi all. You wouldn't believe this, I've met these people! At an Art camp. They came and showed us dozens and dozens of pictures likt the one in Thailand with a flower. It was a couple years back and they had planned to buy a book for us when it came back. They said they are going to go on Jay Leno and Rosie O'donnel. Well, I just got the book and I am advancing in balloon art. From crazy hats to a pup dog. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone! All ages!

Downright fun!
This is a great gift for any age. I got this book and kit for my 44th Birthday and did I have a ball with it. The book itself is beautifully photographed. It is amazing to see where the authors went and who they shared their wonderful, creative talents with. Even if you don't want to make balloon hats the book is a coffee table must. The kit part is loads of fun. The directions are easy to understand and within minutes we were making wonderful, goofy, silly hats, including my 5 year old son and his friends. A gift that will bring lightheartedness and lots of laughter and fun to all. I suggest buying extra balloons, once you get started you won't want to stop.

Great for beginers
This book has all the basics. What you learn in this book will help you make any kind of balloon hat you can think of!

The Inflatable Crown Balloon Hat Kit
I've order several balloon book but this is the best! The colorful balloon pictures are magnificant and the instructions are easy to follow. What really stands out in this book is how they have traveled all around the world to bring smiles to people faces with their creativate balloon hats that they have made. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Dorling Kindersley Publishers never fail to create beautiful, engaging children's books, packed with fascinating information. In Celebrations, photographer Barnabas Kindersley teams up with writer Anabel Kindersley and UNICEF to create a fascinating journey exploring the cultural traditions of children all over the world. Harry Belefonte notes in his introduction, "Here is your opportunity to travel by book to nearly every corner of the globe ... [and] join children everywhere in celebrating important events in their lives." In addition to photographs of traditional costumes and customs, each child from the wide range of countries represented gives a first-person account of how holidays are celebrated. Children will enjoy learning about how kids like just like them have fun, and in the process will broaden their cultural horizons. (Ages 8 to 12) ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Gorgeous full-color large photos
I love this book and I use it all the time to teach children about other faiths and cultures. The beautiful, realistic photos make it great for sharing. When I am not using it, it makes a nice coffee table book. My only criticism is that it always makes me want to research more (not a lot of text, but the photos and illustrations make it worth having).

I love this book!
The photos are vivid and the stories are interesting. This is a great book to introduce children to some festivals and celebrations around the world.

What's missing?
I returned my copy. A book that aims to celebrate diversity should not be a vehicle for a political agenda. The two Jewish holidays covered in the book (Channukah and Purim) are described as holidays celebrated in the US and England, respectively. Israel, the Jewish state, is not mentioned anywhere is the book. Denial of its existence is a political statement that has no place in a book such as this.

Children Just Like Me (the first one)
I am a first grade teacher in Phoenix, Arizona who teaches a wide variety of cultures. Some of the children in my class are Mexican American, Spanish, Bosnian, African American, German and Native American (Navajo and Apache). Recently, during an ESL staff development class, a wonderful instructor introduced this book to me and I was absoultly amazed! It has the most fascinating pictures and text. I had to read it from cover to cover. I had to buy it to have in my class. It must be a permanent source of enjoyment for my classes for years to come. I can't wait for my students to have the opportunity to browse through this book. We will use it so much. Thank you Barnabas and Anabel Kindersley, for putting together such a fabulous children's book!

Can't say enough great things about this book!
What a fabulous book! My 5 year old daughter was delighted to see that children who at first glance appear so different also share her love for soccer, animals, noodles, etc. Each child's bio includes information about their family, home, school, church, clothing, pets and favorite food. This book has great photos, particularly of the children. Although there is much writing on each page, it is not overwhelming for her, and we can stop after one page, and easily pick it up again later. This is the first children's book that I've wanted to read by myself after she's gone to bed!

****

Four years later, I'm adding this paragraph to this review. I continue to use this book with my now 5 and 9 year old children. It's an fun way for them to learn a little more about families who live in countries that we learn about. It's easy to read something in this book that leads to a much wider discussion. They also remember a lot of details from this book that they bring up at other times, such as "People from _____ live in _______ kinds of houses!" ... Read more

Book Description

Play games from all around the globe!

Learn to play Mexican kickball. Practice throwing jackstones the way kids do in Kenya.Discover how to construct a galimoto (wire toy from Malawi) with pipe cleaners.With Kids Around the World Play!, you’ll have a great time exploring the traditions of other cultures while you sharpen your wits with the memory game from South Africa called dithwai, or challenge your racing skills in the South Korean flower relay, or make your own cool bilboquet, a toy from France.

Filled with games and activities from places near and far, including China, Japan, india, Mexico, Bolivia, italy, and Russia, among many others, this exciting collection also gives you plenty of fascinating facts about the history and culture of each country.All the toys and games can be made or played with just a few simple materials easily found around the house.So get ready for tons of fun and excitement while you discover just how much you have in common with kids around the world! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Another great book...
>
> This is a fun book!! If you're concerned about
> spending more time with your kids, then buy this book.
> Many of the games, especially Egyptian Senet, German
> Muhle, and Kenyan Bottle Cap Checkers, can be enjoyed
> by all family members. Our family had a great time
> playing these games. Plus, the historical and cultural
> information about games and toys is fascinating!
> Braman has done it again! I highly recommend this
> book. ... Read more

Book Description

The Cat in the Hat introduces beginning readers to maps–the different kinds (city, state, world, topographic, temperature, terrain, etc.); their formats (flat, globe, atlas, puzzle); the tools we use to read them (symbols, scales, grids, compasses); and funny facts about the places they show us (“Michigan looks like a scarf and a mitten! Louisiana looks like a chair you can sit in!”). ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Very Infomative
This was great! I bought it off the culturegram website for 3 dollars because I was doing a geography project on China, and it was the best resource I had! It had all the information written in a way so if you needed to do a last minute reading on one part, you could find it quickly.Very, Very good. ... Read more

Book Description

Us and Them illuminates the dark corners of our nation's past and traces our ongoing efforts to live up to the American ideals of equality and justice. Fourteen case studies--enhanced through the use of original documents, historical photos, newly commissioned paintings, and dramatic narrative--bring readers a first-hand account of the history and psychology of intolerance. We read about Mary Dyer, executed for her Quaker faith in Boston in 1660. We learn how the Mormons were expelled from Missouri in 1838. The attack on Chinese miners in Wyoming in 1885, the battle of Wounded Knee in 1890, the Ku Klux Klan activities in Mobile, Alabama in 1981, and the Crown Heights riot in 1991 are among the memorable episodes presented in clear, evocative language that brings to life history that is often forgotten or slighted. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The Face of Prejudice
In an age of sanitized history and calls for revisionism that make people feel comfortable, there is a great need for more books like Jim Carnes' history of intolerance in America. With 128 pages of text and 16 concise chapters this book corrects much of the white washing that is taking place in much longer history texts, even at the college level. Religious liberty, Native American exile, freedom from slavery, racial extermination, and ethnic tensions are highlighted with graphic images and easily accessible narratives. The trials of diverse groups such as Mormons, Catholics, Chinese, Native Americans, Jewish immigrants, Mexican Americans, Japanese citizens, and just playing Americans are dramatically highlighted in an unforgettable montage of images and words that give the lie to the "melting pot" that is the United States.

Paintings, etchings, drawings, and photographs illustrate in no uncertain terms would hate has done to this country. More than that the pictures combined with the simple prose personalizes each inequity that is introduced. For example, "A Rose for Charlie" presents photographs of the community disrupted by hate, as well as that community's response to the hate. From photographs of hate speech scrawled on walls to portraits of citizens mourning the victim of a deadly hate crime present a view of America that could not be farther from the Norman Rockwell ideal we all wish this country would be. For those interested, a fictionalized account of this particular crime can be found in "The Drowning of Stephan Jones" by Bette Greene, which chronicles the death of the young man simply because of who he loved.

It should be an essential book for all classrooms.

An important book for educators
I used this book in both my 6th and 8th grade classrooms with great success. I embarked on a diversity project using it and the video (which I strongly recommend); it's an excellent starting point because its scope is so wide and yet it gives very detailed accounts of intolerance in America, starting from the beginning (you see, we have a rather long history of intolerance). Middle school students find it interesting and easy to understand, and it's perfect for the teacher because it covers many ethnic and racial groups in the U.S.. Use this book! It's very important.

This book effectively tells the story and links oppressions.
This terrific book effectively tells the story of oppression inthe United States and subtly connects the interrelatedness ofoppressions by putting the chapters side by side. The information and sidebars are magnificent in their detail and it is nice to have many sides of history that are so rarely shown. I learned more about history from this book than any history textbook I can remember. The stories of racial, religious, ethnic, and gay oppressions become human stories in this book--hopefully stories that we can learn from and choose not to repeat. ... Read more

Amazon.com

It's hard enough to find a good survey of world religions for adults, let alone for children, so when I found One World, Many Religions, I was stunned. With a sensitivity for detail and an easy style, Mary Pope Osborne delivers a valuable introduction to all of the world's major religions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism. The balanced yet brief treatment; vibrant photographs depicting children around the world engaged in worship; the glossary, map and timeline all work to provide a concise, informative and engrossing introduction to the variety of religions everywhere. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Weak
There are many other books that offer deeper insight and breadth of perspective. This book is weak on historical information, shaky on doctrinal accuracy, and misses many of the distinctives of each tradition.

A book on religions for people age 9-90+
Osborne presents a well illustrated book on world religions that is apparently for children but is more than adequate for most adults. Sentences are brief. Words are not overwhelming - a glossary defines new expressions. The book can be a starting point for satisfying curiosity about great world religions. It is also a great help in reminding oneself about the basics. ... Read more

Book Description

Was Columbus the first European in the Americas?

What sport became more popular after the Civil War?

Were the Little Rock Nine a rock-and-roll band?

As best-selling author Kenneth C. Davis knows, history can be fun, fascinating, and memorable. When his don't know much about® history was published in 1990, it was a sensation. The book delivered a fresh take on history with its wit and unusual detail. Davis now does for young people what his earlier book did for adults. In his trademark question-and-answer style -- peppered with surprising facts, historic reproductions, and Matt Faulkner's lively illustrations -- Davis introduces our ancestors who settled the East and expanded the West, as well as those who had been living here all along. His sure touch brings the drama and excitement of the American story vividly to life.

Reviews (1)

Setting the story straight
This is a concise history of the United States, told from a decidedly liberal point of view. Davis begins his story with the various discoveries of America, informing us of Columbus' motivations, Erickson's settlements, and the Native American migrations of 35,000 years ago. He continues with stories of the French and Indian Wars, the founding of the United States, the Civil War, Teddy Roosevelt, and the Twentieth Century events through the presidency of Ronald Reagan.

Each chapter begins with a list of questions on a given period of history. Then Davis begins describing what happened during this period, taking up and answering each question in turn. Starting with Teddy Roosevelt, Davis' own political persuasion starts to come through more and more clearly. While I myself agree with Davis' comments about FDR and Ronald Reagan, I think conservative readers might find some of them a bit objectionable. In general, I found this a very readable concise history of the United States, but it's not for everyone. ... Read more

Book Description

When James Warhola was a little boy, his father had a junk business that turned their yard into a wonderful play zone that his mother didn't fully appreciate! But whenever James and his family drove to New York City to visit Uncle Andy, they got to see how "junk" could become something truly amazing in an artist's hands.

Uncle Andy's offers an exciting and unique perspective on one of the most influential artists of our time. Through James' eyes, we see the things that made his family visits memorable-including the wonderful disarray of Andy's house, waking up surrounded by important art and incredible collected objects, trying on Andy's wigs, sharing the run of Andy's house with his twenty-five cats (all named Sam), and getting art supplies from Andy as a goodbye present. James was lucky enough to learn about art from an innovative master and he shows how these visits with Uncle Andy taught him about the creative process and inspired him to become an artist. ... Read more

Book Description

The world is full of houses. Big houses and little houses. Houses that stay in one place and houses that move from place to place. Some houses are made of wood or stone; others are made from mud or straw. But all of them are made for families to live in.

Reviews (2)

Houses and Homes
This is a beautiful book with gorgeous illustrations. I found it very useful in my second grade social studies unit.

Informative and Stimulating!
Houses and Homes is a great book to stimulate conversation for young beginning readers! The photos alone are worth a thousand words. I used this book as a lead in for a discussion with first graders about different types of homes around the world. The text is simple enough that they'll read it unassisted over and over. The index in the back of the book, along with a world map, is very informative! It states the specific country where each photo was taken and gives detailed information on the uses of the types of homes shown. The descriptions also include information on the relationships between homes, cultures, and climates around the world. My 5 year old nephew, a beginning reader, would not put the book down. If he wasn't actually reading the book, he was spending time looking at the real-life photos! ... Read more

Book Description

How about a nice dish of Colonial Squirrel Pie with a side of milkweed shoots? If that doesn't grab you, you might think about trying some Garbage Stew, just like they made in medieval England. But if you're feeling a little tired and need a boost, your best bet is roasted spiders. They've got three times the protein of cooked beef. (Is your mouth watering yet?)

Illustrated by the wildly-creative Eric Brace, It's Disgusting -- and We Ate It! is a fascinating look at culinary creations from all over the world! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Just Eat It!
An excellent little book with sensational illustrations. This book explores some of the foods from around the world which different cultures enjoy, but which may seem disgusting to us. Everything thing eaten is not in here but there is a good selection. What was eaten throughout history around the world is also included.

My favourite section is part three - Strange Stories from your own Kitchen which explains what cows eat and how that food gets turned into the milk which we drink. There is also similar information on how bees make honey.

There's also a few recipes and 19 poems as well. I am not really into poems so they didn't do much for me but if you are into poetry then this may well be a bonus for you. The illustrations in this book are sensational though, and worth the price alone.

Amazing what human beings will eat, even if not on a TV show
If you thought that after watching the tribe members on "Survivor" trying to eat local insects and assorted delicacies the past few years there was nothing left to turn your stomach at the dinning table, then this book will quickly set you straight. "It's Disgusting and We Ate It!: True Food Facts from Around the World and Throughout History" has author James Solheim and artist Eric Brace giving young readers a taste of what can be done with seaweed, squirrels, spiders, earthworms, maggots, birds' nests, violets, and even mammoths (Hey, it could happen: remember the episode of "Northern Exposure"?).

The book is divided, like Gaul, into three parts. The first looks at the exotic tastes found around the world, the second looks at some of the more interesting dishes in history, and the third is an eye-opening look at some of the facts behind contemporary American favorites, such as the hot dog. There are a few recipes, mostly having to do with things you could actually cook today with some effort and parental guidance, along with poems, charts, tables, stories, and a map. The big question is whether or not the idea that something "tastes like chicken" (e.g., grilled guinea pig) is a universal goal. I mean, if it tastes like steak or lobster, would that be a bad thing?

"It's Disgusting and We Ate It!" is also educational (spiders having more protein than beef made my day though why the giant ones from New Guinea taste like peanut butter is beyond me), even if you decide never to try python in vinegar, horse blood, or cicadas fat with eggs (even if Aristotle did recommend it as an after school snack). But mostly it is just involves the fun of thinking that in another time or another place people actually ate these things, which will just make the information go down easier.

Totally Gross! And That's COOL!
I've got to meet this author! He's got a wonderful sense of humor and is able to capture the "just gross enough" aspect of human nature. If you have a child who loves to pretend he's eating real worms in front of his little sister just to gross her out, you NEED this book. I love it, cover to cover.

and you thought chocolate covered ants were bad!!
Anyone for some soup made with birds' nests?? How about "1,000 year old eggs" aged in mud?? Live maggots?? I've got it, seaweed!! What?! You want to eat HAMBURGER?!? HOW REVOLTING!! :)

Food cuisine from around the world and the strange things people have found to be delicacies is the topic of this fun book. While most American children wouldn't eat cooked spiders for a million dollars, they may be interested to find that spiders, grubs and other insects are considered not only cruncy delights in other countries, but pound-per-pound they have more nutritional value than most snack foods we eat in the states!

"It's Disgusting" is a well researched, well illustrated book that I would file in the 'expand your horizions' section. We easily forget that not everyone is like us or likes the same things we do. Hindis would be revolted, shocked and offended if we ate hamburger in front of them. Asian cultures find soup made from birds' nests a delicy (the nest itself is largely made of the birds spit) as well as sun dried jellyfish. Closer to home, at one point in history in the US turkey was once considered a food that would make you stupid and tomatoes were once considered poisionous. The passenger pigeons of yesteryear who used to blacken the sky by the millions were made extinct in part because of people's desire to eat them.

Meanwhile, today many food thickeners are made from seaweed or the hooves of animals (carageenan and gelatin, respectively), and some colorings are made from the carapaces (exoskeletons) of insects. However, no one seems to be worrying about horse hooves and bug juice in their yoghurt these days...

The book is written well so that even intermediate readers will be able to make their way through and become enligtened about the foods other cultures fancy. The authors strive to keep any bias out of their writing and simply state the facts: while WE may find this food gross, other people find it a delicacy and vice-versa--there's stuff WE regularly eat that other cultures would quickly push aside. Peppered with fun poems and bright illustrations (including some fun bar charts of the nutritional value of various foods, like bugs), this book may get a chorus of "ewwww!!"'s, but it will also expand the horizons of it's readers!

Now, pass the chocolate covered ants...

The best!!
My daughter absolutely loves this book. She checked it out from the school library and cried everytime it came due, checking it out over and over till we finally bought one. This book looks at things that kids love - gross and disgusting things from everyday life. I only wish Mr. Solheim would write a sequel. ... Read more