Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
6th out of 27 books
—
9 voters
Is There Really a Human Race?
Is there really a human race?
Is it going on now all over the place?
When did it start?
Who said, "Ready, Set, Go"?
Did it start on my birthday?
I really must know.
With these questions, our hero's imagination is off and running. Is the human race an obstacle course? Is it a spirit? Does he get his own lane? Does he get his own coach?
Written with Jamie Lee Curtis's humor and hea...more
Is it going on now all over the place?
When did it start?
Who said, "Ready, Set, Go"?
Did it start on my birthday?
I really must know.
With these questions, our hero's imagination is off and running. Is the human race an obstacle course? Is it a spirit? Does he get his own lane? Does he get his own coach?
Written with Jamie Lee Curtis's humor and hea...more
Hardcover, 40 pages
Published
September 5th 2006
by HarperCollins
(first published September 1st 2006)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
603)
The book I selected as a read aloud was "Is there really a human race", written by Jamie Lee Curtis and illustrated by Laura Cornell. This book is perfect for a read aloud for younger students! The illustrations are big, bold and bright. They would be able to keep the students attention and make them interested in the story. The story itself was also very well written. It follows a boy who is learning about race and thinks its literally a race that he must prepare and train for. He goes through...more
I've read several of Jamie Lee Curtis' books in the past, and thought they were a very decent effort, but nothing stood out. In contrast, I highly recommend "Is There Really a Human RACE?". It's about the definition of personal accomplishment, and uses metaphor and philosophical musings in metered rhyme, easily understood by the younger set. Written and illustrated for ages 4-8, adults, too, will enjoy this book. Most especially, teachers of 7-10 year-old students can make use of the questions t...more
One of the more blatant politically fueled picture books I’ve read, I give this book a high-five for making political issues something serious kids. I think there are some things that little kids, politically, don’t need to be exposed to, and this book has seemingly found a mid-ground. With each page there is a lot going on visually that the kids can revel in and ask about. I like how this book plays off of the statement “human race” by using the actual event of a “race” to state the countless q...more
The play on words for the message of "race" was so cute and hysterical. Children sometimes have a hard time time considering things that are not concrete. It was genius in this case to relate such an abstract topic to something concrete that kids can relate to. The message of the book is such a basic but enormously important one to relay to students. Though it is important to be successful and run in the race, the race would not be possible if we do not help each other to succeed. Something that...more
My daughter who is three LOVES this book and asks to read it everyday...I think it speaks to our fast paced culture perhaps better than any "grown-up" book I've read. Sometimes, I read it when she's not even here...
This is a wonderful book, for adults as well as children. It gives me goosebumps every time I read it. The illustrations are so cute and the story is so charming, but there is also a real message to be heard here.
"Sometimes it's better not to go fast. There are beautiful sights to be seen when you're last.
Shouldn't it be looking back at the end that you judge your own race by the help that you lend?
So take what's inside you and make big, bold choices. And for those you can't speak for themselve...more
"Sometimes it's better not to go fast. There are beautiful sights to be seen when you're last.
Shouldn't it be looking back at the end that you judge your own race by the help that you lend?
So take what's inside you and make big, bold choices. And for those you can't speak for themselve...more
With engaging text and lively illustrations that show the world getting faster, busier, and more crowded, this picture book ponders why we all race around from task to task and answers the types of questions children are likely to race. The payoff, of course, comes near the end of the book as the mother tells her child that making good choices and being a good person, the type who cares about others, is what matters, not how much money you make or how fast you race through life. It's a good remi...more
Philosophy for the younger ones... This is an interesting story by Jamie Lee Curtis, that I believe is as much for parents as it is for children.
"Sometimes it's better not to go fast. There are beautiful sights to be seen when you're last."
"Shouldn't it be looking back at the end that you judge your own race by the help that you lend?"
"And make friends and love well, bring art to this place. And make the world better for the whole human race."
Inspiring thoughts, and a fun story for the kids, to...more
"Sometimes it's better not to go fast. There are beautiful sights to be seen when you're last."
"Shouldn't it be looking back at the end that you judge your own race by the help that you lend?"
"And make friends and love well, bring art to this place. And make the world better for the whole human race."
Inspiring thoughts, and a fun story for the kids, to...more
Jamie Lee Curtis, Is There Really a Human Race? (Joanna Cotler Books, 2006)
Man, this book started off so well. Of its thirty-two pages, fully twenty-six of them are great stuff. Playing on the multiple meanings of the word “race”, Curtis asks all sorts of amusing questions about humanity. While it does get a tad overbearing at times with the moralizing (“If the race is unfair, will I succeed?” comes flying out of nowhere, for example), it's quick, funny, and wonderfully illustrated by Laura Co...more
Man, this book started off so well. Of its thirty-two pages, fully twenty-six of them are great stuff. Playing on the multiple meanings of the word “race”, Curtis asks all sorts of amusing questions about humanity. While it does get a tad overbearing at times with the moralizing (“If the race is unfair, will I succeed?” comes flying out of nowhere, for example), it's quick, funny, and wonderfully illustrated by Laura Co...more
This book is awesome at getting one to wonder how we as people contribute to society. I like the way Curtis uses the metaphor of a real race to describe the human race. I also like how there is a world book that looks like a school year book in the back. It has a picture of children with a description of what they want to be when they grow up. It would be neat to do the same with the students in your class and discuss how each person’s occupation helps contribute to society.
Love this book! I'm not usually big on books written by actors but I fell in love with her "It's hard to be five" and we have bought a ton of hers since (they're so good, I have to own them, the library wont do)!
This one if just adorable and has a great message to go along with it.
When picking out bedtime stories, (3 books a night - one pick per kid) we always seem to have at least one of her books in the pickings!
This one if just adorable and has a great message to go along with it.
When picking out bedtime stories, (3 books a night - one pick per kid) we always seem to have at least one of her books in the pickings!
I fell in love with this book when I found it. It is about a boy who doesn't understand the term 'human race'. He asks tons of questions that pertain to the world we live in. By the end children would learn about the term and how many different people live in this world together. Great lesson for children to learn about and have exposure to.
3rd or 4th grade reading level to understand the concepts/hidden messages.
3rd or 4th grade reading level to understand the concepts/hidden messages.
Is There Really a Human Race?
I don't know, but this book provides a fresh face on making our lives count by remembering to be kind in a way that kids and adults will love. The illustrations provide just the right amount of craziness that perfectly matches the craziness of most of our lives. There is something new to see every time for children and adults reading this book.
I don't know, but this book provides a fresh face on making our lives count by remembering to be kind in a way that kids and adults will love. The illustrations provide just the right amount of craziness that perfectly matches the craziness of most of our lives. There is something new to see every time for children and adults reading this book.
This book could be used to help people see each other as people. This could be read to the class to introduce a group discussion about people who say they are better than others. I would read this at the begining of the day and let the students share what they think, should we help one another out or should there really be a race to see who is better in the end.
One of my most favorite books!!! I love the pictures, the rhyming aspect of the book, and the overall message that the book send to children about being kind to your fellow man and understanding that everyone in the human race is the same regardless out what's on the outside. GREAT read to kids a definite must have on a personal book list!!!!
While I certainly have reservations when it comes to celebrity books, the combo of jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell rarely disappoints. This book is my favorite of theirs. I love how the illustrations complete the inference of the text and how it inspires little kids to look at the hard things in life with humor and in an encouraging way.
Great book. My soon loved the pictures.
Joanna Cotler Books, Harper Collins Publishers, New York, New York:2006
ISBN# 0-06-075346-3
Grade: K-3
Uses: Community, Colorful illustrations, Read aloud, Rhyming.
Starts off with a question Is there really a human race? a boy asking more questions wondering about the human race. Very funny.
Joanna Cotler Books, Harper Collins Publishers, New York, New York:2006
ISBN# 0-06-075346-3
Grade: K-3
Uses: Community, Colorful illustrations, Read aloud, Rhyming.
Starts off with a question Is there really a human race? a boy asking more questions wondering about the human race. Very funny.
This is a cool book, the rhymes, color and message all work together splendidly. Each and every page is brimming with bright color and there is so much to look at. I liked this book and think kids would get a kick out of it. I would recommend it.
*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2009...
*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2009...
I love this book! It is so cute. It is about the human race and a little boy is trying to figure out what the "race" is for and why he is racing. He is taking the race to mean a literal race. It has good examples of diverse characters and has a great message about loving and helping each other and taking time to appreciate things.
Genre: Poem (rhyme)
Copyright: 2006
I really liked this book because it gave kids a visual way of helping them to understand racism (of a sort) and I loved the play on words. I bought this book three years ago at a garage sale and hadn't read it yet. I thought the message was wonderful and kids will be able to relate to it I think.
Copyright: 2006
I really liked this book because it gave kids a visual way of helping them to understand racism (of a sort) and I loved the play on words. I bought this book three years ago at a garage sale and hadn't read it yet. I thought the message was wonderful and kids will be able to relate to it I think.
I loved the pictures! This book was interesting and it discusses the things that would possibly make up a human race. I think students would enjoy reading this book on a daily basis. This story could be used to remind students that we are all the same, we just come in different colors, shapes, and sizes.
I begrudgingly give the book three instead of two stars because I think the interpretation of "human race" as "humans racing against each other" has entertainment value. However, the translation is weak -- it should have done more to match the rhyme in the original English book.
Is there really a human race? Is a great book! I have read it to the children I nanny many times. It is all about how people on earth are a "race". It is a book that introduces the science terms about a human being an animal. It is a fun book about different kinds of races! so cute
This book extends the moral lesson of taking life slow and easy, and enjoying the views along the way. This is a great story to help influence children to help others rather than push and shove for the finish line. After all, the beauty is all around us, not just the end.
This book is about running in the human race. The child realizes what the human race is and that winning isn't everything. I loved this book! It is really cute. It could be used to show kids that it doens't matter if you win or lose as long as you try your best.
After reading this book, I want to go out and read others by Jamie Lee Curtis! The word play and rhyme sceme are incredibly clecer. The illustrations are the kind that make you want to read the book again and again as there is always something new to see. Best of all, there are several positive messages about diversity, being yourself and remembering what's truly important in life.
I loved this book because it explained life isn't about racing but trying your best. Children are always eager to finish first, not putting forth their best effort. I think this book is great for children to understand the concept that it's not about finishing first.
I loved this book. It could start a great discussion on word play and all of the weird phrases and word combinations we use in the english language. It is also a lighthearted way to bring up race, and discuss how we are all human not mater what shape size or color.
Nice rhyming story. Illustrations are cut but very busy. the reader needs to be able to spend time with the pictures to fully appreciate them. I thought the transition from talking about a physical race to being the best person you can be happened a little to quickly.
This is such a great book. It teaches about making the world a better place, one step at a time. I recently ran my first 1/2 marathon and read this book beforehand keeping in mind that I just needed to do my best. I needed to enjoy the "beautiful sights to be seen".
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Jamie Lee Curtis is a two-time Golden Globe-winning, BAFTA-winning, and Emmy-nominated American film actress and an author of children's books. Although she was initially known as a "scream queen" because of her starring roles in many horror films early in her career such as Halloween (1978 film), The Fog, Prom Night (1980 film) and Terror Train, Curtis has since compiled a body of work that cover...more
More about Jamie Lee Curtis...
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
