We All Come from Different Cultures

by Melissa Higgins, Donna Barkman (Consultant Editor)

Simple text and full-color photos explore and celebrate differences in cultures.

Genres: Picture Books

24 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Natalia Ruiz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would like to begin with the cover of this picture book (nonfiction). On the cover their are three kids who are dressed in traditional Native American clothing. This is an assumption I am making because this is the type of clothing people in general associate with this specific culture. The first page talks about the Mexican culture and of course they mention the one holiday that everyone associates with Mexican culture and that is Cinco de Mayo (outside of Dia de Los Muertos/ Day of the Dead). This celebration in my opinion being half Mexican is more for the Americans to have a reason to drink and eat tacos. I personally disagree with them choosing this celebration. The picture chosen has young girls in traditional Mexican dance wear and the boys in Mariachi dress wear. This image alone creates a single lens that all Mexicans celebrate this holiday and dress like that.

One of the images had students from Africa wearing a monkey and lion mask. I thought this image could create a lot of uproar. It was common for darker skinned people to be compared to monkeys and gorillas in a negative context and this is not that long ago (civil rights movement and before). Again this image creates a single story that all lions and monkeys come from Africa and that all African Americans like wearing animal mask as if it is part of their culture.

The last two sentences in the book state "It's coll that our ancestors came from so many different places. It's even cooler that we all live in America together." These statements alone create some sort of hierarchy. People who live in America are better then those who do not. Children who are not from America will begin to question their own "cool" status based on the implications this book has set. This book was okay but could use several adjustments.

[Kausar Asra Saadat · Rating 5 out of 5]

These primary-aged books sparkle with colorful photos, smiling faces, and approximately 150 words per subject area. These books on differently abled people, family units, appearances, and cultures will be a useful resource. Teachers will be able to extend the patterns from each book into their classroom lessons as questions encourage student participation. Beginning readers will enjoy the simple text and be helped by the repetition of words and phrases. Websites referenced can vary in quality from dead links to PBS Kids Go, to a fabulous children's site dealing with many kids' health topics. By stressing positive messages about our differences, the overall effect of the series is inclusive. Bibliography. Glossary. Websites. Index. Lonna Pierce, School Librarian, MacArthur & Thomas Jefferson Elementary Schools, Binghamton, New York. RECOMMENDED