Am dreptul să fiu copil

by Alain Serres, Aurélia Fronty (ilustrator), Ioana Voica (traducător)

Toti copiii din lume au drepturi. Si e dreptul lor sa le cunoasca, sa le afirme si sa vorbeasca despre ele...

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Nonfiction, Cultural, Social Justice, Kids, School

48 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2011

About the author

Alain Serres was once a kindergarten teacher who was inspired by his young students to write children’s books. He has since published more than one hundred titles for children of all ages, many of which have been translated into other languages. Alain founded the highly regarded French publishing house Rue du Monde, whose mission is to provide children with books that allow them to question and imagine the world. He lives in Voisins-le-Bretonneux, France.

Reviews

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good intentions, appealing art, and some awkward wording that could come from this originally being written in French. Overall, this is a message book, and it is a necessary message. Heavy-handed in parts, but seriously, how embarrassing is it that the United States is the only eligible nation that has not ratified this basic document on human rights for children? Most nations did it back in 1989. Time to get on it, ‘Merica.

[CanadianReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an attractive picture book which colourfully conveys the key tenets of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child to a young audience. One wonders, however, whether another such book was really necessary. We already have National Geographic's very attractive photo-essay, Every Human Has Rights, and publisher Red Fox's For Every Child. For those who wish for a little more informational weight, we have David J. Smith's This Child, Every Child to do that. Having said that, this is a worthy enough, but not completely necessary, addition. I'd recommend it only for libraries that don't have a couple of the other texts.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful and inspiring introduction to the concept of human rights, specifically those of children as stated in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. It is pathetic and shameful that the United States is one of three UN member nations that is not party to the convention.

[ریحانه شهبازی · Rating 3 out of 5]

حق من است که
به مدرسه بروم
بدون پرداختن هیچ پولی،
تا بیاموزم
که چطور پرواز می‌کنند
پرندگان و هواپیماها،
گرده‌ی گل‌ها...

حق من است که بزرگ‌ترها یاری‌ام کنند
و از خطرات حفظم کنند.
دور باشم از بدبختی‌ها و بلاها و در آرامش باشم،
زیر چتری بزرگ
در باران‌های سیل‌آسا یا هجوم غم‌ها...

[Gita · Rating 3 out of 5]

«من کودکم؛ با چشم‌هایم، دست‌هایم، صدایم، قلبم، و حقوقم. حق من است که نامی داشته باشم و نام‌خانوادگی و خانواده‌ای که به من لبخند بزند، و کشوری که آن را خانه‌ی خود بنامم.»
۰۲/۶/۲۵

[Alicia Harlington · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Have the Right to Be a Child written by Alain Serres and Illustrated by Aurelia Fronty is an incredible story about children’s rights. From the intense opening affirmation, "I am a child with eyes, hands, a voice, a heart, and rights," to the earnest closing plea, "We need our rights to be respected now—today," this primer welcomes young readers to consider their universal rights as children as encapsulated in the Unified Nations Convention regarding the Rights of the Child. There is something about this point of view by having a child be the narrator which clarifies that children have a privilege to a name, a family, a nation, sustenance and water, sanctuary, medicine and help if their bodies don't "fill in and additionally other children's." Children have a privilege to go to class, to refuse to go to work, to convey what needs be, to play and make, to be shielded from wars, conflict, and disasters, to be free from violence, and to breathe fresh air. These rights apply to all children regardless of sexual orientation, race, size, riches or nation on the off chance that they live in one of the 193 nations sanctioning the Convention.

[Jessa Magbanua · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely adorable. I Have the Right to Be a Child is a very eye opening children's book. It addresses that issue that all children deserve equal rights and access to things all around the world. Children are more vulnerable than adults and can not always stand up for themselves. Children in the United States do not always know all the things they have and sometimes take them for granted. This would be a great book to read to children to remind them of all the things they have here in the United States, just as a little reminder. I love that the author made it to where it is not only American children that have the rights it’s children all over the world in all cultural backgrounds.
For example, the front cover of the book shows multiple different kids from all colors and backgrounds making it inclusive to kids from all around the world. At the end of the book, it gives a list of the countries who support children rights and also gives background to what UN convention is so the reader has background information on how it came to be and who is involved. I think that this book honors all children, because it goes over what kids have the right to like the right to speak freely of their thoughts or the right to medicines and the right to go to school. As educators I feel like it’s our duty to understand these rights and to enforce them, because at the end of the day we chose this profession to teach and to protect all children no matter who they are and what their background is. It’s almost a call for action to all kids to band together and stand up for themselves, because they’re people too. Even as adults, we should be able to understand that they share the same rights. The illustrations definitely help embody the text by it being colorful and almost as if a child did the pictures. The righting itself is almost poetic and the font big enough that a child who is just learning how to read would be able to sound out the word and understand the text. It’s a fun book to read and would be an amazing book to be kept in the classroom library.

[➸ Gwen de Sade · Rating 5 out of 5]

The UN Convention on the Rights of Children made accessible to children and presented in an understandable way. Great illustrations, I think this topic should definitely be treated from toddler age.

Did you know that the U.S. did not sign this? Shame!

[Leonard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book should be required reading for every child and every parent. It's a child's book. You can read it in less than 5 minutes, so there are no acceptable excuses! This is a reminder of how important people and their right are for safe and healthy growth, learning, and living. If children are reminded throughout childhood of their rights and what they deserve to have they will grow to be responsible tolerate and productive adults. This book is based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child which is made up of fifty-four articles, each describing a right that governments have a duty to honor and fulfill, as should everyone else. They include the right to water, food, shelter, education and healthcare; the right to be protected from harm; the right to take an active part in family, community and cultural life; and the right to grow to one's fullest ability. There is more to the convention articles. So far 193 countries are party to the convention, having agreed to change or make laws, and to develop practices and programs to support it. Every member of the United Nations except Somalia, South Sudan, and (you guessed it) the United States have not ratified it, although the US has signed it show support for it. Read the book. It may be your best read of the year, and probably the quickest also.

[Brittany Martz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book talks about all the rights that a child has. It does not matter what color, gender, or economic status a person is. The important part is that we are all free to live in a place that has so many opportunities. The book starts with small things that matter like basic basic body parts. The child talks about having eyes, hands, a voice, a heart, and rights. As the book continues, the people in her life are talked about and the items that she experiences in her daily life that she is thankful for. She talks about being free to go to school and having a home to be protected. As the book continues on, towards the end it talks about the main ideas of the world. We have the right to learn about peace and respect. At the end of the book the girl says she has the right to express herself in any way that she wants and that children need to act now because they are the children of now. As a teacher I feel like I will use this book in my class. There are so many different things I could use and it helps so much. I can use this in my classroom to do an activity about children rights. This will allow the children to know what they can do. They have so much freedom in the classroom and through this book I can show that.

[Jj · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a nice book and I cannot say I disagree with its aims, but honestly "We Are All Born Free: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Pictures" does a far superior take on this material. This book was originally published in French, so perhaps it has lost something in translation. The illustrations are fine, but not what I would call inspiring, and something about the palette overall is on the dreary side.

I also, quite honestly, find the note on the second to last page to be a bit much: "If I live in one of the very few countries that haven't agreed to the Convention, like the United States of America, then I have the right to demand that my country join! Should I not have the same rights as every other child in the world?" Indeed, the French author and illustrator are none too subtle here. I think we all could have done without this very pointed comment; it is obvious from reading the appended list of "States That Are Party to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child" that the US is not included. Readers (even, yes, child readers!) can draw their own conclusions.

[Salina King]

I have the right to be a child is a book that explains that regardless of what race, religion, age or any other characteristic that makes someone different does not change the fact that they have the right to have food, water, shelter and other necessities to live. The book shows that the UN has put out a treaty that clearly states that all the human rights for children are equal throughout the entire world and everyone needs to follow this. This book would be a great way to show how similar people of different cultures, races and religions are and that just because they may not look the same does not mean they should be treated any differently. I also think that this book would be a great way to introduce the United Nations and other organizations that work to have equality for all those who live on earth.

[Alaina Kozma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well-intentioned, awkwardly done. Attempts at lightening this book's serious subjects were too intrusively random. This is one of many picture books that makes me wish the publishing market would just own up to the truth and sell work of this type to ADULTS. Unless you really want to read a story book about guided missiles and smart bombs to young children....

So why 3 stars instead of 2? Because I learned, reading this book, that the United States, Somalia, and Sudan are the only 3 members of the U.N. that haven't ratified the code of human rights for children adopted by most everyone else on the planet back in 1989. That's interesting! Does that mean we're heathens or just more realistic?

[anna marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is super totally gorgeous 800% recommend

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Former President of the United States Jimmy Carter says in his book, A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power that the biggest reason women don't pursue their human rights is because they don't know them. And once women and children do know their rights, they pursue them immediately.

Which begs the question: do all the children in your circle know their human rights? Why not ensure they do by giving this picture book and others like it as a baby shower gift? While there are other picture books on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, I can't figure out why this is the only picture book about the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Why is that? Shouldn't every child in the world have a book that teaches them about a human rights convention pertaining solely to children? Even children in the United States whose government won't sign the convention?

As a USA citizen, it's easy to see why our government hasn't signed this treaty that the world's diplomats got together and created to make sure that children's rights, IN PARTICULAR, are protected. Apparently, one of the rights signatories promise children in their countries is the right to health care (the USA refuses to deliver that to all of its children). Also, the right not to be separated from one's parents (the USA is currently separating children from their parents at the border on a daily basis and keeping refugee children in cages), the right to a first and last name (the USA is currently keeping inadequate records on all of the children separated from their parents at the border so that children's names are lost and parents and children can't be reunited.

I'm glad that other countries do believe in these rights for their youngest citizens. Maybe someday, the USA will too. I'm not holding my breath.

I noticed on YouTube that there are multiple translations of this book. I would only buy the version that has been translated by Helen Mixter. The other translations have some interpretations that don't make sense.

Citations:

Children not being able to keep their own names, also separated from their own families never to be reunited https://www.politicususa.com/2019/02/...

4.3 million American children without health care in 2018: https://www.census.gov/library/storie...

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a non-fiction book that was originally written in French in 2009 and subsequently translated to English in 2012 with a grant from the Canadian Government. This book is truly beautiful. The illustrations are paintings. They are very simple, you can see the individual brush strokes and the pictures add to and illuminate the words on the page. Each page states the rights each child has and is based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the child. At the time of the writing of this book 193 countries have agreed to make laws supporting the Conventions, except for the US, Somalia and South Sudan. Presently, July 2018, the United States is a signatory but has not ratified the conventions. This book could be used with all grade levels. At the kindergarten level I envision using it to write a classroom constitution, at the older grades, I can see using this book and the conventions themselves during a study of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The book is very powerful when you think about the children of the world and of the United States, many live in a first world country and do not have the childhood that these Conventions purport to protect and preserve. This book could spark so many conversations and take the classroom in many varied directions.

[Sabrina Osman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Have the Right to be a Child is a children’s picture book simply about a child having the right be a child. It talks about all diverse children have the equal right of doing things. For example, every child has the right to go to school, every child has the right to eat, and every child has the right to sleep in a bed. This is all basic things of life, but not every child gets that. The storyline highlights this issue and gives several examples throughout the story. Furthermore, the illustrations and text enhance each other with the child having the right to not do something they don’t like to do. This can be really helpful for students that participate in any activity that they do not like, but has their parents make them do it anyways. Therefore, by using this book, it can help a child bring this situation up easier and have the parents learn something new too. This book can be used for children aged from pre-school-fifth grade because it can teach an important lesson to any age for young children. A quick lesson plan with students is having students write down what they have the right to do as a child. Then have the students read a couple of them aloud to the class.

[Maddi Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would recommend this book for the primary grades, second through third grade. I would categorize it as a informational nonfiction book.

This book was very impactful for me. This is a great book to have on a classroom book shelf for students to look at throughout the day. This is a fabulous book for professional development. Sometimes when we get into the crazy part of the school year, we forget that our students are still children. This book takes you back to the basics and talks about all of the “rights” that children have. It is very meaningful! I think there are numerous hands-on activities that could be implemented into the classroom based off of this book. Many children are unaware of the rights they actually have, and this book does a phenomenal job as stating them in simple phrases.

[RosaDG · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the rights that people have during their childhood are reflected here in a very original and imaginative way with beautiful illustrations, which make it even more pleasant to know what they are and easier to defend them. Highly recommended for readers of all ages.

Pertsonek haurtzaroan izan dituzten eskubide guztiak oso modu original eta irudimentsuan islatzen dira hemen ilustrazio ederrekin, zeintzuk diren jakitea are atseginagoa eta haiek defendatzea errazago egiten dutenak. Oso gomendagarria adin guztietako irakurleentzat.

Todos los derechos que tiene las personas durante su infancia, se ven reflejadas aquí de una manera muy original e imaginativa con unas bonitas ilustraciones, que hacen aún más agradable conocer cuáles son y más fácil poder defenderlos. Muy recomendable para las personas lectoras de todas las edades.

[Rachel Hutsell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Informational
Grade: Primary
I love this book! It is so important for children to know that they have rights in this world and what those rights are. Children should be informed of the rights that they have. This book touches deep and every child is able to connect and relate to some part of this book. I think that the connections that children can feel with this book helps children process and understand the world around them as well as any challenges/issues that they are going through. It helps them see that having rights helps create a better and safer world for them to live in. This book also communicates their rights in a way that is easy to process and understand. I recommend this book!

[Patricia Copeland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: informational, grades K-2
I think that it's really cool that all of these rights were put into an easy to digest book for students. I think that this book could be a good introduction to human rights and showing students what is going on beyond their home experience. You would have to be careful with how much you share about what other children may be going through, as younger children can only handle so much, but it is never too early to teach students what basic human decency is and that injustice exists in the world. Otherwise, it would be impossible for them to do anything about it.

[Phil J · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is mostly a pretty decent list of human rights that becomes very powerful near the end. The collage-style illustrations grown increasingly evocative as the book continues. It is a very fast read.

The surprise near the end elevates the whole book. After reading the list of rights and feeling increasingly smug, the bombshell that the US is one of the very few countries that has not signed the declaration of children's rights is a shocker. I cannot WAIT to read that one with a roomful of students.

[Jessica Tonkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informational, Kindergarten-2nd Grade

I thought this was a great book that taught children about their rights. My children have all of these needs met, but I know that sadly, there are children around the world, and even the U.S, that don't have access to clean water, food, shelter. They aren't in a safe home environment, etc. This book might help a child to realize that their life doesn't quite measure up. Maybe they would then feel comfortable talking to an adult about it. This book might open their eyes to the fact that their normal life might just not be "normal" after all.

[Nicole Hamrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Non-fiction
Grade Level: Kindergarten-3rd
I enjoyed reading this book because it gave me a different perspective on how children may view their childhood. I have had the privilege as a child to have a free education and not have to work until I wanted to make my own money. This a great book to show that not every child has that opportunity. Children have a right to share their voices and have some of the same rights as adults. I would love to read this book in my future classroom to share that each child can have a say.

[Ann Douglas · Rating 3 out of 5]

A picture book that is designed to explain the principles contained in The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in language a young child can understand. I love the intention of this book, but sometimes the text misses the mark. ("I am afraid of guided missiles and smart bombs." "I have the right to be helped by my parents, my friends and my country...if my body doesn't work as well as other children's.")

[Carlie Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grade: 1-3
Genre: nonfiction
Review: I thought this book was interesting because you don’t think about the different right that children from other countries do or don’t have. I think it’s grade that many countries now have all of these law or rules. One that shocked me says something like “I have a right to have a last name.” I didn’t know that some people from different countries don’t have last names.

[Alissa Weiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Informal
Grade Level: Pre-K-2nd grade

I Have The Right to Be a Child by Alain Serres is a an empowering book for young and older children. The book uses colorful illustrations to depict every basic human right for children. Children are the future of all countries. They should be viewed valued because they are still people and our future. I think this book should be ratified in all countries including the United States.

[Grace Tarnow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Informational
Grade Range: K-6
This book is an excellent kid-friendly discussion starter for the Declaration of the Rights of the Child that was adopted by the UN in 1959. Each page reinforces the theme by repeating "I have a right...". The illustrations are dream-like and will appeal to kids. I think by the end of this book, students will understand that they are valued and have the right to be healthy and happy.

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

An introduction to the United Nations' Rights of the Child. As the backmatter emphasizes their rights as human beings, not possessions of their parents, nor should they have to depend on charity. Backmatter further illustrates these rights and states that the United States, Somalia and South Sudan have not ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. A bit depressing as the world has a long way to go and the US is backsliding...

[Marilyn Showalter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informational
All grades reading level
I really appreciated the message that this book had. I think that it is important that children know about how they should be treated. I think this book would be good to be read to all ages of students because it shares with them a new perspective of things that they might not be concerned about that other students might struggle with.