It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. We can learn a lot about the world just by looking at a photograph. Today, I'd like to show just how powerful a book of photographs can really be.
Yesterday, in Moms Inspire Learning: Global Awareness, Part 1, I talked about how global awareness starts with map skills. The book, Me on the Map, by Joan Sweeney, allows a child to make what teachers call a "text to self" connection. Since the book starts out in a child's room, it immediately prompts the reader to think about his or her own room. It not only creates interest, but allows a child to make a meaningful connection to the book. This book also prompts the child to make a "text to world" connection. He or she will realize that his room is a special place in a much larger world.
There is a third type of connection, called a "text to text" connection, which occurs when we find a way to link one book with another. The best example I can give of a book that can be connected with the Joan Sweeney book is You and Me Together: Moms, Dads, and Kids Around the World, by Barbara Kerley.
I cannot say enough about this book. Real photographs of families around the world prompt children to make not only a text to text connection, but text to self, and text to world connections as well. All three types of connections can be made with this one essential resource!
The captivating photographs in this book will help you to bring a world of communities and cultures into your own home. They show children how similar families and children are across the globe, despite a few cultural differences. This book also can be connected to the books I mentioned in a previous post.
It's not only the photos in this book that I love. It's the fact that there are just a few carefully selected words and phrases that complement each picture. The first time you read this book with your child, I suggest that you simply look at the photographs (take your time), and gently whisper the few words that accompany them. After you've gone through this book once, I would suggest going through the book again gradually (not necessarily in one sitting), so you can talk about each picture. At first, ask your child what they think is going on in the picture, without giving any details. They could even guess where the photo was taken, especially if you have a world map or globe handy! If you follow your child's lead, you can see where the conversation goes. Then, you can reveal the actual answers. At the end of the book, there is a summary of each picture and a short description of the family, the culture, and the country depicted. There is also a small world map, which shows you where each photograph was taken. I love this book!
I also need to mention that one of the photographs in this book reminded me of an unforgettable cultural arts show I saw at a local school district a couple of years ago. It was a picture of a mother and a daughter playing the guitar and wearing brass neck rings. The neck rings are an important part of their culture, and the presenter, Michael Harrold, mentioned this particular group of people during his interactive assembly. This world-traveling educator and writer shares his unique experiences, photographs, and artifacts with children during these one-of-a-kind assemblies. If there's a way moms can inspire learning in this world, it's by bringing this program into their schools. If every human being on this planet could participate in this program, the world would be a much better place. Michael Harrold performs his shows across the United States, and you can find details about his cultural arts assemblies here.
Comments are always welcome! I'd love to hear how you and your child liked today's book. For part 3 of this series, click here.
Make it a great day!
