One of the reasons I love picture books so much is that they can be springboards for so many real life discussions. Or, you can work backwards and use an object or a real life situation to spark interest in a picture book.
We've already found ways to connect math with literacy and play when it comes to coins and other math subjects, but today it's time to throw some social studies into the mix as well. So, get your world map or globe ready, and we'll take the plunge!
Children are not always able to see beyond their own little worlds. They might even think that no one exists outside of their own home or town! Even teenagers and adults can have a hard time accepting that not everyone lives or thinks the same way they do.
That's why it's so important for parents to find ways to pull the real world into their homes. It's a lot easier than you think. If you take a real object, a photograph, a world map, and a high picture book, for example, you're giving your child so much more than just a peek into someone else's world. By showing them how all of these things are connected - how people are connected - you are ultimately helping them to become not only critical thinkers, but more empathic individuals.
So, no matter how old your child is, or whether or not they have learned how to count coins yet, here are some books which will help your child to better understand how children in other cultures live. While there certainly are differences, there are many similarities as well. When you think about it, children are kind of like coins in that way.
There are two great picture books which go along with a discussion of dimes extremely well. The ten-cents coin of Tanzania is the currency mentioned in the following two books:
Kele's Secret, by Tololwa M. Mollel, presents a unique glimpse into the world of a young boy and family from Tanzania. Yoanes has a special relationship with his Grandmother Koko, and his help on the farm earns him a ten-cent coin. He may be in the very early stages of learning about the value of money, but this boy has character traits that we all can learn from. The beautiful watercolor illustrations really capture the spirit of life in a small, rural village.
My Rows and Piles of Coins, also by Tololwa M. Mollel, is another fascinating book about family life in Tanzania. This time, the main character is older, and he's learning valuable lessons about earning money. The currency is once again the ten-cent coin (there is a history of it in the author's note at the end of the book).
Saruni is saving up for a bicycle, which is an expensive, but necessary mode of transportation for families in rural areas of Tanzania. His reasons for saving up for it are certainly admirable, and much can be learned from his example.
The title gives away Saruni's counting method, which presents a great example for young math students. He organizes them into piles and rows so that they're easier to count. It's a great example of skip counting!
I'm not surprised at all that My Rows and Piles of Coins received a Coretta Scott King Award. It really does represent the very best of children's literature. Even science can be integrated with a read aloud of this book (and Kele's Secret), since farming is a focus as well.
So, I would introduce these two books by asking if people in other countries use the US dime or not. You could even take out any foreign coins you have, as well as a world map to point out which countries they're from. Please also note that it's always a good idea to point out that Africa is a continent made up of many different countries.
If your child would like to learn more about Tanzania, you might want to share the nonfiction, photographic chapter book, Meet Our New Student From Tanzania, by Ann Weil.
There are so many activities you could do after reading any of these books aloud. From coin counting and sorting to creative writing, to designing coins from imaginary countries, the possibilities are endless! I hope you enjoy them.
If you know of any other picture books involving foreign currency, please feel free to share.
