Appreciating Differences-Non-Fiction Books

Probably my favorite non-fiction book, for helping children learn about other, is Children Just Like Me by Anabel Kindersley and Barnabas Kindersley. The authors traveled around the world learning about children and then putting bits and pieces of their life in the book. This isn’t a book you would read all in one day, but you could take a month and meet a new child each day. Children will see photos of other children their age and learn about their families, what they like to eat, their school and their pets. There is no stereotyping as there is in so many books, just real children from all kinds of families and backgrounds. Children can then make drawings of themselves and what they like. Display these in the room, so they can discover similarities and differences within their own class.


I also like the Around the World series of books, most by Ann Morris and Ken Heyman. They include Bread, Bread, Bread, Houses and Homes, Shoes, Shoes, Shoes, Play, Families, Tools, On the Go, and Loving. These simple books show clear photos and are appropriate for the youngest preschoolers. After reading one of these, the children can share info about themselves. With the book Bread, Bread, Bread, it would be good to have various breads available for the children to try. Part of social emotional growth is being open to trying new things.