We Live in China (Kids Around the World)

Travel the world in this new series of illustrated books, and see each country through the eyes of the children that live there!

Meet Meihua, a girl from Beijing; Shuilin, from a smaller province; and Sem Dui, a boy from Tibet. Learn about China’s school system, traditions, history, religion, and culture—just by spending a day with these children. With illustrations and photographs throughout, featuring some of the most important architecture and historical figures of the region, this book provides a great introduction to Chinese culture.

The books in the new Kids around the World series introduce countries and their complex cultures through the lives of individual kids. Here, four children in China are the focus: a 10-year-old girl in Beijing; two children in central Gunsu Province; and a Tibetan boy who lives in Lhasa. A page of quick-reference facts opens the title, and passages about history, religion, language, calligraphy, festivals, food, and so on, are woven into the detailed account of each child's day. There are no captions for the photos, and no photos of the children who are profiled, so it's possible that the kids are fictional creations. Had that been made clear, the book would have been a stronger, less-confusing package. In addition, there is no index to support the free-flowing, narrative, nor are there resources for further reading. Still, there are few resources on China for this age group, and children will be engaged by the experiences of their peers as well as the collage artwork and color photographs. Gillian Engberg
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