In this lively title in the Life around the World series, the text celebrates diversity and connection. Opposite each full-page, brightly colored photo of a happy family, a simple global map shows where its members live, and two short sentences in clear type name the country and talk about how the family is much like families everywhere. Representing eight countries that include China, the US, and South Africa, the scenes range from a big feast for an extended family to a mother helping her child with homework. Although some children won't see their own situation in the statement Children around the world live with their parents, most of the text emphasizes aspects of family life that truly most children will recognize: sharing meals, celebrating birthdays, and playing together. Back matter includes a glossary, a Read More list, Web sites, and an index. The final question, How does your family have fun? will show preschoolers how much they share with people far away.

This book, featuring photographs of smiling families from many cultures, succeeds in depicting a commonality of human experience. Though maps on every spread indicate where in the world the families are located, most of their activities provide no cultural context ("A family in Germany surfs on their vacation"). Inexplicably, China is featured twice. Reading list. Glos., ind.

PreS-Gr 2-These books support the social-studies curriculum, but the scope is limited and the writing is dry. They offer a series of two-page chapters: a full-page color photograph opposite one or two simple sentences. A world map indicates the particular continent and pinpoints the location within it of each home or family. The name of the country is in a box below the map. In the first title, families in Guatemala, the U.S., New Zealand, China, and a few other countries are shown celebrating a birthday, sharing a meal, having fun together, and more. The book ends by asking readers, "How does your family have fun?" Homes follows a similar pattern, with pictures of huts, stilt houses, apartment buildings, etc.; it closes with the question, "What's your home like?" Both titles would be appropriate for introducing and beginning discussions on similarities among cultures, but readers will have to go elsewhere for more depth.-Margaret R. Tassia, Millersville University, PA Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.