My life in France

Each cover photo in the large-format Children of the World series features a smiling girl or boy. Inside the books, facts about geography and culture are woven into a first-person narrative in the voice of the child pictured on the cover. After greeting readers, this 10-year-old leads them through a typical day, covering topics such as family, breakfast, school lessons, physical education, lunch, play, dinner, and bedtime. Some activities are unique to each volume. In France, Louise mixes the ingredients for a salted caramel cake after school and practices her oboe while it bakes. A typical double-page spread includes several short sections of text, some small digital illustrations, and two color photos, usually showing the child at home, at school, or outdoors. The page design is crowded but colorful. Well targeted for the age group, this useful series introduces other countries in a kid-friendly way.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2015 Booklist

Gr 2-5-Featuring a charming, scrapbook-style layout with bright color photos and captions, each book follows a middle school age girl (or boy, in the case of India) through a typical day. Middle-class children describe their daily routines, clothing, meals, family structures, schooling, recreation, and religion. The titles include quotes and sidebar information about each nation's geography, climate, languages, and popular culture, but there are no maps. American readers will be interested to see how these children's lives are similar and different to their own, with much of what readers take for granted (such as running water) unavailable for some of these children. VERDICT Students will enjoy these glimpses into the lives of kids around the world. © Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.