Product Description

All over the world children are leading their lives in completely different ways. Faced with many challenges, they all have one thing in common - a passion for life. Dorling Kindersley and UNICEF have combined forces to provide an insight into the lives and experiences of 14 children from around the world. Guided by the promises of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the book has been divided into universal themes covering food, water, shelter, education, family and health. A donation goes to UNICEF for every copy of "A Life Like Mine" sold.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #387586 in Books
• Published on: 2003-03-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 128 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Presented in conjunction with UNICEF, DK's A Life Like Mine: How Children Live Around the World profiles 18 children and explores what life is like for them and other young people, spanning 180 countries. Organized into four sections-Survival, Development, Protection and Participation-the handsomely designed volume, with a bounty of photographs that transport readers to exotic lands, stems from the mission set forth by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Charts, maps and children's quotes add to the thoughtful and informative presentation.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
Exploring UNICEF's Rights of the Child programme, this optimistic and life-affirming book relates the different problems and opportunities children face around the world. A remarkable document that may well be a something of a force for good.

About the Author
Created by the United Nations General Assembly in 1946 to help children after World War II in Europe, UNICEF was first known as the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund. In 1953, UNICEF became a permanent part of the United Nations system, its task being to help children living in poverty in developing countries.

Customer Reviews

One of the best
This is a spectacular masterpiece from UNICEF. It not only shows life for 18 or so children from different parts of the world but give invaluable information about what children need to survive and what people are doing to ensure that all children get these needs fulfilled. The whole book is divided into 4 main chapters, Survival, Development, Protection and Participation. At the beginning of each of those chapters, is a definition of the word and basic ideas under those. E.g. Survial, definition, Water, Food, Home and Health.

Then each of those is investigated more deeply. Water is first, after the introduction we see how much water most of us in North America use and how much water some countries have to manage with. Also reasons why some places don't have enough (clean) water. Then it's the story of children in a few places and how and where they get water from. Then it's the personal story of one child, with water as it's main theme. This setup is continued throughout the book using topics such as food, health, development, education, playing, war, child labour, disabilities, feelings, religion, name, nationality and freedom of expression. This is an awe inspiring and humbling book that I recommened to all who work with children and all who care about children the world over.

beautiful--unique perspective on other cultures/people/places
I love the format of this book. Rather than being structured around regions of the world (like most), it is formatted around basic human needs--clean water, healthy food, safe home, education, protection, love, an identity, freedom of religion and expression, etc... In the course of that, specific children from various countries are profiled throughout, with a focus on how that particular need is being met in their own life. The book is visually appealing, with a very reader-friendly lay out--well organized, colorful, and packed with beautiful photos. This book is perfect for kids and adults alike. It also handles tough issues such as exploitation of children through work and war sensitively, yet clearly. I bought this book to use in teaching a geography/world cultures class, along with several others, and this one really stands out!

What every child should have and what your child should be aware of globally.
This book is made for us and our children to think, to think about how lucky we are to have running water and how others don't have that luxury. I feel it's important to give our children a global out look and to see how other children live. This book is broken down into several parts and within each part they give lots of interesting facts, some you might already know about and other facts that just might surprise you! The 1st section is on Survival.

Survival -
1. Every Child should have water that is safe to drink close to their homes.

2. Every Child should have enough nourishing food to eat so they can grow & thrive.

3. Home should be a place where every child can feel comfortable and safe.

4. Every child have access to health care in order to lead a full & active life.

2nd section is Development: Education and play.

The 3rd section is Protection:
1. Every child should have someone to love and care for them.

2. Every child should be protected from work that could harm or exploit them.

3. Disability should not prevent any child from participating fully in life.

4. Children need protection from the fighting and destruction of war.

4th section:
1. Every child has the right to an identity, including name, nationality and religion.

2. Every child has the right to freedom of expression.

3. A good life, lived to its full potential is the right of every child.

The children in this book come from Unites States: Georgia & Washington. There is a girl from England, Columbia, Yugoslavia, Israel, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Netherlands, Afghanistan, Sudan, Laos, South Africa, Rwanda, India, Bangladesh, & Australia. The 1st pages after the contents page shows where on the map they are from and what page to find them. I think this is an awesome book for older children. Every school and public library should have a copy.