Where Children Sleep

This book is an eye-opening, conversation starter for children ages 8 and up, as well as teens and adults.Here's what I love about it:-Many of the photos are both beautiful and sad; some are haunting, and you will be changed after studying them.-There's much food for thought here about the influence that ethnic group, socioeconomic status, family and community politics, and similar factors have on both a child's actual, physical place in the world and his/her perception of her place in the world. The book doesn't preach, but sparks much wonder.-The book does not imply that materialism equals happiness. There's much for our children to be thankful for after reading this book, but without suggesting that children living in less modern locales, or with fewer toys and wealth are somehow "less than" themselves. In fact, this book led a young child I know to wonder aloud if both extreme poverty and extreme wealth might be challenging for children, in different ways.-Here, there are also paths to be traveled when considering our own beliefs about personal space and the child's role in the family and community. There is an underlying theme of parents trying hard to do what they hope is best for their children.A few things I wish were different about the book:-The choice of locales is odd and somewhat lacking. The author's travel budget was limited, and it shows. For example, we meet eight children from Nepal, yet none from India. Many parts of the world were skipped altogether, including Australia, the Pacific Islands, and islands of the Caribbean, as well as most very cold climates.Three of five children representing Europe were are from Italy, with the the other two from England and Scotland. In the US, we meet a whopping 12 kids, but eight of them are from New York or New Jersey and three from Kentucky. While I can see the advantage of showing contrast within one area (such as poverty and prosperity in the same city) at times it seemed obvious that the author's access to children in other areas was limited.-The photos seem to perpetuate stereotypes in a few cases. For example, the ONLY children in the US living outside New York and New Jersey are a camo-clad, gun-toting deer hunter, a make-up clad little pageant princess, and an child living in an Appalachian shack (all in Kentucky) and a young man at a rustic-looking boarding school for obese kids in North Carolina. While these may be honest depictions of these children's actual lives, readers in other countries could easily be lead to believe that extreme stereotypes of the American South are reality for all children living away from the east coast.It made me wonder about generalizations my own children might form about other countries. Based on the extremes captured by the book, one might deduce that most Japanese children are coddled dolls, while most children in Great Britain are punks or antisocial misfits. The book is an eye-opener because of the extremes, but you found yourself wondering, "Are there any ordinary, average, healthy children anywhere?" Might younger readers answer that question with "Nowhere but here."? (Not the author's intent, I'm sure!)-Some photos sometimes show children's belongings spread out across the floor and/or beds of their rooms. I understand the photographer's intent here, but think it could be confusing to young readers. For example, does the child who competes in karate really have a floor so crammed with trophies that she cannot reach her bed? If the book is to be a tool for learning about other cultures, I would have preferred the photos to be true captures of the child's room as it is, without much "artistic arrangement" from the photographer.-Some photos are very dark - almost too dark to see. In a few cases, it represents a lack of natural or electric lighting - it really is dark in this child's room. In a few others, it just seems that someone opted not to turn on the lights. Why? The reader must strain to try to interpret details.In summary, it is a fascinating and visually striking book that will leave readers changed. Glanced through or poured over, it will open eyes and raise questions.It often benefits - and occassionally suffers - from the extremes depicted by the subject matter.There are a breathtaking number of "sparks" for contemplation, discussion, research, and writing within these covers, and even the book's weaknesses can be used as strengths, such as encouraging children to research "forgotten" countries, or challenging children to debate about stereotypes.This is a book that can grow with the reader. A nine-year-old may find herself pondering the fact that some children struggle to get enough to eat, while others never give thought to where their meals come from. A nineteen-year-old may find herself wondering what her own world view might be is she were the younger sister of a suicide bomber, as is one of the children from the West Bank.Highly recommended for older kids, teens, and adults.

I bought this book as a Christmas present for my seven-year-old granddaughter. I loved the concept, read reviews, and viewed excepts online. I thought it was a National Geographic for children sort of thing, and I thought my granddaughter would be interested in looking into other worlds and see how other children live. Unfortunately, I didn't read the entire book before giving it to her, as it was sealed in a cellophane wrapper and I wanted her to be the first person to open it. I should have looked at it first. While the photographs are wonderful and the short stories on each child and his/her family are compelling, many of them are not appropriate for young children; even older children and adults would have trouble with some of the content of this book. These stories are important and shouldn't be swept under the rug simply because they are disturbing, but this is not a fun book for children. I regret giving this book to my granddaughter, and my son isn't too pleased with me right now. My advice is to read it carefully before considering giving it as a gift to anyone.

Perhaps one of the finest books I have ever seen.James Mollison as photographer does an impressive work of capturing the life and livelihood of children all over the world. Dozens of countries are covered and while many countries are absent, and some are included five times (USA's New York, Nepal, Brazil, Palestine's West Bank), there is enough diversity as to be considered a definitive view into the lives of Children of the World.Additionally, James Mollison the short essay writer makes no-nonsense descriptions of where he took his photographs and provides just enough background into the story of each photography and the children.The hard cover is a beautifully soft cotton binding that makes this feel like a photo-album of personal heirlooms rather than a Save The Children foundation sponsored product. And by mentioning the endorsement I mean nothing but compliments for this work, as more than a commercial endeavor, it seeks to contribute to the solution of the problem, and while the decision to become actively involved in any endeavor is up to the reader, at least the images will have your mind feeling and your heart thinking about the world around us... and if you are a father like myself, you will immediately run to your children's bedroom and silently watch them in their little world, whether sleeping or awake, and hold them close and kiss them thanking that they sleep next to you.

This book is so powerful. When we look at our basic needs as humans, and then look at these pictures, you see how unequal the world is......I am a grateful person in general, and not materialistic by nature, and this book re enforces the essence of what is important in my life and how I want to raise my children. Magical Christmases, Consumer Driven desires, 'making' your child happy with stuff...........No, it is back to the basics..........Food, Shelter, Warmth, Love.............. No statistics, no policies, no political bull, just raw pictures that say it all and show how the one small world is so unbelievable off balance. It can be a raw experience at times, emotional, but important.

this book captivates. My 9 year daughter loves it, she reads it regularly dipping in and out of the pages , reminding herself and us just how god damn lucky we are. It has come out when we have talked of refugees, it has come out when we remind her that she needs to work harder at gymnasitcs if she wants to win those cups and medals, it is in and out of school to be shown to the teachers. it has informed her understanding of where we live in the world and how our democracy should be cherished. I am so glad I bought it. tears and joy and everything in between.

I found this book both fascinating and captivating. Bought for a granddaughter who is a photography student in 6th form it has amazing pictures of childrens, bedrooms or lack of them and a little about the person, where they live and their lives. Although in the blurb it says it is aimed at 13 year olds that must be because the children used as subjects are around that age. Although it could captivate readers of any age. Children get a real glimpse into more and less affluent lives of some children from other countries as well as a young boy from Yorkshire. It cannot of course paint a true picture of all children's lives from each culture and does not show some of the extreme conditions we know some children are living with. This is stuff to provoke thought but not to have nightmares over.

This book spans the whole world looking through the eyes of children, and will open your eyes to the way children from both poor and privileged backgrounds see the world around them. For me, the biggest differentiator in all if the featured kids is not the amount of money in their lives but how open their lives are. 17 year-old "X" in Brazil, forced to choose allegiance to a drug gang is little different in his outlook than 9 year-old Tzvika in the West Bank whose upbringing is carefully controlled to exclude extra-cultural influences; whilst the dreams of 7 year-old Indira working in a Nepalese quarry and 4 year-old Jazzy living in what is described as a "big house" in Kentucky have remarkably similar dreams to have careers in music.

I bought this for my two children, aged 4 and 8, to show them more about what life is like for children in other parts of the world. They love this book and it has certainly proved very thought-provoking as well. My mother, who's in her 70s, also picked it up and couldn't put it down!I am going to buy it for my friends' children too as I think it is a lovely present that I hope they will enjoy as much as we do.