Families

Some children live with their mothers and fathers. Others have stepparents or live with just one parent. Still others live with grandparents or foster parents who chose them specially. But all children all around the world, are part of families–big and small, loving, sharing, and caring for one another. This look at all kinds of families from all over the world helps young children begin to think about families they belong to, as it gives them a glimpse into the rich variety of world cultures.

A Is For Africa

The author, a member of the Igbo tribe in Nigeria, presents text and her own photographs of twenty-six things, from A to Z, representative of all African peoples.

I’ve Become A Fire-Breathing Dragon!

There was a mosquito by the name of Botai who carried the fire-breathing disease. Botai liked to suck blood from people with bad tempers. Ahguli was a bad temper dragon. Early this morning, Ahguli got stung by Botai and grew a bump. Naturally, he was very angry. Ahguli shouted and did not expect that … He would breathe fire. Do you know how inconvenient it is for a monster to breathe fire like this ? What should Ahguli do to put out the fire ?

The Old Man with the Otter Medicine

It is winter and the people are starving. There are no fish. They must seek the help of a medicine man to save them. The Man with the Otter Medicine tells of medicine power, the struggle for survival and an important part of the history and culture of the Dene people as it has been passed down through stories and legends for generations.

Hide And Sneak

Inuit author Michael Kusugak uses a mythological figure and traditional Inuit practices as the backdrop for this dramatic story. Allashua ignores the inuksugaq as she plays hide-and-seek. Soon she encouters an Ijiraq–a tiny half-bird, half-human creature who loves to play. Allashua remembers her mother telling her that if an Ijiraaq hides you, no one will ever find you again. Eventually Ijiraq disappears and Allashua gets lost on the tundra. With no idea of which way to go, she heads toward a small block dot on a far-off hill. When Allashua realizes the dot is the inuksugaq and that it can guide her safely home, she understands the riddle of its existence.