• Age: 3 to 7
• Grade: p to 2
• Reading age: 3 to 7

Author Margriet Ruurs begins this engaging informational picture book by posing an intriguing question: “What is a school? Is it a building with classrooms? Or can it be any place where children learn?” The fascinating stories that follow will expand how young readers think of school, as they learn about the experiences of real children in thirteen different countries around the world. From Marta in Azezo, Ethiopia, and Luciano in Mérida, Venezuela, to Alina in Taraz, Kazakhstan, and Lu in Shanghai, China, the children who are profiled live in places that truly span the globe. However, while there are huge differences in their environments, all the children share similar desires to learn, read and play with others. Alice Feagan's charming cut-paper collage artwork further enhances the idea of a global community by featuring smiling, enthusiastic children's faces, which are equally joyous and filled with life in every situation.

As with all the titles in the popular Around the World series, using a familiar concept such as going to school is a perfect way to introduce children to other cultures and places in social studies classes. The author has provided several resources at the end of the book, including discussion topics and a list of organizations that help children access education. A world map at the beginning of the book shows the location of each of the countries, and a glossary contains definitions of the foreign words. These, along with a table of contents, make useful tools for familiarizing young readers with book navigation.

Margriet Ruurs is the award-winning author of forty books for children. Passionate about literacy, she writes children's and educational materials and conducts author visits and writing workshops at international schools around the world. Her picture book biography A Brush Full of Colour: The World of Ted Harrison won the Canadian Children’s Literature Roundtables Information Book Award and the Crystal Kite Award, and was nominated for several others. Born in the Netherlands, Margriet raised her family in the Yukon, Canada. Today, when she isn't travelling, she runs a booklover's bed and breakfast on Salt Spring Island in British Columbia.

Margriet Ruurs' profile page

Alice Feagan is a children's illustrator based in Edwards, Colorado, where she lives in the mountains with her lab (Lady), pug (Homer) and husband (Campbell).

Alice Feagan's profile page

• Short-listed, Rainforest of Reading Award, OneWorld Schoolhouse Foundation
• Winner, Best Books for Kids & Teens, Canadian Children's Book Centre
• Winner, Best Books for Kids & Teens, Canadian Children's Book Centre

This volume could provide a starting place for classrooms that study children around the world, as the backmatter points children to organizations that raise funds for building schools and libraries internationally.—Kirkus Reviews

The lively and colourful cartoon-like illustrations will be highly appealing to youngsters.—CM Magazine

... a highly copacetic introduction to various types of schools around the world.—Booklist

A lighthearted overview of school-day life that will leave readers considering how their routines compare to those of their global peers.—Publishers Weekly

This title is a gentle introduction to the concept that when it comes to global experiences, similarities outweigh differences ...—School Library Journal