365 Creative Ways to Build Cultural Awareness and Global Respect
If you are familiar with Williamson Kids Can! Books, you already know that they are very child-friendly activity books filled with creative ideas for fun and imaginative play. The book Hands Around the World: 365 Ways to Build Cultural Awareness and Global Respect is just as fun, but obviously even more important than a traditional activity book, as it is centered around helping us raise global citizens with compassion and respect for one another.
Susan Milord’s book approaches art and projects from the perspective of a year in the cultures of the world, with a daily focus on a specific cultural event. There are stories, foods, and arts from all around the world—as well as holidays that children may not be familiar with. I was afraid the book might be a little condescending from a Western perspective—which is always a risk in cultural education programs, no matter their intent—but so far, from using it, I haven’t seen anything like that. Western traditions are included in the book, providing it with a full global perspective rather than an “us versus them” mentality.
