There is so much out there to help you do a terrific Summer Library Program. Lately, a few books and one movie caught my eye. I thought they would be fun to feature in a display or use in some other way during your Summer Library Program. Not meant to be exhaustive!

Sidewalk Games Aroudn the World by Arlene Erlbach, illustrated by Sharon Lane Holm. Copyright 1997.
Children’s Traditional Games: Games from 137 Countries and Cultures. By Judy Sierra and Robert Kaminski. Copyright 1995.
If you are putting together a big program with various stations representing various countries or if you are looking for a few games to add in to a program, these are great resources. Easy-to-understand directions for simple games from all over the world are included. Most of the games would be best for ages 6-12, but in some circumstances I’m sure you could go older or younger.

Going to School in India. DVD. Master Communications, Inc. Copyright 2006/2007.
This DVD includes several stories of different school experiences, told from the child’s perspective. There are short films from all over India, and we get a taste of what it is like to go to school on a lake, on a boat, on a bus, in the dark, in a monastery, in a mud desert, on a mountaintop, and what it is like for a young boy with a mobility disability to be able to go to school now that he has a wheelchair. The child-centered focus of this award-winning film would make this an engaging way to look at another culture, and you could show as many sections as you wanted to during a program. This is also available as a book.

If the World Were a Village, Second Edition. By David J. Smith, illustratate by Shelagh Armstrong. Copyright 2011.
This books takes all the population of the world and condenses it to a village of 100 people. If the whole world was 100 people, 61 would be from Asia! 47 do not have food security. 36 are school-aged. This would be a good one to display, and it might inspire you to do some projects or representations with kids.

What the World Eats. Photographed by Peter Menzel. Written by Faith D’Aluisio. Copyright 2008.
A children’s version of the couple’s book for adults, Hungry Planet, this fascinating book includes photographs of 25 families from 21 countries, along with their food for the week. Just the photos themselves are very interesting–comparing the budget for a family in Australia with that of a family in Chad is illuminating! The written commentary gives a better understanding of the family’s circumstances. Intriguing recipes accompany every family’s section. I think this book is important and interesting, and would definitely grab readers if you had it on display. When the pair’s adult book Material World came out (picturing families with all their possessions in their front yards) my elementary-school age kids were enthralled!