This list was originally posted on Abby the Librarian on May 25, 2009. It has been edited for reposting.
Reading Around the World - for Elementary Students
Throw Your Tooth on the Roof: Tooth Traditions from Around the World by Selby B. Beeler. Collecting tooth traditions from around the world, this book will be a hit with any who are waiting for a visit from the Tooth Fairy.
Play with Us: 100 Games from Around the World by Oriol Ripoll. This book presents over 100 pages, both indoor and outdoor, played by kids in different countries all over the world.
My Librarian is a Camel: How Books Are Brought to Children Around the World by Margriet Ruurs. Not everyone has a library nearby and this book shows how children all over the world receive library service. Some get books delivered by camel, others by boat, still others by van. How do you get your books? Also check out My School in the Rain Forest: How Children Attend School Around the World.
How Much?: Visiting Markets Around the World by Ted Lewin. From New Jersey to Egypt to Thailand, this book explores different markets all around the world.
A Life Like Mine and A School Like Mine by DK Publishing. These books are filled with bright photos and lots of information about kids and schools around the world. See how different children play, work, and go to school in many different countries.
World Team by Tim Vyner. In this book, kids are engaging in a pastime that's common in many countries - soccer. Although the kids are growing up in many different places, they all have a dream to play in the World Cup.
Wonderful Houses Around the World by Yoshio Komatsu. Take a peek inside different kinds of houses all over the globe.
People by Peter Spier. This picture book has intricate pictures that kids will love poring over. Spier talks about the many different kinds of people all over the world - how we are all different and how we are all the same.
Flat Stanley's Worldwide Adventures by Jeff Brown. Flat Stanley's off for adventures around the globe, traveling to Mexico, China, Egypt, Japan, and more in this series. This series is already flying off the shelves at my library!
The 39 Clues by various authors. I don't need to tell you about the 39 Clues series, but make sure you're remembering these books for your world book displays this summer. As the Cahills journey around the world to find the 39 clues, they're learning a lot about different countries and cultures, so this definitely fits with our theme.
These are some of the many books I'm looking forward to featuring on my book displays this summer. What are your favorite around-the-world books for kids?