Come to the Great World

The very first poem in this book is a really great introduction piece. It talks about all of the differences that there are between children and how we all come from different backgrounds. This would be great to read aloud to the class in order to discuss diversity and the importance of not judging each other. The book goes on to include poetry about all the different places around the world and what they are like. I love this because it is a fun way to open up our kids eyes to seeing new things and understanding other people's backgrounds. I love that each poem does not state where in the world it is from until you read where the author is from at the bottom. This leaves the poem to interpretation as to where the poem is talking about. I think that a lot of students would be surprised to learn where each poem is from because some of them sound so much like America. This can also show students that a lot of places that they think are very different from their home, actually have many similarities. The pictures throughout the book are very bright and powerful and give a great image of different places and customs and people around the world. The author also includes some poems that deal with racism and poverty issues. I think that this is a great way to include the topic in class without being too blunt. Many teachers feel very uncomfortable with discussing these topics and I think that poetry is something that can really help break this barrier.