In recent months i’ve noticed that Ivy’s awareness of the sheer size of the planet has definitely increased. Where once she was satisfied to hear that a country was far away, now she wants to know how we would get there, how long it would take, what language they speak and where it sits on a map in relation to the UK. I’ve been using picture books to try and teach her about different cultures but i’ve found it a challenge to explain how different her life experiences are compared to others around the globe.
Enter Wonderbooks, a new monthly subscription service from Save the Children. When they got in touch to see if we’d like to review some of their titles I jumped at the chance because the timing was perfect for us.
They kindly sent us 3 books:
Munni’s Rooftop School – the true story of a little girl from a slum community in Putna, India who sets up a school on the rooftop of her house to teach women and girls how to read.
Asif and the Songbird – a story about friendship inspired by the real-life journeys of Syrian refugee children
Seima and the Storm – a riveting tale about a little girl who lives in a floating village on a lake in Cambodia, and what happens when a storm hits the community.
All 3 were a big hit with Ivy. The children in each story are about her age which made it easy for her to relate to them, even though their life experiences are very different to her own. Each book comes with a ‘Grown-Up’s Guide’ filled with background information about the story and some tips on how to read it with your child.
Her favourite is definitely ‘Munni’s Rooftop School’ as she couldn’t quite get her head around the fact that some girls aren’t allowed to attend school.
As a parent, one thing i’ve found fascinating is that Ivy’s interest in these stories has increased during the current lockdown situation. She has asked lots of questions about how this might have affected the characters and whether they have to stay at home too!
If you’re interested in your own Wonderbooks subscription then head over to www.wonderbooks.org.uk to sign up and use our discount code FREEMONTHIVY to get one month for free. Subscriptions start at £9 per month and you can cancel any time. The books are designed for children aged 4-8.
Find out more at www.wonderbooks.org.uk
Disclosure: Wonderbooks provided us with copies of these books in exchange for an honest review.