Steckel, Richard, et al. 2004. THE MILESTONES PROJECT: CELEBRATING CHILDHOOD AROUND THE WORLD. Berkeley, CA: Tricycle Press. ISBN 1582431325 [Suggested Grade Levels 3-8]
REVIEW
Are we really more different than we are alike? This is the question posed by the creators of THE MILESTONES PROJECT as they set out to document children from all over the world. The book is designed to promote peace by stressing our sameness through common experiences: loose teeth, siblings, good friends, doctor visits, first days of school, birthdays. Each chapter of the book notes one of these many milestones with beautiful color photos of kids in actual every-day circumstances atop bold squares of color. The accompanying text is made up of essays and thoughts from world-renowned writers and ordinary youngsters alike.
Readers will enjoy the recollections from beloved authors, who are nicely highlighted in biographical section at the end of the book. For instance, Eric Carle’s first day of school in Germany brought him swift raps on the palms with a bamboo stick, and Kathy Eldon recounts the familiar horrors of a bad hair permanent. By far, though, the appeal of this piece is the fantastic close-up photography of children in the far corners of the world who look just like the kids next door.
CONNECTIONS
Visit the project’s website at http://www.milestonesproject.com/. Print off a copy of the project’s pledge for peace and recite it together.
Provide disposable cameras for children to use in creating a photographic essay. Write short paragraphs or find famous quotes to include with the pictures.
RELATED BOOKS
Other photojournalistic books:
Jenness, Aylette. FAMILIES: A CELEBRATION OF DIVERSITY, COMMITMENT, AND LOVE. ISBN 0395669529
Lawlor, Laurie. WINDOW ON THE WEST: THE FRONTIER PHOTOGRAPHY OF WILLIAM HENRY JACKSON. ISBN 0823413802
O’Halloran, Barbara C. CREATURE COMFORTS: PEOPLE AND THEIR SECURITY OBJECTS. ISBN 0618118640
Onyefulu, Ifeoma. OGBO: SHARING LIFE IN AN AFRICAN VILLAGE. ISBN 015200498X
By Rebecca S. McKee
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