Whoever You Are

Whoever You Are
Written by Mem Fox
Illustrated by Leslie Staub
Voyager Books 2001

This is a great book to start talking to children of all ages about similarities and differences between people. This can be used as a young age as a wonderful tale and then developed as children get older about the world around them and their differences.

Activities: There are many activities to be done with this book. I generally start with making self portraits using cut-outs of people shapes (in different shades) and have fabric, yarn and eyes so children create their own representation of themselves. Then share with everyone else.
Dramatic Play/literacy-make felt pieces that match the book or places and people from around the world as well as the globe. Use with the book.
Social-Emotional-Discuss how emotions (like stated in the book) are the same no matter who you are.
Math-Chart the differences of languages or cultures that the children have or countries they are from.
Social Studies-Along with the charting, you can also map countries that the children are from or list them and put pictures of the children next to the country.

I can go on and on about this book. This is a great jumping off book to start talking about diversity and home or at school.