On Our Street

January 1, 2018

Gr 1-4-The creators use a question-and-answer format to address common beliefs and misconceptions surrounding people who are homeless. Illustrated children ask one another questions, such as "Why would he sleep outside?" and "How can I help children who are homeless or unsafe?," which are then answered in a paragraph format. The text covers each topic at a measured pace and uses a gentle tone. The book emphasizes the belief that "It's okay to ask questions when you do not understand the way another person is living." Watercolor artwork of kids talking and working together appears alongside photographs of adults and children in various stages of homelessness. The photos are key in reinforcing that this social issue effects people of all ethnicities, races, and age groups, including children. The text acknowledges that homeslessness is only one type of poverty-those who can't attend school regularly or visit a doctor are at-risk in a different way. VERDICT Though poverty is a hard-hitting topic, the authors handle it in a sensitive manner. Consider for one-on-one and group discussions.-Jessica Bushore, Xenia, OH

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2017
In many communities, children will notice people living on the street and start to ask questions.Carefully written for both U.S. and Canadian audiences, with references to organizations operating in both countries, this slim book combines photos with realistic watercolor illustrations of diverse children asking questions about adult and child homelessness, mental health, poverty, child abuse and neglect, access to education and health care, and refugees. In introducing poverty in both countries (with a focus on urban situations) and then expanding the focus to include international poverty, today's refugee situation, the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child, the authors (a Canadian child psychologist and Google's "Chief Education Evangelist," who himself grew up in urban poverty in New York City) may have created a book that is too broad in its reach, but astute adults can help navigate the information. The emphasis here is to help children of some privilege gain empathy and understanding about children and adults who lack these services. This is not a book for children who are living in conditions of poverty themselves. Suggestions about helping people through local, national, and international organizations are provided. The information provided about each topic is limited in scope due to the age range, but the writing is clear and accurate.A positive attempt at a difficult subject, this book will probably be most useful in situations where caring adults can help children understand and work through their feelings about the topic. (authors' notes, resources) (Nonfiction. 7-10)

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December 15, 2017
Grades 1-4 Homelessness and poverty are complicated topics even for adults to fully grasp, so introducing them to children presents quite a challenge. This straightforward, gentle entry in the World around Us series does a good job of explaining those concepts to a young audience in terms they can understand. Each two-page spread tackles a question a kid might ask about poverty Why would someone run away from their home? Are homeless people the only ones who live in poverty? I go to the doctor whenever I get sick. Why doesn't everyone do that? and while the answers are not comprehensive, they're informative enough that young readers might feel more confident in their understanding. Explanations of homelessness include lack of education or opportunity, natural disasters, running away from home, and illness, among many others. An emphasis on ways to help is a welcome addition, though the stock photos filling the pages don't always add much. Though it's likely to produce more questions than answers, this is a useful starting point for conversations about an important topic.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)