The Way to School

Where to start? It's short and to the point with great photos and few words. Its serves as a needed reminder of what a privilege education is the world over - making it a great discussion starter for talking about the value of education. Also a great introduction to the inequality across the world, leading to some great discussions as well. Thus the book could serve as encouragement to appreciate school as well as a motivation to get involved in charity projects and international cooperation such as adopting a sister school. It appears to be written for young children, but could be adapted for older ones as well, particularly in terms of the discussion points mentioned above. In fact, I think I could even make use of it with my students at university, especially as a number of them are preparing to be teachers themselves.

A great piece of non-fiction that will help students realize how fortunate they are. A great peak into other cultures.

The photos are amazing. This book would be a great way to show younger students the dedication of international students and could also be used by secondary teachers to begin a discussion about international situations and equality.

The Way to School by Rosemary McCarney

I received a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

My seven year old enjoyed this book because school is not just about learning; it’s about having fun and enjoying what you are doing. No matter one’s way to school may be, all that matters is that one gets to school. He is glad his way to school is normal and safe and not wet, dry, or dangerous. No matter what one’s way to school, it is always worth the trip.

Alright, I do not to hear our kids complain about getting to school ever again. This is the perfect book to share with your child before school resumes again in September. It is truly astounding the effort and determination that these young kids put into the value and necessity of seeking out an education for themselves. They put themselves in perilous situations to be able to read, and to write and to learn. The courage they display is truly remarkable and this book is a reminder to us all that school is a precious treasure to be thankful for, and a place that is an honour to attend.

Some children are not allowed to attend school at all but must work long hours in very despicable situations just to survive another day. Others, as the pictures above document, must tread through war-torn, tsunami battered countrysides, wade or paddle across rivers, cross treacherous mountain precipices, climb, balance, carry their own water and desks to school just to get there. Who knew what obstacles and dangers these children must face daily to get to their beloved classes.

It is mind-boggling to discover that these kids literally risk their lives daily to get to school, something we take for granted. They are taught that knowledge and learning can lift them out of their poverty-stricken environments and give them a better life, thus inspiring them and giving them hope of a brighter future.

The photos which are amazing, drive the message of the book and I know by sharing it with your kids they will see the struggles that children in other countries go through and meaningful discussions will ensue. I highly recommend this book and believe a copy should be in every classroom and library everywhere.

What would you go through to get to school? As children in the United States and Canada prepare for a new school year with anticipation or trepidation, they're likely to be focused on who their teacher will be, which friends will be in their class, or how much homework will be required this year. In many countries, however, simply getting to school requires a very real and physical commitment. They way may be long and treacherous; nevertheless, as is evidenced in The Way to School, children in many parts of the world work hard to simply get to school.

Though the text in this book is quite simple and meant for younger children, I think this book could have a place in a classroom for older students. I love the gorgeous photographs. There's a wealth of information in every image that will intrigue older readers, too. I found myself pouring over the photographs and comparing them. Which groups had an adult accompanying them? Who wore uniforms to school? Which children had to bring necessities like water and furniture? Every photograph helps readers understand that required school attendance and a school bus to ride are indeed privileges.

Each photograph is identified by country, which provides a great jumping off point for further research on education in specific countries. There are also many points of comparison to research between the photographs. Which countries have mandated education? How many days a year do children go to school? What sort of geographical features limit some communities' access to education?

Proceeds from the sale of this book go to Plan Canada, one of the largest international development agencies in the world.

A amazing look at the dangerous ways children travel to school internationally. This would be a great eye-opening read for young readers.

Loved this one! Pictures are awesome and it gives students a real sense of what life is like for children in other areas of the world. I can imagine this fitting perfectly into the prek-1 curriculum.

This book is absolutely fantastic. It’s written on a good level for a child and the pictures are amazing. I knew that it was difficult for kids to get to school in other countries, but seeing the pictures makes it so much more real. Some of the ways to get to school look so dangerous! The bridges, boats and ladders would terrify me, and for those kids it’s just another day. If I was a mom, I would be so scared that my kid would fall. It definitely succeeded in communicating a message!

If your parents ever told you (or you have ever told your kids!) what a tough time you had getting to school, uphill both ways, ten miles in waist-deep snow, etc., even your exaggerations probably won't match up to the journeys to school taken by the children in The Way to School. Rosemary McCarney, who works for Plan International Canada, has gathered images from around the world showing children on their way to school.

If these kids ever have kids, they will have stories to tell about getting to school. "We had to crawl across a damaged bridge, in danger of falling into a river." "I rode a water buffalo to school." "We climbed a high ladder to crawl over a cliff." "We climbed over mountain and went through a tunnel in the mountain." "We walked across a glacier on the way to school." "We had to carry our own desks to school." Or, "You're lucky to go to school. We were too poor for school." Or, "I couldn't go to school because our school was destroyed by an earthquake/typhoon/tsunami." You get the idea.

The photographs are beautiful in the various settings. The joy the children share in going to school is evident. I love this kind of book, that makes the world seem bigger, by showing people from around the world, and smaller, by showing universal shared experiences. My kids' schools are very different from the schools or the ways to school in The Way to School. But I can see my kids and their classmates in the faces of these kids around the world.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!