Review Detail

Small Places, Close to Home: A Child's Declaration of Rights: Inspired by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Kids Fiction 470

Celebrating the 75th Anniversary

December 16, 2023

Overall rating

4.5

Plot

4.0

Characters

4.0

Writing Style

5.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

5.0

This softly and beautifully illustrated picture book lays out the genesis of the Children's Declaration of Human Rights, and Eleanor Roosevelt's involvement in it 75 years ago in a forward, and then breaks down the different elements in a way that is easy for young readers to understand. The text starts with "Me" and "I am part of my family", which nicely follows the development of self and community in children. In simple to understand language, the book lays out statements of the rights of children and individuals, like "I have the right to my own private thoughts", and follows those rights up with the phrase "And it's up to me to..." followed by how children can support other people having the same rights. The title comes up in the last pages, where it is shared that these rights should be available throughout the whole large world, but start in "small places close to home".

Good Points

It is not easy for small individuals to think about people other than themselves, and teaching empathy is such a good way to make the world a better place! Working with middle schoolers, I see how tweens struggle with this idea that they need to help others; it is all too easy in this world to ask just what is it any given situation for ourselves. Part of the reason my students seem to struggle with how to make the world a better place is that they have a hard time imagining what they can to do help others, so I very much appreciated the "And it's up to me..." suggestions.

Gardiner's pastel colored illustrations with pops of a warm red are very soothing, and this would be a comforting book to read to young children who might be struggling to make sense of horrible things that are happening in the news. Supporting the philosophy of Mr. Rogers' "Look for the helpers", this book gives readers concrete ways to act to help others and make the world a better place.

This is an excellent book to keep in steady rotation for quiet moments, along with Whipples "Enough Is" and Liu and Ansori's The Gratitude Jar. Since I am also a huge fan of Eleanor Roosevelt, it was also interesting to get a glimpse into some more of her impressive work.