On Our Street: Our First Talk About Poverty (The World Around Us, 1)

Explains a difficult topic in a way thats factual but not scary

5★“When you venture out into the world around us, you may notice things that are new to you. The world is filled with unique people, who live in a variety of different ways. Sometimes people are happy in these different situations, and sometimes they are not. It’s okay to ask questions when you do not understand the way another person is living.”Roberts is an educator and Casap is Google’s Global Education Evangelist. He’s the man who said: “Don’t ask kids what they want to be when they grow up; ask them what problem they want to solve.”Because he said that, Roberts tracked him down and asked him to collaborate on a book to introduce and explain poverty to children. This is a wonderfully illustrated picture book that shows what homelessness is and includes photographs of real people sleeping on real streets. There are tents, there are people outside a busted-down building.There’s nothing too grimy or confronting, but it’s real. There’s a man asleep, surrounded by his belongings, so a child asks why he’d do that. In amongst it all are sketches of other people and places, enough to trigger a lot of questions.The book says there are many reasons that people might not have a home, or if they do, it isn’t a safe place to be. We are told about natural disasters (a photo of a flooded town), wars and abusive families.“Are homeless people the only ones who live in poverty?’“No, being homeless is only one kind of poverty. There are other kinds of poverty that are harder to see, like when people are not able to go to school or to the doctor.”We’re told that many children grow up not able to get an education.“‘Poverty is not simply measured by inadequate income. It is manifested in restricted access to health, education and other essential services and, too often, by the denial or abuse of other fundamental human rights…’—Ban Ki-moon, former UN Secretary-GeneralThe authors explain what essential services are and what human rights are, with relevant quotations in coloured text boxes in the margins.“What can we do to help people who live in poverty?”In line with Casap’s philosophy of education, there are many suggestions for ways to help solve the problems.“One of the most important things you can do is care.”Ideas range from giving someone a sandwich to helping with a food collection drive, keeping an eye on kids at school who seem troubled, finding a teacher or coach or religious leader who might help, getting to know the newcomers in your neighbourhood. I loved the phrase saying to donate "gently used clothing""There’s an explanation of how people can’t afford to go to the doctor or may be so new to the place that they don’t know the language or where to ask for help. Get to know your neighbours and find out if any of them are newcomers who need advice or directions.We learn what refugees are and something about what war is but just enough to create empathy but not so much as to create fear.All in all, this is a wonderful way to initiate discussions not only with kids but with their families and teachers. And if it helps you decide what problems YOU want to solve when you grow up, all the better! :)Wonderful idea. Kudos to the authors and thanks to NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for a great effort.Another one that all schools and libraries should add!

OK, yes, it is compassionate, talks about the previously unspeakable.But as I was a poor kid who used the library a lot, I would have felt very othered by this book.The authors speak as if they are talking to rich people, "What YOU can do to help others in poverty."What if the reader IS the person in poverty?We have to just wait to get saved, I guess.

Breaks down for kids what poverty is and what homelessness is, and many factors that can contribute to a person winding up in those positions. Includes lots of ideas of how kids can get involved practically (and safely) and links to organizations with further information on poverty, homelessness, and refugees.I thought this did a great job of breaking things down for kids, explaining it in terms they can understand, keeping the dignity of others, and also realizing that these are complex issues with no easy solutions. It also touches on fundamental human rights and factors that can cause someone to become a refugee as well. In all, a tactful and respectful look at poverty for kids. Definitely read the authors' notes in the back, especially Jaime Casap and his experience with poverty as a child. A handy resource for families or schools.