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

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

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

Author(s)

Deborah Hopkinson

Co-Authors / Illustrators

Kate Gardiner

Publisher

Balzer + Bray

Genre(s)

Age Range

Release Date

October 03, 2023

ISBN

978-0063092587

Buy This Book

The rights of children—and of all living things—begin in small places, close to home.

This is a poetic and moving adaptation of U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights in honor of its seventy-fifth anniversary.

In backyards and city parks, in school and at home—wherever and however we move through this world, we have certain inalienable rights—and it’s up to each one of us to ensure those rights for others, too.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, drafted by Eleanor Roosevelt and signed on December 10, 1948, marked the first time that countries agreed on a comprehensive statement of inalienable human rights. This gorgeous adaptation for children reminds us that universal rights begin in small places, close to home.

Editor review

1 review

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.