Books like This is how we do it

A gentle, eye-opening journey through a single day that celebrates both the beautiful differences and the shared rhythms of childhood around the world. These 12 books are the closest matches in mood, pace and themes, with what each one shares with This is how we do it.

curious
uplifting
connected
gentle

01
Same, same, but different
Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw
A heartwarming exploration of how two children on opposite sides of the world share the exact same everyday joys.
Shares:
- curious
- uplifting
- earnest
- warm
02
It takes a village
Jane Cowen-Fletcher
A warm, reassuring stroll through a vibrant market that celebrates the safety net of a caring community.
Shares:
- gentle
- earnest
- warm
03
Last Stop on Market Street
Matt de la Peña
A vibrant, soulful journey through the city that teaches us to find magic and beauty in the everyday.
Shares:
- uplifting
- gentle
- warm
04
Here we are
Oliver Jeffers
A warm, expansive welcome letter to the world, designed to introduce a new arrival to the wonders of their planet.
Shares:
- gentle
- earnest
- warm
05
The Bridge Home
Padma Venkatraman
A tender, gritty exploration of found family and survival on the unforgiving streets of Chennai.
Shares:
- earnest
06
Africa is not a country
Margy Burns Knight · 2000
An expansive and welcoming exploration that invites young readers to discover the vibrant, varied daily lives across a massive continent.
Shares:
- curious
- earnest
- educational
- cultural diversity
07
Whoever You Are
Mem Fox
A gentle, rhythmic celebration of the shared heartbeat that connects humanity across the globe.
Shares:
- uplifting
- gentle
- earnest
- inclusive
08
Me on the map
McGraw Hill · 1996
A gentle, step-by-step journey that makes the vast, overwhelming world feel wonderfully accessible and deeply connected to a child's own bedroom.
Shares:
- earnest
- educational
09
Every falling star
Sungju Lee
A harrowing, deeply moving testament to brotherhood and survival in a world stripped of safety.
Shares:
- earnest
10
The curious garden
Peter Brown
A quiet, hopeful journey of watching a single spark of green transform a dreary world into a vibrant paradise.
Shares:
- uplifting
- gentle
- earnest
11
La calle es libre
Kurusa · 1999
An empowering, grounded glimpse into a community's collective push to carve out a space for joy.
Shares:
- uplifting
- earnest
12
Weird but true!
National Geographic Kids
A high-energy, visually popping explosion of bizarre trivia that makes learning feel like a game.
Shares:
- curious

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