I am a book person. Before I was a mom, greenie, blogger, or whatever else I can be labeled with, I was a bookworm. Last week, I was browsing my local giganto-chain bookstore (can someone PLEASE fund an indie in Boca, PLEASE) and found a beautiful book simply called People, written and illustrated by Peter Spier. Published in 1980, I had ever seen or heard of this book before now. As much as I wish this was one of my all time favories, I’m so glad I found it for my kids.

People is not a narrative. However, the book’s descriptions of how, where, and why we live the way we do flow easily and simply. “We all know that there are lots and lots of people in the world - and many more millions each year,” the book starts off. Oversized for little hands, People is chock full of detailed illustrations of, you guessed it, people from all corners of the globe. It’s a true globetrotting guide to the best of what makes each of us wonderfully different - warts and all.

What’s most amazing about People, aside from the illustrations, is the sense that you can open the book up to any page and start an important conversation with your children. I’ve seen my older daughter flipping through the book on a few occasions, and ask me questions later about something she found that intruiged her. Now more than ever, opening up a dialogue with our kids about the differences in citizens of the world, their beliefs, what they eat and how they look, is a vital step in growing up global. I hope you have a chance to find People, either at your library or local bookstore!