What do you think?
Rate this book
A World Together
Sonia Manzano, Sesame Street's beloved character Maria, brings warmth and wit to this timely picture book that looks across cultures and generations to celebrate what unites us, wherever we come from.
Manzano's lyrical prose combined with stunning photography of people from dozens of countries around the world explores how all of our lives are enriched by our geographic and cultural diversity. Kids see how people around the world look, dress, and spend their day, and learn that what we enjoy and value--friends, family, food, play--may sometimes look different, but deep down is the same wherever you go.
This lovely picture book from a first-generation American affirms our common humanity as it presents the glorious similarities and differences that connect us all. It's a charming book to share with friends and family and to read aloud with little ones. It has an inspiring message: With laugher and love, we can help bring a world together.
Manzano's lyrical prose combined with stunning photography of people from dozens of countries around the world explores how all of our lives are enriched by our geographic and cultural diversity. Kids see how people around the world look, dress, and spend their day, and learn that what we enjoy and value--friends, family, food, play--may sometimes look different, but deep down is the same wherever you go.
This lovely picture book from a first-generation American affirms our common humanity as it presents the glorious similarities and differences that connect us all. It's a charming book to share with friends and family and to read aloud with little ones. It has an inspiring message: With laugher and love, we can help bring a world together.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published September 15, 2020
About the author
Sonia Manzano
25 books90 followersSonia Manzano (born June 12, 1950) is an American actress and writer. She is best known for playing Maria on Sesame Street from 1971 until her retirement in 2015.
Manzano was born in New York City and was raised in South Bronx. Her parents moved to New York from Puerto Rico. Manzano attended the High School of Performing Arts, where she began her acting career. She attended Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh on a scholarship.
In her junior year, she came to New York to star in the original production of the off-Broadway show GodspellManzano joined the production of Sesame Street in 1971, where she eventually began writing scripts for the series. On June 29, 2015, it was announced that Manzano would be retiring from the show after 44 years.
She has performed on the New York stage, in the critically acclaimed theatre pieces The Vagina Monologues and The Exonerated. She has written for the Peabody Award-winning children's series, Little Bill, and has written a parenting column for the Sesame Workshop web site called "Talking Outloud".
In 1979, the Supersisters trading card set was produced and distributed; one of the cards featured Manzano's name and picture.
Her children's book No Dogs Allowed, published by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing in 2004, is one of five books selected by the General Mills initiative "Spoonfuls of Stories". As part of that effort, Manzano is working with General Mills and its nonprofit partner, First Book, to encourage children to read and to help children across the United States gain access to books. The book has been adapted as a stage play. She is also the author of The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano (2014).
She has served on the March of Dimes Board; the board of the George Foster Peabody Awards; and the board of a New York City theatrical institution, Symphony Space. She is a member of the board of advisors of the Project Sunshine Book Club. She was featured in the Learning Leaders (volunteers helping students succeed) poster, designed to encourage reading in NYC public schools.
Manzano was nominated twice for an Emmy Award as Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series. As a writer for Sesame Street, Manzano won 15 Emmy Awards. In 2004, she was inducted into the Bronx Hall of Fame.
Manzano has received awards from the Association of Hispanic Arts, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the Committee for Hispanic Children and Families, the Hispanic Heritage Award for Education in 2003, and the "Groundbreaking Latina Lifetime Achievement" award from the National Association of Latina Leaders in 2005. She received a Doctor of Fine Arts degree from University of Notre Dame in 2005. As in Ms. Manzano's case, a D.F.A. is typically an honorary degree conferred to someone who has made a significant contribution to society in the arts. The Dream Big Initiative of the Bronx Children's Museum honored Manzano in 2014.
Manzano resides in the Upper West Side of Manhattan with her husband Richard Reagan, whom she married in 1986, and their daughter Gabriella.
(from Wikipedia)
Manzano was born in New York City and was raised in South Bronx. Her parents moved to New York from Puerto Rico. Manzano attended the High School of Performing Arts, where she began her acting career. She attended Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh on a scholarship.
In her junior year, she came to New York to star in the original production of the off-Broadway show GodspellManzano joined the production of Sesame Street in 1971, where she eventually began writing scripts for the series. On June 29, 2015, it was announced that Manzano would be retiring from the show after 44 years.
She has performed on the New York stage, in the critically acclaimed theatre pieces The Vagina Monologues and The Exonerated. She has written for the Peabody Award-winning children's series, Little Bill, and has written a parenting column for the Sesame Workshop web site called "Talking Outloud".
In 1979, the Supersisters trading card set was produced and distributed; one of the cards featured Manzano's name and picture.
Her children's book No Dogs Allowed, published by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing in 2004, is one of five books selected by the General Mills initiative "Spoonfuls of Stories". As part of that effort, Manzano is working with General Mills and its nonprofit partner, First Book, to encourage children to read and to help children across the United States gain access to books. The book has been adapted as a stage play. She is also the author of The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano (2014).
She has served on the March of Dimes Board; the board of the George Foster Peabody Awards; and the board of a New York City theatrical institution, Symphony Space. She is a member of the board of advisors of the Project Sunshine Book Club. She was featured in the Learning Leaders (volunteers helping students succeed) poster, designed to encourage reading in NYC public schools.
Manzano was nominated twice for an Emmy Award as Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series. As a writer for Sesame Street, Manzano won 15 Emmy Awards. In 2004, she was inducted into the Bronx Hall of Fame.
Manzano has received awards from the Association of Hispanic Arts, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the Committee for Hispanic Children and Families, the Hispanic Heritage Award for Education in 2003, and the "Groundbreaking Latina Lifetime Achievement" award from the National Association of Latina Leaders in 2005. She received a Doctor of Fine Arts degree from University of Notre Dame in 2005. As in Ms. Manzano's case, a D.F.A. is typically an honorary degree conferred to someone who has made a significant contribution to society in the arts. The Dream Big Initiative of the Bronx Children's Museum honored Manzano in 2014.
Manzano resides in the Upper West Side of Manhattan with her husband Richard Reagan, whom she married in 1986, and their daughter Gabriella.
(from Wikipedia)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 21, 2020
Photographs of children and families around the world illustrate Manzano's text that notices differences (in how people live, how they eat, what their school looks like, games, dancing, art) and how at the same time people share similarities (how they hug and show love: "they get warmed by the same sun, and sleep under the same stars." and "Everyone loes to learn and play and move and create?" Even though people speak different languages, they love to share stories.
"And when people feel scared, they sometimes forget that deep down we're all the same. But when they laugh together, they remember. And with laughter and love, we bring a world together."
Back shows an index of the photos and where they are from.
At ALA Manzano talked about writing this book and asking for a photo to capture the spirit of Puerto Rico -- last page shows the fountain with children in Puerto Rico; book is dedicated to the children of Puerto Rico. Photos at the end accompanying the author note shows the author's mother and sister in Puerto Rico as children, and also her mother and great aunt on the roof of their building in the Bronx. Manzano's note talks about her realizing, when visiting Puerto Rico, she understood her mother better, and also "how Puerto Ricans born on the island, like my mother and older sister, were the same -- and different- from Puerto Ricans born on the mainland, like me."
"And when people feel scared, they sometimes forget that deep down we're all the same. But when they laugh together, they remember. And with laughter and love, we bring a world together."
Back shows an index of the photos and where they are from.
At ALA Manzano talked about writing this book and asking for a photo to capture the spirit of Puerto Rico -- last page shows the fountain with children in Puerto Rico; book is dedicated to the children of Puerto Rico. Photos at the end accompanying the author note shows the author's mother and sister in Puerto Rico as children, and also her mother and great aunt on the roof of their building in the Bronx. Manzano's note talks about her realizing, when visiting Puerto Rico, she understood her mother better, and also "how Puerto Ricans born on the island, like my mother and older sister, were the same -- and different- from Puerto Ricans born on the mainland, like me."
Read
September 10, 2026This author, a well-known PBS performer - "Sesame Street" conveys in a brief, highly warm and welcoming tone how we are all part of the human family -- all 8 billion of us on planet earth!
Its positivity reflects well on America of 2020 just ahead of a global pandemic but it is also part of the humanistic ethic that despite language and color differences, we are able to bring together the world for love and laughter. 5* out of 5. I enjoyed quite a bit the NATIONAL_GEOGRAPHIC photography and know that this public library copy is visually a treat for young, elementary, and tween readers both rural and urban. Highly recommended. I hope she writes many more such books!
Its positivity reflects well on America of 2020 just ahead of a global pandemic but it is also part of the humanistic ethic that despite language and color differences, we are able to bring together the world for love and laughter. 5* out of 5. I enjoyed quite a bit the NATIONAL_GEOGRAPHIC photography and know that this public library copy is visually a treat for young, elementary, and tween readers both rural and urban. Highly recommended. I hope she writes many more such books!
February 16, 2021
The photos are just a delight to peruse. You'll find yourself looking at the images almost as if they're part of an I Spy game. I love that each page features kids from all walks of life; author Manzano emphasizes that the differences are something to celebrate, while we're united by what we have in common. The final pages includes a map highlighting images from the book so kids can identify just where each photo was taken.
Thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book. Opinions shared are mine.
Thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book. Opinions shared are mine.
March 21, 2022
I enjoyed the beautiful photos and the world map at the back of the book is awesome for kids to see. The book is such a wonderful, inspiring book. I did expect more photos such as National Geographic and maybe more information about children from different countries. The book was kind of short for A informational book.
March 7, 2021
This is darling and will be so good for the beginning of the school year. Highly recommended.
Q2021 book.
Q2021 book.
April 1, 2021
Would give it 10 stars if I could. It's a message the world needs to hear right now. We are all human together.
May 15, 2021
Beautiful words paired with amazing photographs.
December 1, 2021
The text is fine, but the illustrations are the real draw here. Great book.
April 12, 2024
Manzano Street #3
A book with photos of people around the world being people and small amount of text encouraging us to be together, a good message in a pretty forgettable book.
A book with photos of people around the world being people and small amount of text encouraging us to be together, a good message in a pretty forgettable book.
April 4, 2023
map in the back and info on where every single photo came from!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews