Same Here!: The Differences We Share

by Susan Hughes, Sophie Casson (Illustrations)

Explore how kids around the world live and the common needs that unite them Children around the world live different lives from one another—different cultures, different geographic and socio-economic realities, differing access to health and education. Despite these differences, they all share common the need to feel loved and protected, the need to have a place to live, the need to learn, to eat, to play, to share, and to dream for the future. Grounded in careful and extensive research, this book by best-selling author Susan Hughes introduces readers to kids from around the world and the lives they lead. The child-centered narrative and playful illustrations explore how education, family, free time, and other aspects of daily life look different depending on who you are and where you live. Perfect for fostering a global worldview, Same Here! encourages kids to draw connections to their own lives while learning about the experiences of others.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Cultural, Childrens, Realistic Fiction

64 pages, Hardcover

Published April 15, 2022

About the author

Susan Hughes is an award-winning writer of over 30 children's books. She is also a freelance editor and story coach. For more information about Susan's writing process and editing services, or to contact her, refer to her website, which is www.susanhughes.ca.

Reviews

[Jane Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am grateful to Net Galley for the chance to review this book. At a time when people are concerned that the books used in public schools are teaching our children to take sides (I personally have not seen this.) , I believe that this book is a great way to introduce children to all the ways that people are similar. They may speak a different language, live in different style homes, eat different foods. or have different chores but our basic needs are the same. Using illustrations and short sentences the author shows that we all need to communicate, feel loved and protected, have shelter, learn, eat, help our families, be part of a community, need to play and need to dream. Examples are shown from the United States, the Navajo Nation, Uganda, Egypt, Mozambique, New Guinea, Pakistan, Mexico, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, India, Afghanistan, Singapore, Nicaragua, South Africa, Japan, Canada, Chile, Brazil, Australia, Vietnam, Nigeria,
Although it is recommended for ages 8-12, I think it would be a great read aloud starting at Kindergarten (if not read all at once.
I appreciate the fact that Further Readings are suggested at the back of the book as well as the resources used in the writing of this book.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Owlkids Book through NetGalley.
Powerful and timely look at how children around the world share the same needs. They live very different lives but Hughes shows how they are connected too. Readers meet children from various countries who each need a home, food, school, community, play, etc. They tell their stories in brief paragraphs. At the end of each chapter, readers are asked to share what is happening in their own lives. The illustrations offer a further look into each one's home area.
I appreciate the time this took to research and the way Hughes shows the connections without singling out any country as being the "right" one. Looking forward to reading this with elementary students and setting up further discussions.

[MookNana · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very, very cool book for middle grades! The lives of kids all around the world are explored along broad themes (chores, favorite foods, types of homes, etc.) with a focus on how most things are fundamentally very similar. It is really fascinating to get a peek all around the world, and this is very nicely balanced across lots of different cultures--Africa is especially well represented, which isn't always the case. This would be a wonderful enrichment read and a great addition to school and classroom libraries!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

[Saar Steverlinck · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5

Laagdrempelig en via korte teksten lees je meer over hoe kinderen overal op de wereld spreken, leven, naar school gaan, … ideaal voor lagere school en de b-stroom! Veel aandacht voor representatie en een eerlijk, genuanceerd beeld.

[Gabi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This inspiring picture book belongs in classrooms and libraries everywhere! Fascinating, informative, and extensively researched, SAME HERE! The Differences We Share examines both the differences and the commonalties found in the lives of children from around the globe. Susan Hughes beautifully highlights and celebrates both our diversity and what unites us all. Children everywhere have the same needs, but how they’re filled is informed by culture, geography, etc. I love how the book explores not only basic needs (the favorite foods section made my mouth water), but also our need for community and the need to play and to dream. The vibrant and joyful illustrations from Sophie Casson perfectly complement the text. Highly recommended!

[Anna Lubowitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely story to help young children understand that everyone is not so different! For older and younger children alike and a great choice for the elementary classroom!

[Bozhena Levine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the Owlkids Books and NetGalley for the advanced electronic review copy of this amazing book. This diverse book highlights how we are all similar despite speaking different languages or living in different countries around the world. Using short sentences and illustrations the author shows that we all need to communicate, learn, eat, help our families, feel loved and protected, play, and dream. The countries mentioned are the United States, Bangladesh, Thailand, Singapore, Canada, Nicaragua, Russia, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Chile, Australia, and many others. This book is a great read aloud for any age and I can’t wait to use it with my multilingual learners!

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Open kids' eyes to the big, wide world with some multicultural, inclusive sharing about school, community and family life, first words, favorite foods and hobbies through short 3-5 sentence blurbs. Further reading suggestions are provided for those wanting to learn more about some of the different cultures mentioned in the personal accounts. Great for kids with shorter attention spans for a read along to discuss some of the pictures and topics discussed.

[Cindy Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

SAME HERE! The Differences We Share, written by Susan Hughes and illustrated by Sophie Casson, explores the diversity in our world but emphasizes the things we all share, no matter where we live. We all use language for communication, have families and communities, and need shelter, food, education, and time to play. In the text and illustrations, the reader can see the differences--how a village in Thailand is different than an apartment building in Mexico, for example--but each section repeats the phrase "Same here!" to return to the overarching theme that, while we live differently, we all share basic needs and desires. Finding this common ground is often the first step in building empathy in young students and readers. Also, it's important not to erase what makes a person's culture and experience unique along the lines of "I don't see color." Hughes and Casson don't do that here. The differences in the specifics--house versus apartment, etc.--should allow for great conversations in the classroom or at home that acknowledge the diversity in the world. The fact that we all share these needs should make the big world seem a bit smaller. Also the end of each section asks a question to pull the reader into the conversation: What's YOUR favorite meal? How do you help YOUR community? What's YOUR dream for the future? Highly recommended for upper elementary and middle grade readers.

[Gretchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this book, like many, shares differences and similarities of people across the world, it does so in a different way which I appreciate. Most books look at each country separately and share similar information on each page. This book looks at big categories that make us all similar communication, food, play, community, shelter, dreams, love, etc. Within those big categories, it then shares how people in different countries fulfill those same needs a little differently. It really helps to focus on the qualities we share first and then the things that might be different. While this book can certainly be used for a social studies unit to talk about different countries around the world, I would also love to use it in a science unit to talk about human needs (food, shelter, community) etc. because I think that would be more unexpected and create an impact. It could also be used for SEL and look at one of the needs each week sharing why it is important and what differences there might be within the classroom to satisfy these needs and how all those ways are wonderful.

[joyce w. laudon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our current time can be rather divisive and polarizing. Do we want to teach our kids that others are different from us …or do we want to encourage inclusiveness? I know my answer. If you agree, take a look at this kids book. It focuses on the ways in which children from around the world are alike. The author frames this in terms of our common needs. These include feeling loved and protected, having shelter, being educated, and eating.

The book opens with asking a child to remember their first word. It goes on to show illustrations of kids from around the world who share their own first words and tell the reader what their choice mean in English. Each of the following sections similarly point out what children have in coomon. The takeaway is that things that may seem so different really are not.

This book could be a good resource for preschools. It also may belong on your home bookshelf.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Owlkids Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

[Carrie Finison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book that shows the reader how similar kids and families from all over the world are. Sections of the book include We All Need to Learn, We All Need to Eat, We All Need to Play, and many more. Each section shows kids from many varied world cultures and aspects of their day-to-day lives and traditions. I like that the text shows differences while being relatable to all kids - for example, "My favorite part of dinner is dessert" - as a girl from Jordan explains what 'knafeh' is, or "We eat at restaurants a lot" - as a child from South Korea orders bulgogi and rice. Lots of opportunities for kids to say "me, too!" while reading, as well as specific invitation at the end of each section, such as - "What's YOUR favorite meal?" The illustrations support the text by clearly showing different cultural details. It's very well done!

[Elles_shelves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Same Here! is a picture book that tells a story from different children around the world. The children share the languages they speak all around the world. They also share about family life, homes, school, meals, how they help their families, community, play time, and dreams of the futures. This is wonderful book to show how children around the world are the same, but different. I liked that the diversity that was represented in the book. There were obviously many countries represented, including indigenous people. There were also people with disabilities represented, as well as different family dynamics. This would be a great book to read aloud to your child or your class to talk about multiculturalism and diversity. In wish that the book had pictures of real children

[Carolyn Bragg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Children all around the world have things in common; things they all do. In fact, all people share these things! Maybe not the same way, but they are similar enough to understand and to enjoy sharing.

We all need to communicate, feel loved and protected, have shelter, learn, and eat.

In this roughly illustrated book, children from many countries share their form of shelter or food, what makes them feel safe, their first word, and even some words from their languages (including Navajo)!

It's a fascinating window into many lives that will encourage curiosity and compassion for people from other lands and cultures.

4/5 Stars

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the preview of this ebook. The review is voluntary.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great example of a book being a window to the lives of different people! Same Here! is a wonderful book that allows children to see the similarities shared by children all over the world, even if those similarities look different. Each section of the book features a variety of topics concerning daily life, such as first words, homes, food, or dreams. The text is light and conversational. As each child declares, "Same here!," we see that, while on the surface our lives might look different, we have a great deal in common. The illustrations are bright and fun, showing a diverse cast of children representing all corners of the globe. Highly suggested for teachers and caregivers to share with kids. Recommended for kids who are interested in or studying other cultures.

[Beverly Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want a book to teach your young readers about various cultures, then this would be a good book to own.
The author has done extensive research into themes of life from a child's point of view - themes like communication, food, communities and the different dreams children have for their future. When I read this book, I was really surprised at the number of cultures and varied countries that she covered - diverse countries such as Afghanistan, Ireland, Burundi and Japan to name a few. I think children would enjoy reading this book and possibly it may lead them to further explore a culture that is new to them.

[Christine Zandt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book because it brings the world a bit closer together by showing how we're alike while also giving us glimpses of what it's like elsewhere.

The scenarios are extensive and provide an international education in a way that's easy and fun for kids. Sections group together our various needs such as "We All Need to Communicate," We All Need to Eat," and " We All Need Shelter."

Colorful illustrations are lively and engaging. Overall, a feel-good book that's very much needed to help foster peace and understanding.

[Evelyn Bookless · Rating 5 out of 5]

SAME HERE!: THE DIFFERENCES WE SHARE is a joyous journey around the globe, showing how children live their daily lives and share many things in common including hobbies, food and family.

The book is very well researched and features a wide variety of nationalities. It is perfect for encouraging children to look beyond their familiar environment and celebrate the similarities and differences they share with their fellow humans.

Further titles are recommended for those who wish to delve further. A highly recommended choice for all home and school libraries.

[G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of rich detail about other cultures, Same Here helps kids feel connected around the world. A celebration of differences it also finds the thread of common experience that brings us together. Most books for kids this age are pretty short but this one gives them more to chew on.

My niece sat and pored over many of the pages and came away asking questions leading to a greater understanding of our global community. The illustrations are beautiful and help transport the reader to the many places depicted. A great addition to any bookshelf at home school or library!

[Jessica Speer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the perfect book for today's divided world. Combining beautiful illustrations with conversations between kids around the globe, this book sheds light on the many things we have in common. In addition to getting a tour of the world and diverse cultures, readers gain an important reminder that we are all part of one human race. I highly recommend this book for families, classrooms, and libraries!

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Using common themes like family, home and food, Susan Hughes' authentic text gives voice to children from all over the world. This book is a conversation between children including the reader. Sophie Casson's wonderful illustrations add depth to these exchanges. This is beautiful book and an incredible resource. It should be in every library and every classroom!

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful, thoughtful exploration of the similarities and differences among children from a wide array of cultures through the lens of nine categories with universal appeal and relatability: first words, family, home, school, favorite foods, chores and responsibilities, community service, play, and dreams for the future.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated book with lots of information and questions to answer. A little too long to be a "picture book" for storytime, but great to start a discussion about how other kids live, play, learn, eat, and more. I love how many countries are represented!

[Margaret Boling · Rating 4 out of 5]

10/20/2022 ~ An updated look at the ways in which people across the globe are similar. I appreciated the representation of people from multiple countries in the various continents, as well as the inclusion of at least two indigenous groups (Navajo and Ojibwe) and one child with gay parents.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

To look at the world beyond our microscopic view of how life is here and realize how life is so varied.

[BiblioBrandie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this and think it will get used a lot for 6th grade culture studies. The author celebrates similarities while acknowledging differences among the lives of children around the world. Quick passages and engaging illustrations. Would pair nicely with The Waiting Place.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is divided into chapters:
We all need to communicate;
We all need to feel loved and protected;
We all need shelter;
We all need to learn;
We all need to eat;
We all need to help our families;
We all need community;
We all need to play;
We all need to dream.
Each section includes 5 to 7 different countries nicely illustrated, and with statements representing children and their traditions.