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What Does It Mean to Be...?

What Does It Mean To Be Global?

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What Does It Mean To Be Global? is an engaging children’s storybook about community, traditions, values and diversity. Targeted at 4 – 7 year olds, this special picture book will help parents and educators to teach children how to think globally in a whimsical yet thought-provoking way.

Versions in French and Spanish will be available by end of 2009.

36 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2009

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99 people want to read

About the author

Rana DiOrio

15 books15 followers

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5 stars
38 (46%)
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3 stars
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Profile Image for Kia.
954 reviews54 followers
November 7, 2020
I love reading Children's Books as they teaches great lessons in a fun way. Recently I read the book "What Does It Mean To Be Global?". It's a nice book written by the author Rana Diorio and illustrated by Chris Hill.

This book teaches kids what does it mean to be global. Being Global means diversity. There are different culture, food, language, clothing across the globe. Being Global means learning about different cultures and religions. Kids will be amazed to know that their language is not only the language in the world. There are thousands of languages across the globe. One should learn and appreciate diversity to be global.

Cover image of the book is fantastic. Title is suitable. Vivid illustrations will make kids curious about different cultures. This is an insightful book for kids that they shouldn't miss to read at all. They will enjoy each and every page of this wonderful book.
37 reviews2 followers
October 7, 2017
Summary
This is a book about what is means to be global, studying the planets, to be round, or to be curious about other parts of the world. This book stresses the idea that we have to be respectful about other people's views and life.

Evaluation
This book does a good job at showing the importance of being aware and appreciative of all the different people and ways of life. This book talks about "opening your mind to new possibilities", and having a global mindset.

Teaching Idea
I would use this book in a lesson on people, cultures, and traditions and how it is important to be open to new ideas and ways. I could get my students to do a research project on a tradition around the world that they are not familiar with.
Profile Image for _sassy_39.
2,548 reviews155 followers
September 3, 2020
'What Does It Mean to be Global?' is a Children's Book written by the author Rana Diorio and illustrated by Chris Hill. The story tells children about the meaning of global. It will help them to understand that global means being a citizen of the world.

It will motivate kids to celebrate diversity. It will open their mind to new and endless possibilities. They will learn to appreciate different culture, lifestyle, language, etc.

The story is written well and will make kids aware about the diversity around them. They will get to know that there is not just one or two languages. There are thousands of them. Illustrations are beautiful and eye catchy. I wish I would have have read a book like this in my childhood to expand my knowledge at that time. Must read!!
8 reviews
June 7, 2022
Este libro enseña sobre el concepto de globalidad y que el mundo tiene diversas culturas, tradiciones y formas de vivir. Las ilustraciones son coloridas y grandes, las cuales muestran diferencias étnicas y aportan detalles al texto. La guarda del libro apoya el tema del libro, donde se muestra a un lado dos niños sentados en el mundo mirando a los otros niños sentados en el mundo en la otra pagina, lo que le da una introducción y un final. El libro debería desafiar más la inteligencia de sus lectores, dejándole más espacio para sacar conclusiones y puntos de vista. El libro cuenta con un premio llamado “ Teachers choice award 2011”. Este libro es recomendado para 4 años en adelante con ayuda de un mediador si es necesario.
Profile Image for Stephanie Croaning.
953 reviews21 followers
October 2, 2019
The message about what it means to be a global citizen is good, but some of the images depict stereotypes that do not accurately represent cultures, such as a person with brown skin, wearing a sombrero, and eating a taco. Since the characters are all stick figures, it is difficult to represent diversity without relying on tropes.
Profile Image for Benoitcesoir.
199 reviews
August 10, 2023
A book that helps children learn what it means to be global, learning about new cultures, customs, traditions, and people that make our world a special one.
Profile Image for Laura.
1,018 reviews77 followers
December 21, 2015
This is another assignment for one of my grad school classes. We’re required to evaluate digital apps for their multicultural content, as well as their quality as an app. I think what’s been really interesting is how most of the great apps are only available for iPad. I wouldn’t say I’m anti-Apple. I’ve owned a Mac before and I certainly enjoy my iPod. But I really have no purpose for an iPad, so I don’t own one. That means doing this assignment in the first place was extremely difficult. Then, there’s the lack of multicultural apps, which is a big problem. It makes sense though, because it’s still a problem in the book industry. Why wouldn’t it be problem with book apps?

What Does It Mean to Be Global? is meant to teach children to think beyond their immediate surroundings and their own culture. The app is based on the original print book, but includes a couple of games, music, and some interactive features.

The overall message of this little book is great, but content leaves much to be desired. Let’s begin with some major problems with the images of this book. The characters representing Asian culture have somewhat squinted eyes compared to the others’ dotted eyes. On the page about different languages the character saying “bonjour” is wearing a beret. Not once when I was in France did I see anyone wearing a beret. On the page about appreciating different foods, a character I expect is meant to be a Latino boy is wearing a sombrero. Let’s just all agree that a boy wearing a sombrero and eating tacos is not a correct representation of Latino culture. There are more little things like that screaming stereotypes. There are also little things in the message that bother me, like the idea that traveling the world is the only way to experience other cultures and be “global.” If that were true, a lot of being would be out of luck because they don’t have the means to travel. The quality of the app isn’t much better than the quality of the book. It just a book that you can read or can be read to you. The animations aren’t meaningful. The games take the reader away from the story and don’t really teach the reader anything other than how to say “hello” in another language. I’m amazed that this won awards. I suppose when there’s barely anything to compete with in the way of multicultural apps, a book app filled with stereotypes wins out.

In short, I don’t recommend this book. The message and intentions might be good, but it’s not okay to further stereotypes, no matter how much you claim to accept others. It just shows you don’t know anything about those cultures.

Read more reviews at Owl Tell You About It.
Profile Image for Joanna Marple.
Author 1 book51 followers
October 17, 2011
This pedagogical book begins to answer the question posed, by giving some silly answers that will immediately engage young children. Does being global mean studying planets?? Well, you get the picture! Kids can: learn ‘hi’ in many languages, visit the Pyramids, join in Chinese New Year celebrations and learn some Rasta music, to name a few of the topics covered. “Global” encourages children to explore the world’s various cultures, religions, languages, and traditions. It takes the young reader further, though, than just inciting an interest in other cultures, it suggests that by tasting the different foods, understanding the different beliefs, visiting different places, knowledge will grow into respect and exchange. Of course, the pages are overflowing with kids of all sorts of ethnic backgrounds, all with huge, endearing grins. The illustrations are colourful, whimsical and happy and match the simple text and message well. For children from 6 – 9. While I am sure this has the classroom as a target, I think it would make a great present and basis for discussion, with any child.
Profile Image for Umm.
Author 1 book6 followers
June 26, 2013
"What Does it Mean to be Global" is a wonderful addition to Rana DiOrio's "What Does it Mean..." series. It follows the same pattern as the others, introducing the subject with a somewhat silly question about what being global means. For example, "Does it mean being really round?" to which the answer is a resounding "No". I love this, as it brings the child into the story right away, yelling, "NO!" at all the appropriate places. DiOrio then goes on to explain what it means to be global in simple, easy to understand terms such as "living respectfully and peacefully with one another." This is such an important issue in today's increasingly small world, and this book is an excellent resource for stimulating discussion about it with our children. There are even lesson plans available for free to download from Little Pickle Press that are great for parents and teachers both.
Profile Image for Teri.
1,361 reviews
April 22, 2015
I have the Reading Rainbow app for my daughter. We love it! There are many, many books and they are not titles I am familiar with. I love the access to so many children's books from fiction to non-fiction.
From the title and synopsis I thought this book would be interesting. A little afraid it might be too preachy. I guess it is how you perceive it, but I thought it was a good message. The first definition about being global is being interested in other countries. I think that is an interesting definition.;) Reading Rainbow books are interactive, so you see (and hear) kids eating, saying hello in different languages, playing different instruments, etc.
Profile Image for Adriana.
10 reviews12 followers
August 8, 2012
Read this book last night to my unborn child and I began to laugh as whenever I would say what does it mean she would kick me. So she has approved this book and I love the printing, colors and the message portrayed by Rana DiOrio.
Profile Image for Jeehan Dinwiddie.
25 reviews2 followers
January 6, 2016
Great book for an IB PYP classroom. Just a suggestion: Kwanzaa is not and never was a "religious" holiday and I had to explain that to my students. In the book, it pictures Kwanzaa as a religious holiday. If you read this to students, that should be clarified. Other than that, sweet book!
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