Does Gage look ready for school? I earned my English Education degree from Ohio State, but never really put it to use. I was a substitute in the DC area for awhile and it was a good match for working in the library, and I hope my teacher training will help when Gage starts school. I really want him to love school and learning. Anyway, I agreed to review this book because it interested the educator in me.
Off to Class:Incredible and Unusual Schools Around the World by Susan Hughes
5 Stars! I cannot recommend this book enough! In my excitement did I forget to tell you what it was about? Most of you reading this will have gone to school the traditional way-public or private schools with classrooms and teachers and tests and clocks. What if you lived in the middle of the rainforest or in the mountains of Nepal? What if your school was washed away by a hurricane or crumbled by an earthquake. How would you learn? This book, by highlighting 23 different schools in 14 countries, shows in beautiful pictures and words how very different cultures live and look at life and learning.
A few of the most unusual schools were the boat school in Bangladesh (the school travels to them during monsoon season), the solar school in the middle of the Amazon rain forest where there was no electricity or phones and access takes 40 hours by speedboat, the green school in Canada that does produce any waste that doesn’t go in the compost, the four child school in Iran, and the traveling school that teaches the Evenks in Siberia as they are constantly on the move herding reindeer.
The schools are interesting, but the inspiration behind these schools is what sets this book apart. Most of these schools were set up by someone who saw a need, a person just like you or me, and then found the funding and local help to make it happen. These schools are there because people believe that everyone, no matter what caste, gender, or location deserves an education. One university student saw a need for street kids in Columbia to learn so he set up cart schools to take to the kids where they lived and earned a living. One student’s vision led to countless forgotten kids learning how to read, add, and take care of their bodies.
The layout really adds to the enjoyment of the book. Each school has a two page spread, with lots of pictures, details, and facts about students around the world. I think this would be perfect for any library and for any student who complains about going to school. Recommended for ages 8 and older, but I was completely captivated by it.
This book was generously sent to me by Owl Kids.
Stacy's Books 
I strongly admire the inspiration behind this book. Every child deserves a good education along with all that you are doing for Gage. I love the new picture. He looks like a little professor in those glasses. Soooo cute.
Maybe I’ll start calling him my little professor!
Interesting and dare I say it, educational book! It’s good to learn about other cultures. I applaud the people in these examples who are bringing school to the children anyway they can. I’m sure Gage will love school! He looks he’s ready right now.
The people in the book were really inspirational. As were the children who were so hungry to learn.
I love books like that and find them inspiring. I know your training is going to be very helpful when Gage starts school – his teachers will love you.
Or hate me because I think I know how to do it 🙂
Oh look how cute Gage is in “his” glasses!! Love it. And this book sounds amazing and totally inspirational!
Hopefully Gage won’t need them as early as his Dad did! Mom’s 40 year old eyes are still glass free 🙂
Gage looks so so smart with those glasses…LOL very cute
Looks a little like Daddy 🙂
The book sounds fascinating! And Gage looks like a little professor.
It’s a great book!
This sounds great! I’m definitely requesting it at the library!
Sounds like a great book. What an adorable picture of Gage. He already loves his books and you will continue to inspire him to learn. Hopefully he will grow up to be a bookworm like his mama.
What a cute photo! The book sounds really interesting, too, a great one to share with kids. We tend to think that everyone’s school is just like ours.
Gage looks like a little man in those glasses!
It’s books like these that make me so thankful for the privileges we receive as a matter of course in this country.
This book sounds fascinating and inspirational. Gage is so adorable!
this sounds like a must read–I love the picture of little gage in the glasses too. Maybe this should be a regular feature–books with gage.
He’ll be back for sure.
cutest pic, Gage looks very studious lol
and I love books like this that give an insight into other countries and cultures; a reminder of how fortunate we are 🙂
Absolutely!
LOL! Yes, Ethan looks adorable in the glasses. So smart. 😉 This book sounds really fascinating! I’ve actually been thinking about schools around the world as I’m listening to What is the What right now and the main character is in school at a refuge camp. So interesting! Bet kids would get a kick out of this one, too!
I’m sure Ethan would be very cute in glasses, but I think Gage is cute too 🙂