This book was both interesting and inspiring! It's divided into three themed "chapters", with each school getting a two-page spread. The first chapter features schools that model and teach sustainability, including boat schools, rainforest schools, and tent schools. The second chapter features schools that break down barriers to provide education to all, regardless of attitudes towards gender, "class", or financial and living situations. Finally, the last chapter features schools that are flexible and "nontraditional", including some really creative examples of ways where the "classroom" comes to the kids! Back matter includes a world map indicating the locations of the various schools, resources for getting involved, and an index. ( )

This is a wonderful book! Thank you Susan Hughes for taking the time to put together such a great children's book. I am always looking for ways to introduce my children to other "worlds" and ways of doing things so that they do not become self-absorbed thinking that every where is like here. They enjoyed all the pictures and stories of all the different types of schooling environments and techniques. I really enjoyed that the book did not have to be read from front to cover, rather you can skip around to the different schools. We spent time discussing what we like and disliked about the schools and the children noticed how the kids were dressed and the economic state of things represented in the pictures.

I highly recommend this book to teachers and parents alike.

Thank you for this review copy. ( )

Incredible and unusual schools for children around the world. Large format.

A charming book about various schools around the world, from "boat schools" that make it possible for children to attend class in the monsoon season in Bangladesh, to distance education on the internet, to the tent schools set up in the aftermath of the Haitian earthquake. There are lots of photographs, and the schools' students, teachers and founders are quoted. I really enjoy this and I think a lot of adults would, even though it's a book designed for children. It's one of those books that restores your faith in humanity. ( )