Kids around the World Celebrate!: The Best Feasts and Festivals from Many Lands »

LYNDA JONES is a freelance writer who has contributed to Nickelodeon, Science World, Essence, and other magazines. Her most recent book is titled Abe Lincoln.

Everyone loves a reason to have a good time, and although cultures around the world have their own unique feasts and festivals, we all share many of the same reasons to celebrate. Now you can learn about the many ways people from around the globe celebrate their special days, and join in the fun!

Celebrate Chinese New Year while making chiao-tzu dumplings, then pop over to Saudi Arabia and taste delicious date-nut cookies called ma?amoul while celebrating Eid ul-Fitr. Make an elaborate Venetian mask to wear at a masquerade ball in Venice during carnevale, then pound out a festive rhythm on the Igbo drum you've made and celebrate the Iriji festival in Nigeria. Eat, drink, and make merry with the many diverse and exciting crafts, recipes, and activities in this book. No matter what language you say it in, celebrations are fun!

Children's Literature

This interesting and useful book looks at the many ways youngsters from all over the world celebrate through festivals and feasts. Sixteen celebrations are described briefly, and one aspect of that celebration is chosen as a hands-on experience for sharing with others. For instance, for the Iriji celebration in Nigeria, the Igbo tribe uses many kinds of drums. The book provides a list all the materials and step by step instructions for making an Igbo drum. For Carnevale in Venice, Italy, tramezzini, an antipasto type combination of vegetables, meats and cheeses is used to make sandwiches. A recipe is provided for making these delicious sandwiches. Well organized, with occasional black and white illustrations, this book is a fine addition for enhancing the study of other cultures. A multicultural approach to celebrating the millennium.