if you could wear my sneakers: a book about children's rights

My heart is very heavy tonight.

Sharing deep sadness with the children, families and educators of Newtown Connecticut.

Today honouring the birth-day of the International Day of the Child seems especially poignant.

On December 14, 1954 the UN General Assembly recommended that there should be an International Children's Day. Susanna Hill is dedicating this week's Perfect Picture Book Friday to children's rights.

In 1989 the United Nations passed the Universal Declaration of the Rights of the Child.

Sharee Fitch, a lovely Canadian poet, was asked by UNICEF to write a book that would promote discussion about rights and responsibilities.  She  "funnified" the serious subject of the rights of children to an education, adequate food, shelter and health care, safety, fair treatment, protection from war, with her trademark rollicking verse.


written by Sheree Fitch

illustrated by Darcia Labrosse

published by Doubleday Canada, 1998

poetry

suitable for ages 8 -adult

themes  children's rightss

opening lines
If I were you
And you were me
For just a day 
Or maybe two
Then maybe you
And maybe me
Would see the me
That you were too.

synopsis
Sharee Fitch and Darcia Labrosse raise global awareness of the rights of children in this delightful collection of poems interpreting 15 of the 54 articles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.      
source: Quill and Quire 

winner of the Silver Birch Award and Atlantic Hackmatack Award


I like this book because ... 

This book is like a diving board: it looks like the regular thing (a cheery book of verse) until it is read to a group of kids and then some wonderful leaping begins. The goofiness of the poems and the lightness of the art will put young readers at ease and inspire discussion.     source: Quill and Quire 

The light hearted verse is well matched with the free-spirited illustrations, neither of which take away from the seriousness of the subject matter.  The fun is there to be enjoyed, as well as the subject matter to be discussed.  I find that the fun serves as a reminder of the innocence that is supposed to be part of every childhood.

resources ...

Unicef outlines the UN Convention for the Rights of the Child.

Read the rights of the child in plain language.

Unicef's Top 10 Childrens' Rights Cartoons

A Children's Rights Activity Guide published by the Government of Canada.

Sheree Fitch is a performance poet; her work is meant to be read aloud.  She is amazing to experience presenting her writing.



About Sheree FItch, her blog, and her page about If You Could Wear My Sneakers.

I'd like to leave you with Sheree Fitch's blog thoughts for today ...
click on the image


keep your children close to your heart,
give them extra hugs daily,
and make sure that they know that they are deeply loved



4 comments

  1. What a beautiful book (for any day).

    Terri Izatt
    KinderKapers

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love the idea of walking in another's shoes. And walking in a monkey's sneakers? All the better. What a wonderful pick.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Yes, it is important for children to know that they are loved and cared for in many ways. Thanks for sharing this, Sandi.

    ReplyDelete

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