My School in the Rain Forest

My School in the Rain Forest takes readers on a journey to thirteen schools across five continents. Author Margriet Ruurs documents how children learn in locations from Tibet to Guatemala to Uganda, showing the unique challenges and opportunities of education in remote areas. Students attend classes in structures ranging from tents to traditional buildings, some traveling hours by foot through difficult terrain to reach their schools. The book pairs photographs with descriptions of daily student life, local customs, and the methods teachers use to educate their pupils with limited resources. The author's focus on diverse educational settings highlights both universal themes of childhood learning and the vital role of education in preserving local cultures and traditions. This collection of school portraits demonstrates how communities adapt teaching methods to serve their specific needs while maintaining core educational goals.

Most readers commend the book for its photo-driven exploration of unique schools around the world. Teachers and librarians note its value for classroom discussions about education access and cultural differences. What readers liked: - Clear organization with each school getting 2-4 pages - Real photographs that show actual students and facilities - Simple text appropriate for grades 3-6 - Inclusion of GPS coordinates for each location What readers disliked: - Some wanted more in-depth information about each school - A few found the writing style basic - Limited number of schools profiled (13 total) Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (47 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (11 reviews) One teacher wrote: "This book opened my students' eyes to how differently education looks across cultures." A librarian noted: "The photos tell as much of the story as the text, making it accessible for various reading levels."

One World, One Day by Barbara Kerley This photo-essay follows children from different countries through their school days, revealing the commonalities and differences in education worldwide.

Off to Class: Incredible and Unusual Schools Around the World by Susan Hughes The book explores schools in remote locations, from boat schools in Bangladesh to mobile classroom tents in Siberia.

Rain School by James Rumford Students in Chad build their own school from mud bricks at the start of each year after the rainy season washes away their previous classroom.

Waiting for the Biblioburro by Monica Brown A story based on the real-life librarian Luis Soriano shows how he brings books via donkey to children in remote Colombian villages.

School Days Around the World by Margriet Ruurs and Alice Feagan Children from thirteen different countries share their experiences of going to school, from riding a water buffalo in China to studying in an Arctic school.

🌳 While writing this book, author Margriet Ruurs corresponded with teachers and students from schools in thirteen different countries, gathering firsthand accounts of their educational experiences. 📚 Some of the schools featured in the book have no electricity or running water, yet still manage to provide education to their students, including a floating school in Bangladesh. 🌏 Ruurs has written over 40 books and regularly travels the world visiting schools, which helped her develop authentic connections for this particular book. 🎨 The photographs in the book were contributed by teachers, students, and photographers from each featured location, giving readers genuine glimpses into these unique learning environments. 🌦️ One of the schools featured in the book, located in Guatemala, sometimes has to close during the rainy season because the dirt roads become completely impassable.