The Official Description: In a land faraway, there is a village where nobody likes to mix with anyone who is different from them. Until an unexpected visitor comes along, and shows the villagers how much stronger they are when they all come together…
This vibrantly illustrated story helps children aged 3+ celebrate diversity and be kind to others. In the face of adversity, a stranger helps creatures of different shapes, colours and habits to unite, and transform their village into a harmonious rainbow. At the back is a support section for adults, written by Diversity Role Models, to help children talk about and understand the story.
Just the facts: For ages 3+, a great book about diversity
A lovely, quirky group of villagers are very different… but they come together after a storm levels their homes! – Kinzie Things
My thoughts bit: Rainbow Village by Emmi Smid is a beautiful story about diversity and how that can work as a benefit for a community. This book is noted to be for ages 3 and up and I think it’s a wonderful introduction to a complex issue.
In Rainbow Village, there are Sproggles, Flinkerdunks, Mimplets, and Wapsies. They’re all lovely, quirky looking creatures who are very colorful and yet… similar to their communities. A visitor arrives looking for a place to stay but they don’t fit with all of the existing neighborhoods and are turned away.
The thing that turns everything around is a storm that blows through. All the colors are washed away and the villages are left with rubble. They can’t seem to decide on how to rebuild because they all want different things. Once again the visitor approaches with advice for the townspeople: they can build something new together! The visitor has seen vibrant places where everyone lives together despite their differences.
Although the visitor’s suggestion isn’t accepted at first, the villagers decide they might be right. Together they build a wonderful, vibrant, rainbow community. Everyone is accepted and their town is a far better place. In a lovely touch, the visitor: Bobbie is asked to stay and join the community.
This is a fantastic book to introduce children to diversity, differences, and the way that the world can be a better place if we all work together to build something eclectic and joyful. The great thing about this story is that it’s not condescending at all. The illustrations are detailed and colorful, vibrant. Hours could be spent looking at the illustrations alone.
This book is a wonderful choice for parents and includes a parent’s guide for discussion. It would be a great addition to any home library.
Links: Goodreads // The Author // The Publisher
I received an ARC of Rainbow Village by Emmi Smid from Jessica Kingsley Publishers via Edelweiss in exchange for an unbiased review.
Kinzie Things 