Raising my sons to have empathy and compassion for other people really matters to me. We’re lucky to live in south-east London and we’re fortunate to have everything we need, but I think it’s important for Gianni and Tiago to realise that not everyone enjoys such a privileged life. I was looking to diversify our collection of books when I saw a friend recommend Wonderbooks on social media, so I thought I would give them a try and I’m so pleased I did. They’re really helping my boys’ understanding of the world – and helping me in my quest to encourage gratitude and make them aware that for some children, life can be very challenging.
My boys are only five so I read the books to them and when a new one arrives, they are so excited. The first thing we do is look on our globe for the country where the story is set. Each book is based on a real child in a different part of the world, so on a basic level, the boys are learning about different countries. The illustrations show the landscape and the clothes people wear, so they’re absorbing the fact that children grow up in different cultures and that difference is something to accept and celebrate. I remember one book was set in Bangladesh and showed a woman in a hijab, which prompted a conversation about what she was wearing and why.
That’s what I love most about Wonderbooks: the way they prompt conversations about different topics, things I might not know how to approach as a parent. The books have sparked conversations about all sorts of issues, such as the lack of education for girls in some countries, or having to flee your home because of war, and enabled us to talk about them in a way that isn’t scary or complicated. With each book, you receive a corresponding Grown-Up’s Guide with some facts and questions that encourage you to talk about the themes in the book, and I love being able to take in the ideas. Without them, we would have missed out on some really thoughtful family conversations.
The boys loved the latest Wonderbook: Sera, the Shell and the Storm, a story about Sera, a little girl in Fiji whose school is hit by a cyclone, so the community comes together to rebuild it. Afterwards, we talked about what we would do in that situation, who we would help first and how. In the story, Sera has a little hermit crab friend and my boys instantly related to that because they have a snail in our garden that they like to “visit”. It’s these little details that make the stories very relatable, and make Gianni and Tiago connect with them emotionally. Once they’ve finished the story, we’ll often do the activity that’s recommended in the Grown-Up’s Guide. It’s usually something crafty, which they love, and I think it helps the story stick in their minds even more. Often I learn just as much as the boys – I never knew the difference between a cyclone, a hurricane and a typhoon until I read Sera’s story!
The boys tell me their favourite thing about Wonderbooks is the final page, where you get to see a photograph of the child on whom the story is based and read a bit about him or her. It’s such a difference from the make-believe world of traditional kids’ stories; they almost can’t believe that right in front of them is the little girl or boy who stars in the book. They’ll pore over the photograph and it strengthens the connection they feel with the story. It’s very powerful, and it makes them want to help. I recently told them that the money we pay for Wonderbooks goes to Save the Children, which runs projects to help children all over the world, and they loved that idea. It’s showing them that giving money to charity can really help people who are struggling.
In our society, lots of children grow up in a bubble – they can ask for toys that get delivered to their door, they get to eat nice food, travel on holidays, and so on. Our family has access to everything we need and want, which means it can be difficult for the boys to realise how lucky we are. These books help them see the value of what we have, both in terms of stuff but more importantly in terms of safety and health and stability. They’ve started watching some news aimed at children and they know a little about the war in Ukraine. They’re genuinely interested in it and Wonderbooks help me to keep on broadening their horizons.
In every Wonderbook, the story centres on a child overcoming some kind of difficulty, whether that’s moving to a refugee camp, their family’s crops failing, or finding a polluted riverbank. I really hope Gianni and Tiago are soaking up that positive message; that when life throws up a problem, you can solve it or work through it with the support of people around you. That’s a message that children and grownups everywhere can benefit from.
Introduce your child to the big issues – like climate change and girls’ rights – with a Wonderbooks subscription. Discover more here
