Adventures to School: Real-Life Journeys of Students from Around the World

Gr 3–5—The focus of this nonfiction picture book is not on the kind of schools students attend, but rather how they make their way there each day. Readers are transported around the globe to experience a variety of modes of transportation and the challenges that can arise. The authors focus on the determination demonstrated by children seeking an education, which will inspire resilience and empathy in readers. Most of the continents are covered (save Australia and Antarctica), and a note at the beginning of the book states that these profiles are not wholly representative of any country or culture but are composites and fictionalized vignettes. Some of the episodes are more engaging than others (in Sichuan Province, China, students climb down a sheer rock-face using rope ladders and the illustration captures the precarious nature of this trip especially well). Sidebars provide additional factual information.