When Children Play: The Story of Right to Play

Gr 5–8—This unique book offers insight into the lives of children around the world, the importance of sports and play for their healthy development, and community giving and charities. The author starts with Olympic Aid in 1992 and Norwegian athlete Johann Olav Koss's trip to refugee camps in Eritrea the following year, where Koss learned about the importance of play, and continues with the work of the organization Right To Play and information about how readers might continue its mission through volunteerism and monetary donations. McMurchy-Barber writes in a conversational tone and ends each chapter with an individual child's story and a simple game that kids can play together. Clear photographs of smiling youngsters and coaches keep the pages bright with color, enrich the text, and give a sense of a variety of different cultures. This book fills a niche for readers interested in sports, humanitarianism, and charitable giving.—Jennifer Wolf, Beaverton City Library, OR