Rainy afternoon? Long summer days? Road trip? Too often, these situations can result in cries of “I’m bored!” from the resident youth, but there is an antidote! A good book, packed with vivid pictures and stories, is the perfect parry to any tedium suffered by the under-thirteen set. Barnabas and Anabel Kindersley’s Children Just Like Me is just such a book, “a unique celebration of children around the world”. Among its pages wait hours and hours of fascinated contentment.

Enthralled readers will get to meet Olia, from Russia, and learn about her passion for ballet. Erdene, from Mongolia, tells about an encounter with a wolf, and the thrill of horse racing. Yannis, from Greece, introduces readers to souvlaki, his favorite meal. These children and many more tell their stories, joyfully guiding readers into worlds upon worlds of school, play, siblings, and friends. These young people share not just about their everyday lives, but about their fears, dreams, and hopes for the future. A riot of beautiful photographs graces every page.

Recommended for readers six and up.