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“Geography is sooooo boring” thinks Marissa as she sits in her third grade class. So boring, in fact, that she promptly drifts off to sleep. Luckily, with a little help from some new friends, she soon discovers that geography is about more than just maps and globes; it’s about a wide world of diverse animals, environments, and cultures. Geography is out there—and it’s fun!

Spin the Globe Adventures—Australia by Marissa Giamo is the first in a series of children’s books that chronicle the journeys of a young girl and her spherical friend “Spin” (Spin the Globe, get it? ) as they travel the world in search of the true meaning of geography. I found Australia to be a charming story, perfect for younger audiences in the 8-10 age range. Accompanied by colorful illustrations, a list of Aussie vocabulary, and a quiz about Australian animals, it is both entertaining and educational. I was tickled to reflect fondly on my own semester abroad in Australia, and I couldn’t help but grin at the fact main character looked a little bit like me with her curly red hair :-).

What I love best about Spin, though, is its laudable mission, “Kids Becoming Global Citizens.” It is, of course, directly aligned with My Wonderful World’s own mission to “give kids the power of global knowledge.” On her website, spinadventures.com (notice who’s featured on the links page), Giamo explains the importance of learning geography: “Our kids' world will be one in which their lives will be influenced by what happens around the world. You can give your child a real head start by teaching them about these places today….and perhaps, even help [them] to make different choices for now and our very globalized future.”

So check out spinadventures.com to learn more about the book and Spin the Globe Adventures, and get your World Passport to make reading along even more fun! There are resources for Parents and Teachers, including information on ways to get involved with I-EARN, one of our own Coalition partners that works to connect teachers and students with their peers around the world. As Spin main character Marissa concludes: [Geography] is an adventure! It’s a cool ride, and I can’t wait for the next trip.” Thanks Marissa Giamo for inspiring kids to buckle up and join in the fun!

Sarah for My Wonderful World

 

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