Beautiful Rainbow World

Originally funded via Kickstarter, this small-format tribute to global diversity (“Red, black, yellow... brown and white/ A beautiful rainbow world/ Dancing together in the light/ A beautiful rainbow world”) features photographs of children from the U.S., France, India, Japan, Russia, Taiwan, and other nations. The photos, both full- and half-spread images, include intimate portraits as well as more active shots of children interacting with each other and the world around them. In one image taken by Raspet, a girl with a baby squirrel resting atop her head looks intently at the viewer; in another, two Libyan boys joyfully run in the sand. The subjects’ styles of dress offer glimpses of their individual cultures, yet the sibling collaborators emphasize similarities alongside difference: “Languages and customs all delight/ A beautiful rainbow world/ We’re all so different, yet so alike/ A beautiful rainbow world.” A welcoming celebration of childhood that may inspire some children to learn more about the nations and cultures depicted. The song from which the book is derived, written and performed by folk singer Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou, is available for download online. All ages. [em](BookLife) [/em]