In today’s world, helping kids understand and appreciate different cultures is more important than ever. One of the best ways to do this is through stories. Children’s books can open young minds to new places, people, and ideas. A great example of this is Global Pen Pals: Celebrations Around the World by Marcia Harvey Elovich. This heartwarming and educational book uses letters between children to explore holiday traditions from around the globe. It’s a fun read and a valuable tool for learning about the world.
A Simple, Powerful Idea
The story begins with two American girls, Autumn and Amity, who love writing to their pen pals in other countries. These letters become the heart of the book. Through them, readers learn how kids like them celebrate holidays in different parts of the world. It’s an easy-to-follow format that feels personal and real. Each letter is filled with excitement, details, and a sense of friendship that crosses borders.
By using this letter format, Marcia Harvey Elovich makes each culture feel close and familiar. Instead of reading facts from a textbook, young readers are hearing directly from their “friends” around the world. That makes a big difference.
A Journey Around the World
The book takes us on a journey to many countries, including:
- Taiwan, where a girl named Lian shares how her family gets ready for Chinese New Year with cleaning and decorations.
- India, where Baahir talks about Diwali, the Festival of Lights, and how people light candles and set off fireworks.
- Norway, where Elisabet describes Advent, baking cookies, and celebrating with family.
- Mexico, where Rosalinda plays Mary in Las Posadas, a nine-night celebration that reenacts the journey of Mary and Joseph.
- Uganda, where John Lone explains how Christmas (called Sekukkulu) brings the family together for prayer, food, and song.
And that’s just the beginning. The book also includes traditions from New Zealand, Russia, Kazakhstan, the United States, and more. We learn about Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and other special holidays that show how people worldwide find meaning and joy in their own ways.
Teaching Cultural Understanding
One of the strongest messages in this book is that we are all connected. Even though we may live far apart or speak different languages, we all care about family, celebration, and showing kindness. Children reading Global Pen Pals learn it’s okay to be different—and that differences should be celebrated, not feared.
Marcia Harvey Elovich’s writing style is clear, friendly, and full of warmth. She doesn’t talk down to kids or use big, hard-to-understand words. Each letter feels like it’s written by a real child—someone kids can relate to. That’s a big part of what makes the book so special.
Elovich also includes rich descriptions of food, decorations, music, and clothing. These little details help paint a picture in the reader’s mind. For example, kids in Norway eat porridge with a hidden nut on Christmas Eve. Whoever finds the nut wins a marzipan pig! In Uganda, banana leaves are used to steam chicken and green bananas called matoke. These are the kinds of things that stick in a child’s memory and make learning fun.Click here to learn more.
