Do Kids Have Chores in Timbuktu? opens with siblings questioning whether their parents' claim that most children do chores is actually true. After calling in assistance from friends around the world, they lead readers on a tour of chores, visiting children on each continent. Readers discover the wide spectrum of work that kids take on -- from hanging laundry to weaving hats, and many, many activities in between. By the time the journey is through, the children agree that their parents were right about chores, and in the process they realize that chores aren't all that bad. A perfect cozy read aloud at home, or within a classroom as a springboard for discussions about similarities and differences across cultures. A light-hearted glossary at the end enhances the book by giving details about vocabulary and locations introduced in the story. Teachers will appreciate this engaging tie-in to social studies standards. Parents will enjoy the gentle reminder about family teamwork. And most importantly, kids will love the rhythm and rhyme, the repetition of the refrain, the detailed illustrations, and the chance to compare their experiences with those of kids around the world.
