• "Notable Children's Trade Book in the Social Studies" —Children's Book Council
• "...the author has collected fascinating stories that open many doors for children into history, geography, world cultures, and political activism." —Multicultural Review
• "Links to social studies abound. A great read-aloud and a unique source for hard-to-find material." —School Library Journal

NEWS ABOUT THE CD-ROMS
Sunburst is selling two extraordinary CD-ROMs based on the Talking Walls books. We've seen them, and they are terrific teaching tools! For more information, contact Sunburst at 800-321-7511, or visit their web site at www.sunburst.com These CD-ROMs are not available through Tilbury House.

Teachers Take Note:
Teachers throughout the U.S. have been intrigued and inspired by these nationally acclaimed books. If the Talking Walls books have not been introduced to students in your classroom, we encourage you to arrange a "visit." These books and their teacher's guides are a wonderful way to spark interest in our broader world and its issues.
     The Talking Walls books will help inspire classroom conversations about:
• The function of walls around the globe and throughout history
• The influence of architecture and design on peoples daily lives
• Comparative cultural studies
• Justice and injustice

Resources:
•If you would like to learn more about the author/illustrator's books Talking Walls, Talking Walls: The Stories Continue, Who Belongs Here?, Welcoming Babies and Africa is Not a Country, visit http://www.LearnAboutYourWorld.org/ and
http://www.AnneSibleyOBrien.com/

• Geographic and cultural resources:
Canadian Museum of Civilization: This is a helpful link for teachers. They offer a myriad of information about Native Peoples, including the Maya. http://www.civilization.ca
Ask Asia: The Asia Society's online clearinghouse for K-12 Asian and Asian American Studies. Ask Asia offers high quality, classroom tested resources and cultural information including engaging games, activities, and links to relevant people, places, and institutions. Ask Asia is part of a national initiative designed to provide access to quality resources on Asian and Asian American themes at the elementary and secondary level. http://www.askasia.org
U.S. Holocaust Memeorial Museum: This Museum has two galleries dedicated to children's education. Daniel's story is intended for children ages 8-13. Many fine curricula have been developed to teach about the Holocaust in sensible, meaningful and productive ways. http://www.ushmm.org
Virtual Visitors Weather Report: What is the weather today in Bangkok? In Sydney, Australia? New Orleans or Anchorage? What is the forecast for the next four days? This site is helpful since it teaches younger students about the connections between weather and place on our planet. http://www.intellicast.com

• Activism
Earthwatch: A non-profit organization that coordinates volunteers wanting to help at various archeological sites around the world. Teachers may find this site interesting. http://www.earthwatch.org
Amnesty International: Non profit advocacy group works on behalf of those unjustly incarcerated. Useful information, books, teaching aids. http://www.amnesty.org
Teaching Tolerance: This magazine’s website contains a wealth of information for teachers, parents, teens, and kids. Extensive links make a visit to this web site among the most helpful. http://www.teachtolerance.org
Anti-Defamation League: ADL has been fighting Anti-Semitism, bigotry and extremism since 1913. In 1999 ADL joined forces with Barnes and Noble to produce education materials aimed at breaking the cycle of hate through reading. Many of the resources from this partnership are now available for free on their website. These include handouts such as: "101 Ways You Can Beat Prejudice" and "Hate Hurts: How Children Learn and Unlearn Prejudice." http://www.adl.org

Activity
An Exercise in Discussing Stereotyping and Prejudice
Adapted From: Talking Walls; the Stories Continue a Teacher's Guide by Margy Burns Knight and Thomas V. Chan (Tilbury House).

Students today need to understand the concept of a stereotype and appreciate the potential damage that may occur if important decisions are made based on incorrect assumptions.
     Introduce the idea of stereotypes by writing the sentence fragments below on a chalkboard. Ask students to complete the sentences. Help them reflect on whether or not they have formed stereotypes and prejudices based on their assumptions about groups of people.
A) All teachers are
B) Airline pilots are
C) All rap singers are
D) The CEO from McDonald's must be
E) Single parents are
F) All male nurses are
G) All refugees must be