a book that charted a course with no return

When my father gave me the book, Children of Many Lands, I had no idea what an impact it would have on me. All in all, it has given me a deep connection with immigrant children and a heart for international issues.

I really can’t say I read a lot of books as a child. I owned only three or four, but I read and reread the books I owned and cherished the illustrations page by page. The block prints in the book, Children of Many Lands, were vivid and sunny, and bold.

Through these delightful works of art, I was drawn to the subjects of the short stories in the book. I wondered what it would be like to play near the water in the Netherlands with Wilhelmina and wondered at the food on her table. Was it like mine or did she eat bread and cheese like Heidi of the Alps?

When I read about the boy who slept on the floor in Japan and had walls made of paper, I was so intrigued! His life was so different than mine. Then there was Chela of Thailand who manned a boat on his own, skidding past the Buddhist temples of Bangkok. He cut down trees with the help of an elephant, while I played house under the weeping willow in the front yard of my friend Jean.

Sweetest of all was Kari of Norway, with her colorful, traditional clothing and downhill skis.  A budding skier myself, I enjoyed reading about life on the fjords and was introduced to the northern lights–so much so that I kept an eye on the north for a glimpse of them.

My world was Upper Michigan, land of snow and hockey, figure skating, short summers and more snow. But Children of Many Lands opened up the faraway world with the hope I would travel someday to hot and sunny places. Though the children of my favorite book were different from me in clothing and language, we had many things in common:  birthdays, trips to the park, parents and siblings and chores.

Thanks to this book, my heart and mind opened toward other cultures and fed me for a lifetime as I cherish the unique expression of the world’s people and seek to protect it.

 

Which book has influenced you beyond all others? Could it be that this book informed your career or fuels your life goals? Tell us about it.

Children of Many Lands, by Dana Bruce and Elizabeth F. McCrady, The Platt & Munk Co.,Inc., New York, 1960.

Read More of Lori’s journey.

 

 

 

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About Lori

Ever since Lori Younker was a child, she’s been captivated by her international friendships. She is mesmerized by the power of short works to inspire true understanding of the cross-cultural experience and expands her writing skills in creative nonfiction, guiding others to do the same. These days she helps others capture their life history as well as their stories of faith.