What Makes Us Human
What Makes Us Human by Victor D. O. Santos, published by William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company in 2024, is a 48-page exploration of the significance of language in human connection and culture. This book presents a poetic riddle that invites readers to reflect on the role of language throughout history and its impact on society. It emphasizes the importance of communication in various forms, from everyday text messages to endangered languages, highlighting how these elements shape our understanding of the world.
Readers will find a thoughtful examination of how language connects individuals across different cultures and eras. The book addresses themes related to social science, customs, and traditions, making it a valuable resource for understanding diversity and multiculturalism. Released in partnership with UNESCO to honor the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2032), What Makes Us Human serves as an accessible introduction to the complexities of communication and its vital role in human experience.
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A National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)-Children’s Book Council (CBC) Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People List
A USBBY Outstanding International Book
Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature Best Books List
“The profundity of the topic of language itself hits its mark. A beautiful addition to all libraries.”
— School Library Journal (STARRED REVIEW)
A poetic riddle about language and its role in history, culture, and human connection, released in partnership with UNESCO in honor of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2032).
Can you guess what I am? I have been around a very, very long time. You hardly knew me as a baby, but now you cannot get me out of your head. There are thousands of me, all over the globe, and some of those forms are disappearing. I can connect you to the past, present, and future. Who am I–and why am I so important to humanity?
Clever and thought-provoking, the award-winning What Makes Us Human is an accessible introduction to how language connects people across the world. This unique book celebrates all the amazing ways communication shapes our lives, including through text messages on phones, Braille buttons in elevators, and endangered languages at risk of disappearing.
Published in partnership with UNESCO in honor of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2032), What Makes Us Human is available in more than 30 languages around the world.
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