FINDER KEEPERS is a book highlighting the travels of the author through India. It tells the story of his journey, giving many details about the sights, the language, and the gentle, thoughtful culture of India along the way. My daughter actually just recently travelled there and I found the book to be in line with the spirit of India that she witnessed and tried her best to describe to us. The book gives a great lesson on diversity and loving everyone as family. Also, I enjoyed the use of the language of India throughout the book and that it teaches the reader many new words. The illustrations are pretty. However, I think I may have chosen a more traditional Indian style with bright colors for the book, rather than the colored pencil type illustrations used. ( )

With a journey to a new country, the main character is experiencing a new culture. He is busing through the country of India and learning their customs.

This is a good story to read to bring different cultures that are in your classroom. This book might also include the culture of a student in your class and can make them feel more like they fit into the classroom.

An activity that I would do would be a writing prompt. I would have the students write about a place that they want travel through and why. ( )

A lost, found, and returned wallet is the plot of this story that is a lovely vignette about following that small voice inside that tells you what is right. Respect for all people and a bit about Hinduism weave in and out of the storyline.

This book is about a white mans trip to India. It is good for showing students another way of living but I wouldn't call it authentic multicultural literacy because the author is white. ( )

Arnett’s Finders Keepers is a unique resource for young children. Part travelogue, part ethics study, part cultural education, the book introduces readers to the culture, landscape and language of India while relaying an inspiring true story from Arnett’s own travels. When visiting a village in India, Arnett lost his wallet; a small boy returned the wallet and refused to accept a reward, saying he was simply “doing the right thing.” This simple moral lesson says a great deal about Indian culture, the concept of dharma, and the obvious contrast between the young Indian boy’s value of doing the right thing, and the traditional American taunt of “finders keepers, losers weepers!” from which the book takes its name. Beyond the moral message of the book, beautiful illustrations depict the dress, landscape, and traditional artistic themes of India. Key terms are introduced throughout the story, supported by an included glossary and pronunciation guide. Overall, Finders Keepers provides a firm introduction to Indian culture, values and society.
This book is worthy of note by librarians for several reasons. It has won multiple awards, including the Mom’s Choice Award for Best Educational Picture Book, the Benjamin Franklin Silver Award for a multicultural book, and the National Parenting Center Seal of Approval. The book’s content is able to engage children of various ages: younger readers will appreciate the illustrations, while older readers will also absorb the cultural material and deeper lessons. And, paired with Arnett’s India Unveiled for adults, Finders Keepers can form part of a family reading experience, be it in preparation for an actual journey to India, or simply for enrichment at home. ( )