Striking and innovative children’s books often owe their existence to the frustration creative adults experience while trying to find the appropriate book to present to their own children. One of the most notable examples that quickly comes to mind is German psychiatrist Heinrich Hoffmann’s Der Struwwelpeter (1844): a terrifying and delirious collection of brief stories made up to ingeniously teach kids some dos and don’ts, while inducing them to question the legitimacy of adults’ authority. A combination of powerful notions he put together himself, for lack of better options.
Something rather similar was at the origin of a new picture book UNESCO is proudly partnering for: What Makes Us Human. A book that, before its first release in Brazil, was selected in 2022 by the specialized jury of for the dazzling illustrations by Italian artist and the powerful text by Brazilian author and linguist . The book was furthermore selected for the 2023 Bologna Children’s Book Fair exhibition "Beauty and the World: The New Nonfiction Picture Book".
What Makes Us Human has also been included in selection as one of the 200 best publications for children released worldwide this year. This selection is made every year since 1986 by the language specialists working at the – the biggest children’s books library in the world, located on the outskirts of Munich, Germany, in Blutenburg Castle.
In a world where 40 per cent of the approximately 7,000 spoken languages may disappear by the turn of this 21st century due to a lack of speakers, Victor Santos, a passionate linguist, wondered how he could convey to his own children the simple yet powerful notion that language is at the very heart of what defines us as humans. That each language, regardless of the number of speakers it has, is a vehicle of culture: a myriad of traditions, beliefs and views of life that deserve to be preserved. The more linguistic diversity there is, the richer we are as human beings, Victor says. Awareness and respect of human diversity, as UNESCO asserts since its very foundation, is the key to mutual understanding.
Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2022. © Victor Santos
In view of this threat, which is all the more critical to the 4,000 indigenous languages in the world today, the United Nations declared 2022–2032 the International Decade of Indigenous Languages.
UNESCO, as the UN Organization in charge of Education, Sciences, Culture and Communication and Information, is co-leading the Decade by working on a ten-year action plan to draw the world’s attention to the dire loss of indigenous languages and the urgent need to preserve, revitalize and celebrate them. One of these actions is to raise awareness among the young generations of the linguistic richness they are inheriting and the need to mobilize others to preserve it.
We are beyond happy to be involved with the International Decade of Indigenous Languages and to partner with UNESCO to bring our book and its message to readers all over the world, including young readers who may be speakers (whether fluent or not) of minoritized and indigenous languages.
UNESCO co-publishes several language editions of "What Makes Us Human" with:
- (Chile) for a bilingual edition in Mapuzugun and Spanish. Published in 9 August 2023, International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.
- , for a Portuguese edition for Brazil. Published in October 2023.
- (United Arab Emirates) for Arabic (world). Published in November 2023.
- (Spain) for Spanish (rest of the world), Catalan, Galician, Basque and Asturian editions. Published in December 2023.
- (Italy) for Italian (world). Published in February 2024.
- (United States of America) for the English edition for North America and the United Kingdom. Published in March 2024.
- (Canada) for the French edition (all countries except for Africa and the Middle East). Published in March 2024.
- (China), for the Chinese edition (world). Published in May 2024.
- (Japan), for one edition in Japanese. Published in May 2024.
- (Greece), for one edition in Greek. Published in May 2024.
- (Mexico), a bilingual edition in Hñahñú and Spanish. Published in June 2024.
- (India), for one edition in Marathi, published in March 2024, and an English edition (for India only), published in September 2024.
- (Portugal), for one edition in Portuguese. Published in September 2024.
- (Mauritius), a bilingual edition in French and Mauritian Creole. Published in September 2024.
- (Iran), for one edition in Farsi. Planned for 2024.
- and (Slovenia), for one edition in Slovenian. Planned for 2024.
- (Mali) for two bilingual editions in Soninké-French and Bambara-French. Planned for end of 2024.
- (United States of America), a Hawaiian edition. Planned for 21 February 2025, International Mother Language Day.
Mexican actress and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Indigenous Peoples Yalitza Aparicio announces UNESCO’s partnerships with publishing houses around the world for the children’s book “What Makes Us Human” (in Spanish).
UNESCO invites readers worldwide, young and older, to enjoy and share this picture book. An invaluable testimony to our diverse and shared humanity. An invitation to respect and protect it today for the benefit of future generations.
(Note to publishers: If you are interested in licensing translation rights to What Makes Us Human, please contact the author Victor D.O. Santos directly at: vicsantos(at)gmail.com)
A splendid achievement by the author and illustrator. They convey a powerful message about language in a simple, moving, and effective way. I'm sure children will love it — and I suspect adults too will appreciate the universal appeal of the way they tell their story.
A few words from our partners:
‘This book, with its inclusive language and illustrations, contributes to UNESCO’s goal to create a world in which indigenous peoples can entrust their languages to future generations.’
‘Translating "What Makes Us Human" into Mapuzugun is a powerful way to record on paper my ancestors’ voices and their inherited knowledge of how to live harmoniously with nature.’
‘Indigenous languages are part of the culture of peoples who have known how to coexist sustainably with nature since ancient times.'
‘Cultural diversity must be based on linguistic diversity. Each culture has expressions that only have a meaning in their language of origin. "What Makes Us Human" is precisely shedding light on this fact.'
'"What Makes Us Human" offers a clever, compelling way for young readers to understand just how much of our shared humanity is carried in the languages we use with each other.’
'If humans are different from other animals, it is because they've known how to use language and writing to evolve. Now it's up to us to move towards the right direction.'
'What Makes Us Human' does what the best books do. It brings us together, celebrating our differences and commonalities while engaging the reader with beautiful illustrations and text that challenges and rewards.
Related videos
Mexican actress and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Yalitza Aparicio introduces the Planeta Sostenible-UNESCO bilingual edition in Mapuzugun and Spanish of "What Makes Us Human", to be released on 9 August 2023, International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. (In Spanish)
Watch Eerdmans Books for Young Readers' for the English edition
Contact
Cristina Puerta, UNESCO Publishing: c.puerta(at)unesco.org
Jaco Du Toit, Sector de la Comunicación e Información: j.dutoit(at)unesco.org
