In honor of the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, created by the United Nations in 1948, the thirty articles in the document have been simplified by Amnesty International and creatively illustrated by a cadre of internationally recognized children’s illustrators. The text, and its significance, might need more context than the introductions offer, but the pictures are profound for the messages they convey. German artist Ole Könnecke brings humor to Article 8 (“We can all ask for the law to help us when we are not treated fairly”) with his depiction of an apologetic cat in cooking garb standing before a stern avian judge who’s listening to the anxious arguments of a tiny mouse with a missing relative. British artist Jane Ray powerfully captures Article 5 (“Nobody has any right to hurt or torture us”) with an image of an doll with blood on its clothes. This collection offers stunning and symbolic interpretations of the timeless, and timely, declaration that explains the kind of world children and adults should have the right to live in. (Age 5 and older)

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, signed on December 10, 1948, in Paris, declares the rights of all people. In We Are All Born Free, published to coincide with the sixtieth anniversary of the Declaration, each of the thirty articles of the Declaration has been simplified for young read ers and is illustrated by an internationally renowned artist. The back matter includes a simplified version of the Declaration by Amnesty International; a “Now meet the artist!” section that identifies the illustrator of each article and provides brief biographical information and a photograph; and brief notes on the work of Amnesty International. 2009 USBBY Outstanding In ternational Books List. ca

Originally published by Frances Lincoln Children’s Books Great Britain, in 2008.