Kids Take A Fantastic Journey To Discover How Children Live In Korea and Israel With the Newest Titles in the Award-Winning, Critically-Acclaimed ‘Families of the World’ Video Series:

‘FAMILIES OF KOREA’ ‘FAMILIES OF ISRAEL’

Cincinnati, Ohio (June 18, 2001) – Kids of all ages take a fantastic journey to discover how other children live in Korea and Israel with the newest titles in the award-winning, highly-acclaimed Families of the World video series, “Families of Korea” and “Families of Israel”, which arrive on video July 31 from Master Communications Inc.

Children today are destined to become global citizens as technology brings the far corners of the world closer. But web sites and email links can only contribute so much to international understanding. Families of the World feature kid narrator/hosts who guide viewers through fascinating “day in the life” glimpses of their families’ lives. Their stories are presented with intelligence and sensitivity to the various cultures.

“Families of Korea” and “Families of Israel” brings the series total to twelve. Each 30-minute Families of the World video, recommended for ages 5-11, is $29.95, which includes public performance rights, and is made up of two segments that highlight a child’s life in the country and in the city. A teacher's guide with additional information about each country, discussion guide, vocabulary list, copy-ready map, and more is $7.95 per country.

School Library Journal applauds Families of the World as “excellent” because it provides “an intriguing taste of another culture.” Teachers around the country use the videos in social studies classrooms, and the videos have won numerous awards including Kids First! All-Star, Kids First! endorsements, Video Magic Award from Parenting Magazine and Parent’s Choice awards. Other titles include Brazil, China, Ghana, India, Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Sweden, Thailand and USA.

The two new releases feature urban and rural kids in Israel and South Korea. The families are presented as they go through daily routines, sharing meals and going to work or school, with narration by the child featured. he camera follows the children and their families from the time they wake up through bedtime.

“Families of Israel” shows the contrast between rural and city life in this young nation. Nine-year old Inbar lives on a kibbutz in southern Israel where much of the food production is shared communally. We see her joining her classmates in lessons at school, and helping out with chores like feeding the calves at the kibbutz dairy. Her parents are busy too; her father works on the communal farm and her mother is an art therapist. We learn a bit about the culture and politics of Israel as Inbar tells us about her country. In the next segment, we follow six-year-old Yoad’s day in Jerusalem, a big city where life is different from the country kibbutz. Yoad learns three languages at school and plays chess and computer games in the afternoons. Like Inbar, he celebrates the Sabbath each Friday evening with food and celebration.

“Families of South Korea” also demonstrates the differences between rural and urban life. Heejin and her sister live in a tiny village where tradition remains extremely important. While most of the buildings in the village are ancient, their house is new, built in the traditional way. Heejin and her sister dry their hair comfortably in the morning on their home’s heated floor while their mother prepares a breakfast of fish, rice, soup and kimchee. The school classrooms are equipped with modern computers, but the children also learn traditional mask-dances. The contrasts between old and new are not so apparent in the modern city of Seoul, where nine-year old Kitae goes to a school with 2,200 students. His class of 40 students learns English by pretending to order and serve American-style fast food. As in Heejin’s village, however, most mothers do not work outside the home, preferring to care for their families in the traditional ways.

For more information about Families of the World or to order, call toll free 1-800-765-5885, or visit http://www.familiesoftheworld.com