Victor D. O. Santos
illustrations by Anna Forlati
WHAT MAKES US HUMAN
Ihavebeenaroundforaverylongtime.
Longerthantoys,dogs,oranyoneyouknow.
Myrootsgobackmanycenturies. Someofthemevenlonger.
Iameverywhere.Ineverycountry,everycity,everyschool,andeveryhouse.
Iamsureyousawmetoday.Orheardme.Orfeltme.
Whenyouwereababy,youhardlyknewme.
Overtime,youhavegottentoknowmebetterandbetter. Butwhenyouareold,youmaystarttoforgetme.
Somepeoplehavetriedtoavoidme. Buttheycannotgetmeoutoftheirheads.
IcanbeassoftasakittenorasharshastheAlaskanwinter.
Icanshowyoulove.Butalsohurtyou.
Inthebeginning,Iwasone.
Butnow,youcanfindmeinmanydifferentshapesandforms.
Therearethousandsofmeintheworld.Someareyoungandsomeveryold.
Somearedisappearingfast.
Bythetimeyougrowup,toomanycouldbegone.
Andwhenoneofmedisappears,aculturemayalsodisappear.Auniquewaytoviewand understandtheworld. Gone.Forever.
Somepeopleonlyhaveoneofme.Others,two.Others,more. Moreofmemeansamorecolorfulanddiverseworld.
Aworldwithmoredoorsyoucanopen.Andmorepeopleyoucanasktohelpopenthose doors.
I am the greatest invention of all. Without me, most others would not exist, including children’sbooks,whichyoulovesomuch.
Icanconnectyoutothepast,thepresent,andthefuture.
Imakeyouhuman.
IAMLANGUAGE.
I have been around for a very long time. Longer than toys, dogs, or anyone you know. I am everywhere.
Can you guess what I am?