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They say a picture is worth a thousand words but what about tens of pictures? From over 50 countries? Well, that's a book, and it's called Toy Stories: Photos of Children from Around the World and Their Favorite Things.

For about two years, Italian photographer Gabriele Galimberti had been visiting boys and girls around the globe to capture their portraits with their most prized possession — toys. From Texas to India, Malawi to China, Iceland, Morocco, and Fiji, Galimberti recorded the spontaneous and natural joy that unites kids despite their diverse backgrounds. Whether the child owns a veritable fleet of miniature cars or just a single stuffed monkey, the pride that they have is moving, funny, and thought-provoking.

More info: gabrielegalimberti.com | Instagram | Facebook

#1

Chiwa, 4, Mchinji, Malawi

Chiwa, 4, Mchinji, Malawi

Gabriele Galimberti Report

"I started this project almost by chance!" Galimberti told Bored Panda. "The first photo that I took for this series was in Tuscany, it's the one with the girl and the cows in the background. She's the daughter of one of my best friends. He asked me to photograph her, so I went to their house and she was playing with the cows. I thought that situation was really nice and so I decided to take a photo of that moment. I asked her to pose together with her toys and with the cows in the background. Then I really loved the result and some months later, when I had the possibility to start my trip around the world, I decided to take the same kind of photo in every country that I was going to visit."

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    #2

    Rivaldo Fesna, 5 , Port-Au-Prince , Haiti

    Rivaldo Fesna, 5 , Port-Au-Prince , Haiti

    Gabriele Galimberti Report

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    Galimberti traveled the world in 2012-2013. At that time, he was working for one of the biggest Italian magazines, D La Repubblica. He was doing a story for the magazine about CouchSurfing and visited 58 countries using the Internet platform. Every week, he had a page on the magazine to report his trip and was publishing a portrait of the couchsurfer that was hosting him at the time.

    "All the children that I have photographed are somehow connected to the couchsurfers that have hosted me. They are their children, their nephews, or simply their neighbors."

    #3

    Tangawizi, 3, Keekorok, Kenya

    Tangawizi, 3, Keekorok, Kenya

    Gabriele Galimberti Report

    Soap
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Monkey! :) Monkeys are always good friends

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    The kids look comfortable and relaxed in the photos and that's probably because Galimberti took the time to earn their trust first. Mostly by playing with them. "I was really surprised to see how easy it was for children to understand my project!" He would spend anywhere from a couple of hours to a whole day getting to know the children before taking out his camera.

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    You can see a lot of differences in the photos but the thing that all of them have in common, according to Galimberti, is that they just love to play.

    #4

    Maudy, 3, Kalulushi, Zambia

    Maudy, 3, Kalulushi, Zambia

    Gabriele Galimberti Report

    #5

    Kafele, 5 , Mkanda, Malawi

    Kafele, 5 , Mkanda, Malawi

    Gabriele Galimberti Report

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    #7

    Arafa And Aisha, 4, Bububu, Zanzibar

    Arafa And Aisha, 4, Bububu, Zanzibar

    Gabriele Galimberti Report

    Jeff
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Skeletor vs Chewbacca! Who will win???

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    #8

    Porjai, 3 , Bangkok, Thailand

    Porjai, 3 , Bangkok, Thailand

    Gabriele Galimberti Report

    #9

    Virginia, 5, American Fork, Utah

    Virginia, 5, American Fork, Utah

    Gabriele Galimberti Report

    Lilly Rose Poppy
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    She is so so so cutie! AND WAY TO GO GIRL!

    Laura Drillenburg
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Don't come near her, she'll beeat your ass before you know it

    ella
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    im so stupid i thought those were carrots

    Arctic Fox Lover
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Hmm... Yup, I think she's gonna be a lawyer! XDDDD

    Bliss Grey
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Let's see you knock one outt'a the park Virginia!

    Charlie
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I love her shoes! They look warm

    Kennedy Longworth
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    For a sec i thought she lived in Virginia lol

    Cybele Spanjaard
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not a doll in sight for this lassie she hits out well with her selection of bats

    Delaney Behr
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    are those vegetable baseball bats? Cool...

    Kent Grigsby
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Either she has a lot of older brothers or she just likes to hit stuff...

    k1ddkanuck
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My girl's gonna play in the big leagues! My girl's gonna turn some heads! My girl's gonna play in the big leagues! My girl's gonna knock em dead!

    JessG
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This girl likes bats!

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    #10

    Alessia, 5, Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy

    Alessia, 5, Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy

    Gabriele Galimberti Report

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    #11

    Bethsaida, 6, Port-Au-Prince, Haiti

    Bethsaida, 6, Port-Au-Prince, Haiti

    Gabriele Galimberti Report

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    #12

    Zi Yi, 3, Chongquing, China

    Zi Yi, 3, Chongquing, China

    Gabriele Galimberti Report

    #14

    Ernesto, 3, Firenze, Italy

    Ernesto, 3, Firenze, Italy

    Gabriele Galimberti Report

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    #15

    Naya, 3, Managua, Nicaragua

    Naya, 3, Managua, Nicaragua

    Gabriele Galimberti Report

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    #16

    Lauren, 6, Muskoka, Canada

    Lauren, 6, Muskoka, Canada

    Gabriele Galimberti Report

    Arctic Fox Lover
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Apparently her younger sister is her favorite toy? 🤔

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    #17

    Callum, 4, Fairbanks, Alaska

    Callum, 4, Fairbanks, Alaska

    Gabriele Galimberti Report

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    #18

    Talia, 5, Timimoun, Algeria

    Talia, 5, Timimoun, Algeria

    Gabriele Galimberti Report

    TheReader19
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yep, bikes are definitely prized possessions

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    #19

    Allenah, 4, El Nido, Philippines

    Allenah, 4, El Nido, Philippines

    Gabriele Galimberti Report

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    #20

    Puput, 4, Ubud, Bali

    Puput, 4, Ubud, Bali

    Gabriele Galimberti Report

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    #21

    Julia, 3, Tirana, Albania

    Julia, 3, Tirana, Albania

    Gabriele Galimberti Report

    VANILLA
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I love it but it’s kinda sad to see that girl having many barbies and toys but the other kid only had one

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    #22

    Norden, 5, Sidi Benzarne, Morocco

    Norden, 5, Sidi Benzarne, Morocco

    Gabriele Galimberti Report

    Enamelcamel
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Absolutely LOVE that he thinks of his bookbag and notebooks as "toys" ... they give him joy!

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    The photographs of children with their treasured possessions remind us of the universal language of play.

    While the vibrant portraits tell stories of childhood joy, they also resonate with deeper themes explored in Kid's toys revealing cultural tales. There, the photographer uncovered not just the children's playtime preferences but also insights into global parenting styles and family dynamics.