705Kviews
Children From Around The World Showcase Their Favorite Toys In This Heartwarming Series (22 Pics)
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
This post may include affiliate links.
Chiwa, 4, Mchinji, Malawi
"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."
Rivaldo Fesna, 5 , Port-Au-Prince , Haiti
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."
Tangawizi, 3, Keekorok, Kenya
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.
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.
Maudy, 3, Kalulushi, Zambia
Kafele, 5 , Mkanda, Malawi
that's the same looking dino and in the same place
Load More Replies...
I think the brother and sister share the dinosaur. Now I know why I keep making knitted bears to send to kids in Africa. They don't have many toys.
That's the same dino... with the broken tail and dirt on the hip. Guessing these 2 are siblings
the triceratops is the same from the picture in #1 Chiwa, 4, Mchinji, Malawi. Same missing horn and wear and tear. Why photoshop that?
Kafele you have a Great Smile. So, are you going to be a Triceratops Doctor?
Same exact triceratops toy as first picture....siblings that share or staged by the photographer?
They can't be siblings. The first one was supposedly shot in Mchinji while the other one in Mkanda (40 km apart). I think this photo shoot was staged :(
Load More Replies...
I do not think “ghosted” is the correct word here...maybe “deceived”?
Load More Replies...
Bothe, 4, Maun, Botswana
Arafa And Aisha, 4, Bububu, Zanzibar
Porjai, 3 , Bangkok, Thailand
Virginia, 5, American Fork, Utah
Alessia, 5, Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy
Bethsaida, 6, Port-Au-Prince, Haiti
Zi Yi, 3, Chongquing, China
Taha, 4, Beirut, Lebanon
Ernesto, 3, Firenze, Italy
Naya, 3, Managua, Nicaragua
Lauren, 6, Muskoka, Canada
Callum, 4, Fairbanks, Alaska
Talia, 5, Timimoun, Algeria
Allenah, 4, El Nido, Philippines
Puput, 4, Ubud, Bali
Julia, 3, Tirana, Albania
Norden, 5, Sidi Benzarne, Morocco
Absolutely LOVE that he thinks of his bookbag and notebooks as "toys" ... they give him joy!
Why is this considered sad? I might understand the poor conditions that some live in here, but I don't see how having fewer toys is sad. They seem ok with it. Maybe I'm missing the point.
I was just about to type the same comment until i saw yours XD
Load More Replies...
this is ted, my moms had him since she was my age, he's about to be 32, my very favorite and well love with a hole on his head and one on either side of his neck. IMG_202010...50afb4.jpg 
Love all these kids, they have wonderful imaginations and kids being kids can turn anything into a toy
I love this series-- I think that it is fascinating to see what children around the world consider to be their favourite toys. It also shows a lot of the economic disparities around the world.
there was something similar to this a few years back. so thought provoking...
Children are children no matter where they’re from. Simple things could make them happy. I see it In their faces,. God bless them all. Amazing pics!!
Can donate give more old toys, clothes or others to poor children.
There often are local charities in your area if you look it up. Charities like that everywhere.
Load More Replies...
Half of these were already upvoted or downvoted for me....anyone else have that happen to? I did not do it
A belief in god and morality does not predispose someone to make an ass of themselves. You did that all by yourself.
Load More Replies...
Why is this considered sad? I might understand the poor conditions that some live in here, but I don't see how having fewer toys is sad. They seem ok with it. Maybe I'm missing the point.
I was just about to type the same comment until i saw yours XD
Load More Replies... this is ted, my moms had him since she was my age, he's about to be 32, my very favorite and well love with a hole on his head and one on either side of his neck. IMG_202010...50afb4.jpg
Love all these kids, they have wonderful imaginations and kids being kids can turn anything into a toy
I love this series-- I think that it is fascinating to see what children around the world consider to be their favourite toys. It also shows a lot of the economic disparities around the world.
there was something similar to this a few years back. so thought provoking...
Children are children no matter where they’re from. Simple things could make them happy. I see it In their faces,. God bless them all. Amazing pics!!
Can donate give more old toys, clothes or others to poor children.
There often are local charities in your area if you look it up. Charities like that everywhere.
Load More Replies... Half of these were already upvoted or downvoted for me....anyone else have that happen to? I did not do it
A belief in god and morality does not predispose someone to make an ass of themselves. You did that all by yourself.
Load More Replies...