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Children's Nonfiction General

If America Were a Village

A Book about the People of the United States

by (author) David J. Smith

illustrated by Shelagh Armstrong

Publisher
Kids Can Press
Initial publish date
Aug 2009
Category
General, Customs, Traditions, Anthropology, Sociology
Recommended Age
8 to 12
Recommended Grade
3 to 7
Recommended Reading age
8 to 12
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9781554533442
    Publish Date
    Aug 2009
    List Price
    $18.99
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9781771381635
    Publish Date
    Jan 2013
    List Price
    $18.99

Classroom Resources

Download Student Activity

Where to buy it

Description

America, with all its diversity, is not easily defined. David J. Smith's If America Were a Village takes a snapshot - past, present and future - to help define America for children. Using the same successful metaphor of the international bestseller If the World Were a Village, the book shrinks down America to a village of 100. The metaphor helps children easily understand American ethnic origins, religions, family profiles, occupations, wealth, belongings and more. Shelagh Armstrong's expansive illustrations imagine America as a classic, vibrant small town. Who are the people living in this vast and varied nation? Where did they come from? What are they like today? How do they compare with people in other countries? The book's simple statistical analysis provides a new way of learning about where people live in America, the state of their health, the shapes and sizes of families, what they use and more - forming a concise picture of a country.

If America Were a Village is part of CitizenKid: A collection of books that inform children about the world and inspire them to be better global citizens.

About the authors

David J. Smith is a teacher and educational consultant with over 25 years of experience in the classroom and is the creator of the award-winning curriculum "Mapping the World by Heart."

David J. Smith's profile page

Shelagh Armstrong is a freelance commercial artist who has designed adult book covers, stamps and commemorative coins .If the World Were a Village was her first children's book. She lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Shelagh Armstrong's profile page

Awards

  • Winner, Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, NCSS-CBC

Editorial Reviews

The premise isn't new, but it's never been used to better effect for deepening the understanding that children have about the 306 million (and counting) other people with whom they share this land.—Kirkus Reviews

... ideally, it will inspire deeper thought and consideration ...—School Library Journal

A whole new way to think about our country.—Booklist

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