Why We Live Where We Live

by Kira Vermond, Julie McLaughlin (Illustrator)

Overview

table of contents; glossary; index; fact boxes; maps; headings and subheadings; charts and graphs; sidebars; key terms defined within text;

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781771470810
Publisher:	OWLKIDS BOOKS
Publication date:	09/09/2014
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.20(d)
Lexile:	930L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

KIRA VERMOND is an award-winning writer with over 1,000 articles to her name. She is a frequent contributor to the Globe and Mail, Chatelaine, and Today's Parent and is the author of The Secret Life of Money: A Kid's Guide to Cash, which was nominated for the Red Maple Award. She lives in Guelph, ON.

JULIE MCLAUGHLIN is an illustrator living in Vancouver, BC.

Table of Contents

Contents

Introduction
Planet Perfect
The Comfort Zone
Food in All the Right Places
Just Add Water
Power Gives Us a Buzz
Say What?
Falling Far from the Family Tree
Money Is a Roam'n Numeral
Immigrating for a Better Life
A History of Cities
The City Surge
Live Where You Work
This Place Feels Just Right
Planning a Livable City
Urban Planning Gone Wild
Life in the Danger Zone
Get Out of Town
Climate Change on the Move
Space, the Final Frontier
The Happiest Places on Earth
Home: It's All Yours
Glossary
Index

Editorial Reviews

"For curious kids who want to know all about the world (what's climate change and why did Grandpa immigrate, anyway?), this non-fiction book has the answers."

Today's Parent Magazine

"It's a fascinating subject, and one the duo tackles with a refreshing lack of silliness."

Quill & Quire - Nathan Whitlock

"The friendly text and amusing illustrations make the sometimes difficult subject matter accessible. This is an excellent book for the classroom, school projects, and those children (all children?) who are always asking, 'Why?'"

National Reading Campaign

"The conversational tone of the text is complemented by Julie McLaughlin's colourful illustrations which are dynamic and, at times, humorous."

Resource Links

"This resource asks a unique question and stimulates young readers, ages 8-12, to engage in the world around them. It would be a great inclusion to any social studies, history or science curriculum to help youngsters understand the way society has evolved and their place within it."

Green Teacher Magazine

"This selection is a pleasant and helpful addition to social science, career, urban/country comparisons, and environmental issues."

Library Media Connection

"Concisely written but packed with a wealth of up-to-date information, Why We Live Where We Live has excellent potential to spark discussions among young readers as they consider their identity, their relationships with other people and cultures, and how they might want to influence the future of living situations."

Canadian Review of Materials

"This unusual book offers a surprising amount of information, organized and presented in an appealing way."
– Kirkus Reviews

"Clear and accessible."
– School Library Journal

"An accessible primer on the development of human civilization, with plenty of potential to spur classroom activities and conversation."
– Publishers Weekly

"This resource asks a unique question and stimulates young readers, ages 8-12, to engage in the world around them. It would be a great inclusion to any social studies, history or science curriculum to help youngsters understand the way society has evolved and their place within it."
–Green Teacher Magazine

From the Publisher

2014-08-13
Why do people choose to live where they do in our world? Vermond's introduction to that big question points out that humans adapt: They use their big brains and work together to make places livable. A comfortable climate, readily available food and water, power for heat, light, transportation and communication, people who speak the same language, nearby families and plentiful jobs are just some of the things people are looking for. From the "Planet Perfect" to making your hometown one of "The Happiest Places on Earth," the author considers human needs, briefly surveys the development of cities, explains what urban planners do, considers the reasons for living in a dangerous place as well as the reasons for moving, and touches on the effects of climate change and the possibility of living elsewhere in the universe. Each spread covers a separate topic. The extensive, conversational text is often set in columns and broken down into short segments, each with a heading, moving along quickly. A lively design and humorous illustrations add appeal. Unfortunately, there are no sources or suggestions for further reading. This unusual book offers a surprising amount of information, organized and presented in an appealing way for upper-elementary students. (glossary, index) (Nonfiction. 8-11)

Kirkus Reviews