If The World Were A Village

If The World Were A Village: A Book About The World's People - David J. Smith, illustrated by Shelagh Armstrong

ISBN:

My rating: 5 out of 5

I found this to be a very fascinating book. The premise is simple - what if the world's population fit into one village? One person represents 62 million people making the village's population 100. Each page of the book describes the ratios of the village based on languages, wealth, religion, etc. Passages from this book would be entertaining for younger children, but I feel this book is mainly targeted for intermediate ages and older. I really feel that this could be used for people of any age - from the elderly to the primary age children.

"If The World Were A Village" is a great book to teach about the world. All too often, the gravity of certain facts can be lost because of large numbers that are hard to imagine. However, when they are broken down into ratios based on merely 100 people, these facts gain a lot more weight.

I strongly recommend "If The World Were A Village" for any teacher in any grade. It teaches a lot about the world we live in in a way that is easy for most people to understand.

The Indian In The Cupboard

The Indian In The Cupboard - Lynne Reid Banks
Avon Books
ISBN: 0-380-60012-9

My rating: 4.5 out of 5

For his birthday, Omri receives a an ordinary cupboard...or so it appears. He soon discovers that it will bring to life any plastic toy that he puts into it. After he brings to life on of his toy Indians, Omri soon realizes that this newfound gift has more consequences than he first realizes.

The story is enjoyable, but I would encourage teachers to be cautious with this story. Although it touches on the fact that the media has misrepresented the Native Americans (as illustrated in the scene where Little Bear and Boone are watching TV), the book itself could send some wrong signals about the Native Americans. It would be very important for teachers to first discuss Native American culture with his/her students before reading this book.

"The Indian in the Cupboard" is a a very enjoyable read that students and teachers alike will enjoy.