" Today there are 306 million people living in America. This enormous number can be difficult to grasp, especially for a child. But what if we imagine America as a village of just 100 people?
In this village:
- 75 are white, 12 are black, 1 is Native America and 4 are Asian. The remaining 8 consider themselves members of some other race or of mixed race.
- 82 consider themselves Christian, 2 are Buddhists, 1 is Jewish, 1 is Muslim, 4 practice other world religions and 10 consider themselves non-religious.
- 5 people have more than half of all the wealth, while the 60 poorest people share only 4 percent of the wealth.
Each page breaks down all types of subjects, from religion to employment to age to stuff we own and energy we consume. It's a really neat way of educating ourselves (children AND adults) as to how the United States compares to other countries on all of these different topics.
This would make an excellent classroom resource, especially if you were to use the previous title If the World Were a Village, as a companion. A great way to get your kids to start asking important questions and to open their eyes to discussions we all need to have.
To learn more or to purchase, click on the book cover above to link to Amazon.
If America Were a Village: A Book about the People of the United States
David J. Smith
Kids Can Press