(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Steve Adams. Smith "scales down" related, unfathomably large distances, time frames, or data (the history of Earth, all of the world's energy, life expectancy, etc.) to "things we can see, feel and touch," making the ideas comprehensible for kids. Playful, surrealistic art celebrates the book's imaginative concept and gives a visual reality to the comparisons. A note with activities is included. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Chuck Gonzales. Also written by Robin Epstein. This amusing volume describes various disasters and tips for how to survive them. Topics are arranged in alphabetical order from airplanes to woods, with a double-page spread devoted to each. Ample graphics and colorful pages enhance the presentation. Students will be entertained and informed as they browse. Ind.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Shelagh Armstrong. This volume is packed with stories about children around the world in addition to thought-provoking child welfare statistics. The lack of maps is a drawback, especially since the acrylic-illustration spreads move from country to country without clear delineation. Useful teaching features include a kid-friendly version of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and lots of learning activities. Websites. Bib.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Shelagh Armstrong. This updated second edition asks readers to imagine "the whole population of the world as a village of just 100 people," with each person representing sixty-nine million people (it was sixty-two million in the previous edition). Smith covers topics such as nationalities, languages, food, etc. Accurately detailed acrylic art illustrates the thought-provoking book.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2002

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Shelagh Armstrong. In this companion to If the World Were a Village, Smith represents the population of the United States as a village of one hundred people. The text illustrates statistics such as languages spoken, occupations, and age; it's a creative and accessible way to present the statistical information. The accompanying paintings are friendly and accomplished. Websites. Bib.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Shelagh Armstrong. If you imagine "the whole population of the world as a village of just 100 people," each person represents sixty-two million people from the real world. Using this device, Smith covers topics such as nationalities (only five people in the village are from the U.S.), languages (nine speak English), food ("only 24 people always have enough to eat"), and so on. Accurately detailed artwork illustrates the thought-provoking book.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2002