This book covers all aspects that affect why people live where they live. Many different topics are explained, like how Earth came to be, how food is grown and how it is transported around the world, electricity, water, language, money and jobs, immigration, the history of cities, culture, city planning, natural disasters, climate change, space and space colonization, and how countries measure their overall happiness. I felt extremely informed while reading, and while I knew most of the stuff that was being taught in the book, I still managed to learn a few new things. I also think that everything is explained in a very easily understandable manner, plus there's a glossary in the back of the book with many terms in it that are present in the text. I think this book would be great to teach any of the topics that are covered in the book, but I don't think reading all of it to kids in one sitting would be great, since it's fairly long and wordy (not that that's a bad thing!). ( )

This is an outstanding book! Just WOW! First, in 48 pages, the amount of information presented/covered by the author/editor was incredible - an amazing job. Well-organized, well-presented, and most importantly, keeping things relevant re: the topic at hand. Also, composed for the short-attention span audience, each topic is grouped in blocks or brief paragraphs with balloons and other free text effects isolating key concepts; the repeated use of the “Live and Learn” balloon is a good example. For anyone doing project-based learning, or raising a budding planning geek/working with a wonderfully precocious student, this book should more than satisfy that curiosity. ( )