How to Build Your Own Country (CitizenKid)

by Valerie Wyatt (Author) Fred Rix (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade
Series: CitizenKid
How to Build Your Own Country is an interactive and totally original learning experience that shows kids how to build their very own country from scratch. This book, the only one of its kind, offers children the expertise and advice they'll need to plant their flag in the backyard, in the bedroom or online. Kids will be amazed to discover that anyone can do it. Nation-building advice is peppered with examples of events that have shaped countries throughout history, teaching young readers about government, elections, geography and global issues. Backed up with lots of amazing examples of real micronations - some established or ruled by kids - How to Build Your Own Country promises to inspire, entertain and inform young nation-builders.Want to build your very own country from scratch? It's easy: Step 1: Stake Out Your Identity ... with a flag, money and a national anthem. Learn how to put your country's name on the map.Step 2: Run the Country ... with a government, constitution, laws and an economy. Step 3: Meet the Neighbors ... and join other nations on the big issues that face the whole world, such as poverty, global warming, security and international aid. How To Build Your Own Country is part of CitizenKid: A collection of books that inform children about the world and inspire them to be better global citizens.
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$17.99

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School Library Journal

Gr 3-5 Wyatt takes a lighthearted approach to her subject, which is interspersed with real facts, dates, and occurrences. She outlines three main steps: "Stake Out Your Identity," "Run the Country," and "Meet the Neighbors." Fifteen small sections under the main headings discuss naming the country, choosing a motto, setting up a government, elections, constitution, laws, money, holidays, and more. Youngsters will enjoy the color illustrations and humor throughout. A matching activity, U-Name-It, will undoubtedly cause lots of laughter. Kids can make up passports for their imaginary country, and a labeled illustration shows all parts of the document. Creating a flag (in three steps) is another project to tap readers' artistic abilities. There's even a "Fill-in-the-blanks National Anthem" sung to the tune of "Old MacDonald Had a Farm." Various forms of government are explained -- democracy, oligarchy, theocracy, single-party rule -- along with a color cartoon of a beheaded monarch. The role of the United Nations is briefly touched upon, including the Blue Berets. A brief glossary defines globalization, political party, taxes, and more."Augusta R. Malvagno, Queens Borough Public Library, NY"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

... will be a perfect resource for kids working on class projects, as well as an entertaining read on a subject that will interest any youngster who ever wondered what it would be like to be in charge of an entire nation.—Quill & Quire
Valerie Wyatt
Valerie Wyatt is an award-winning author more than 14 nonfiction books, many of them about science. She also writes on historical topics and, from time to time, picture books.

Karen Fredericks' illustrations have appeared in many publications, including The New York Times and Scientific American. She works from her home in the Hamptons.

Classification
-
ISBN-13
9781554533107
Lexile Measure
960
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Kids Can Press
Publication date
August 20, 2009
Series
CitizenKid
BISAC categories
JNF043000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Social Science | Politics & Government
Library of Congress categories
-

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