Island Homes

This intriguing book looks at home on big islands, such as Japan, as well as small islands, such as Cebu in the Philippines. From houses made of concrete and steel to houses built on stilts with thatched roofs, detailed photography shows what these kinds of homes are made from and what they look like inside. Fascinating topics include how people living on islands are affected by extreme temperatures, volcanoes, hurricanes, and rising sea levels.

Children's Literature

From the urban living on Manhattan Island in New York to the fishing lifestyle of the people of tiny Cebu Island in the Philippines, this book offers a fascinating look at the many ways people can live on islands. Riveting photographs bring to life such diverse house constructions as islanders in Fiji who weave mats for the floors of their houses out of local grasses, and islanders in Indonesia who build their houses on stilts to keep out snakes. A special section is devoted to the dangers weather can pose for island peoples, especially hurricanes, volcanoes, and rising sea levels due to global warming. Part of the "Homes Around the World" series, this book shares many important features with others in the series, such as wonderful, compelling photography from around the world to illustrate the homes, and interesting sidebars to further student understanding. Designed for younger readers, books in the series contain limited text and simplified research aids including a glossary, an index, and a list of other resources. Chapters focus on definition, environment, school, play, work, and other information about people who live in island homes. Key terms are in bold and pictures are well captioned. A world map shows the location of some of the houses mentioned. An interesting activity at the end of the book asks children to create a brochure to sell an island home. Teachers in primary grades who are studying neighborhoods will find this book particularly helpful. Reviewer: Sheryl O'Sullivan