Village Homes

A village is less populated than a city and has only a small group of homes and other buildings. This intriguing book looks at homes in rural areas, poor areas, on hilltops, and even in caves. Detailed photography show what these kinds of homes are made from, what they look like inside, and how people in different cultures decorate their homes. An energy-efficient ecovillage is also featured.

Children's Literature

Villages and the homes in them are incredibly diverse around the world, as this book shows. From quaint thatched cottages in the English countryside to remarkable cave homes in China, village people live in many different ways. Interiors of the homes reveal vibrant indigo walls in India and intricately painted floral walls in Poland. A special section is devoted to the issue of the environment, with a close look at an ecovillage. 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 village 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 has children playing a memory game using content from the book. Teachers in primary grades who are studying neighborhoods will find this book particularly helpful. Reviewer: Sheryl O'Sullivan