We Are Citizens

Children's Literature - Carrie Hane Hung

Children are citizens and part of a community. Students can read about what it means to be a citizen at home, school, or play. There are suggestions on how they can do their part as citizens with their families, classmates, and communities. For instance, the text describes citizens caring for the earth. In the picture, children are cleaning litter in the pond. Teachers, however, may need to discuss safety with the students because in the photograph children are picking up litter without gloves for protection. The information is general so additional discussion may help students with the concepts. A study unit would require additional resources and activities to understand further the ideas about citizenship. Readers may need some guidance with the informational-text features of the book. The main body of text is divided into chapters with clear headings. There are color photographs throughout the book; many of the snapshots have captions or labels. The bold print words are supported with a picture, and these words are located in the glossary. There is an index, a list with two additional resources, and brief information about the author. This book is a part of the "Scholastic News Nonfiction Readers—We the Kids" series, which covers different aspects of citizenship. Reviewer: Carrie Hane Hung