Our Earth

L.J. Rouse was a freelance writer in Toronto.

Six new titles continue the popular In My World Series, which operates on the sound educational practice of beginning where the child is, and working outward from there. The earlier titles focused on the child’s own person, family, home, and friends, as well as the child’s gradually broadening horizon of school and interests farther afield.

How We Communicate is an introduction to the methods by which people convey messages to one another — through speech, by signs, in writing, over the telephone, etc. Various activities related to the topic are suggested. A communications dictionary explains unfamiliar terms.

How We Travel takes the child through the earliest days of travel — on foot or horseback, by wagon, on ships and trains, etc. — to flying, and includes information on transportation support terminals such as highway service stations and airports. Further, there are safety tips, related travel activities, and a glossary of unfamiliar terms. The illustrations are big and bold.

Life Through the Ages traces the beginnings of humankind through civilizations in the old and new worlds, to the Middle Ages and feudalism. In this book, Kalman also explores mercantilism and the urge to explore and usurp new territories. A glossary of unfamiliar terms has been added.

Natural Resources is an introduction to the topic of renewable and non-renewable resources. It discusses the kinds of resources we need such as food, water, fuel, minerals, wildlife, and precious commodities as well as the importance of conservation. A glossary is provided.

Our Earth introduces children to physical geography — mountains, deserts, rivers, islands, caverns, etc. In addition, it sounds an alarm on the effect pollution is having on all aspects of life, and points to the solar system as the new frontier. It includes a glossary.

People and Places describes how people live in cities, villages, and the country; in northern areas as well as the tropics; on islands and in mid-continent — in fact, all over the world. The illustrations, here, are particularly attractive. It, too, includes a glossary.