How to build your own country is a children’s book that is written directly to children about how they can create their own country in their imagination, a bedroom, a backyard or a classroom. This book has step by step rules on how to properly build your own country including: flags, mottos, laws, population, government, constitution, money, and so on. It also has fun interesting facts about when and what other countries in the world may do.

Overview:
How to build your own country is a children’s book that is written directly to children and how they can create their own country. This book has step by step rules on how to properly build your own country including: flags, mottos, laws, population, government, constitution, money, and so on. It also has fun interesting facts about when and what other countries in the world may do. This book is a perfect start for anyone who would want to build their own country.

Personal Reaction:
I actually have never read this book, but I enjoyed it very much! I thought that the interesting random facts about other countries were neat and fun to know! Other cultures may run their governments different than we do, and they also may have different money and laws. The book also gives blank flags, or even mottos with blanks for students to create their own. In addition, the steps are really how you would come about making your own country and throughout the book it talks about a kid who did create his own country in his bedroom. I think this book is a fun book for children to read and learn about how a country comes together.

Classroom Extension Ideas:
1. A teacher could use this book as a starter to a new section or lesson over governments and countries.
2. A teacher can also use this book as a fun group project where the students go about making their own countries. The students can each read the book and follow the steps to making their own country. The children will be able to create their own government, rules, flags, mottos, and so on.

My first encounter with Kids Can Press was as a teenager; browsing through the library, looking for craft books, I found the Kids Can Do It series...and I was in love. A huge variety of projects, simple, easy instructions, helpful photographs....they're the epitome of craft books. Now, I am delighted to review two very unusual "how to do it" books from Kids Can Press. They've retained all the best of the Kids Can Do It series, but used it on some unusual topics!

Want to freak out your family and gross out your friends? Does fake blood sound like the perfect birthday present? Do you like gross and icky projects? Then 100% Pure Fake is the book for you! With clear, step-by-step instructions (plenty of warnings and safety precautions to reassure parents) and ingredients you can probably find in your own kitchen, you'll learn how to make different types of fake blood, scars, rotting flesh, eyeballs, the classic spill, broken glass, shrunken heads, and more! This book is genius, pure genius. What other gross craft book can you think of that not only tells you how to make fake blood....it differentiates between arterial blood, "basic" blood, and scabs? Perfect for craft programs around Halloween, even parents who don't like gross crafts will be resigned to the fool-proof projects which include cleaning-up instructions as needed!

How countries are formed on the global scale isn't something you often see in children's books - still less how governments work. At least, you don't see it in books kids will want to check out! At my library I have a tidy shelf of how-the-government-works books. I dust them every week. Booooring. But what if you weren't just reading about it....what if you were starting your own country? With step-by-step instructions, plenty of humor, fascinating facts about other country builders, large and small, and quirky illustrations, Valerie Wyatt and Fred Rix have created the perfect book for showing kids how governments are formed and stabilized (or not). And the how-to part isn't just a gimmick - the information and history is built around actual instructions on forming your own micronation and there's plenty of stories of people who did just that! This book is part of the CitizenKid series by Kids Can Press and I'm looking forward to checking out the rest of this series! Hand this book out to kids looking for something to do, researching governments, kids interested in virtual worlds, kids interested in politics and history...the list is endless. I, myself, am already planning a program based on this excellent guide.

Verdict: Highly recommended

100% Pure Fake by Lyn Thomas
ISBN: 978-1554532902; Published August 2009 by Kids Can Press; Review copy provided by the publisher through Raab Associates

How to build your own country by Valerie Wyatt, illustrated by Fred Rix
ISBN: 978-1554533107; Published August 2009 by Kids Can Press; Review copy provided by the publisher through Raab Associates

Micronations for beginners- this uses a how-to format to talk about how countries work. And by concentrating on the very small, big topics like economy and diplomacy feel more immediate. And the suggestion for national anthems and other regalia are hilarious. Lots of jumping off points for further research. ( )