Why We Live Where We Live

Gr 4–6—An ambitious look at the various settings humans inhabit and how they have adapted. Vermond attempts to pack a ton of information on climate, the environment, and human effects into a fairly slim volume. The book starts by explaining why humans live on Earth and near the end includes a section on the possibility of branching out to other planets. Short chapters address issues that affect where people choose to live, such as food distribution, availability of water, comfort, electrical power, money, commuting, and more. The tone is chatty, and the writing is clear and accessible. Abundant cartoon illustrations throughout pop with color. Though there's a lot of material to cover, Vermond does a decent job explaining why people live where they do. Suitable as a starting-off point for further research.—Anne Chapman Callaghan, Racine Public Library, WI