If the World Were 100 People

WINNER of The Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize 2022.

WINNER of the ALCS Educational Writers’ Award 2023.

“A terrific find for social studies teachers seeking to promote inquiry and active citizenship.” Picked by School Library Journal for the Best Nonfiction books of 2021.

Shortlisted for the Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize 2022

So what does our global village of 100 people look like? Are they all grown-ups? Are there more males or females? How many have black hair or blue eyes? What languages do they speak? Who can read and write? How many have access to the internet or have enough food to eat? Does everyone have access to electricity or clean water?

This book answers all of these questions and much, much more! Big ideas are broken into bitesize chunks through clever illustration and graphic design. By focussing on just 100 people, it's easier to see the things we have in common, and the things that make us unique. If the World Were 100 People is a perfect introduction about the world we live in for children aged 5+ and a wonderful way to support them in becoming global citizens. Great to read at home or in the classroom.

So come and meet the people in our global village, and think about the big questions that affect us all!

Reviews

“I was blown away by the way the facts were presented. I love the illustrations in this book, and how they bought the story to life. You can see a glimpse into everyone around the world, and how we all come in different shapes, sizes, colours and abilities.” – Nathan Bryon, panellist on the Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize 2022 and award-winning author

“This visually engaging nonfiction picture book begins with a simple conceit: “It’s tricky to picture 8,000,000,000 people, so instead, let’s imagine the whole planet is a village where 100 people live.” The upfront prose gently advocates for change where needed: “Every year, about a third of all the food produced in the world goes to waste. That is more than enough to feed the 11 people who are hungry.” Bright, eye-catching art by Cushley features an inclusive cast and additional annotated facts. An informative, appealing primer on societal data.” US Publishers Weekly

“Budding mathematicians, economists, sociologists, and ecologists will all find something useful in this percentage-based look at human life on Earth. Reducing the world’s population of (roughly) 8 billion humans to a community of 100 souls allows readers to wrap their heads around some pretty big concepts. A colorful cast of unibrowed characters representing the world’s population fills each page, and the range of skin tones, hairstyles, garb, abilities, weight, and age will help readers understand just how diverse the human population can be. Educators may find the book a useful addition to their shelves, and the book may serve as a springboard for discussions or projects.” Kirkus Reviews