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Book Review: How to Build Your Own Country

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I think most kids think about what it would be like to run their own country from time to time, and How to Build Your Own Country by Valerie Wyatt helps kids to do just that, whether their nation is their bedroom, backyard or even a corner of the Internet.

The best part? It only takes three simple steps!

First, you stake out your identity, including your country’s name, flag and other national symbols. You’ll learn how to attract a population, design a passport and make a Mad Libs-style national anthem.

Second, run your country by choosing the style of government (some of the choices are described in the book), holding elections, writing a constitution and making laws. It covers the services your citizens might expect from your government and why taxation is a popular way to make provide services.

Finally, you’ll meet the neighbors with some facts about nations (biggest and smallest, oldest and newest, etc.), different organizations of nations you can join and how to keep the peace in your nation.

Funny stories and cautionary tales are sprinkled in about tiny nations from around the world, voting mishaps, ridiculous laws and more. There’s a fact file for the fictional nation of Bathmatia, which you can use to develop your own information about your imagined nation.

This would be a fun book to read in class or at home and have kids develop their own nations, whether they imagine an undiscovered island to be their kingdom or start a new nation in the bedroom. Great for social studies classes or patriotic unit studies around national holidays.

Along the way kids will learn about the basic systems of government and the basics of what it takes to run a country.

About the book: 40 pages, paperback, published 2024 by Kids Can Press, suggested retail price $11.99.

Have you read?

Beach Crafts Kids Can Make — No Vacation Required

Last month I shared a collection of beach crafts that used items from the beach like seashells and sand. This month’s collection is all about beach animals and things you might see at the beach that don’t require beachy materials to make. In fact you’ve probably got what you need to make most of these beach crafts in your house already. 

How about paper plates? With a paper plate you can make this cute watercolor seashell from The Educator’s Spin on It, or an adorable seagull like this one from Glued to My Crafts. 

Add some white beans and you can make paper plate sand dollars like Crafts by Amanda. Or use a paper plate as a frame for a sweet beach scene like this crab and turtle one from Artsy Craftsy Mom, which includes a downloadable template and instructions to make it super easy. 

Or grab a paper plate and some bubble wrap to make a jellyfish like this one from Happy Toddler Playtime. If you have paper bowls instead of plates, you can also make a jellyfish from one of those, like Natural Beach Living did. 

Use your stash of craft sticks and googly eyes to make crabs, fish, sharks and more with this craft idea from The Keeper of the Cheerios. 

I love this little crab made with a cardboard tube from Hunny I’m Home. With this same idea I’ll bet you could make lots of different creatures. 

Grab some construction paper to make the loopy tentacles on this watercolor jellyfish from Craftsy Hacks. Or make a stained glass jellyfish like this one from Life Anchored.

Make easy puffy paint to make these fun fluffy starfish from I Heart Crafty Things, or use cupcake liners to make cute little crabs (also from I Heart Crafty Things). 

Turn an old pool noodle into some super cute fish with this tutorial from Happy Toddler Playtime. 

And if you’ve got some leftover yarn lying around, make pompoms and turn them into turtles like these from Craftsy Hacks. (And check out my post on different ways to make pompoms if you need a refresher!)

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