All About U.S.: A Look at the Lives of 50 Real Kids from Across the United States

Authors: Matt Lamothe and Jenny Volvoski
Illustrators: Matt Lamothe and Jenny Volvoski

What makes you YOU? Is it the way you do your hair and the clothes you like wearing? Is it the hobbies and extracurricular activities you partake in? Is it the family you come from and the environment around you? According to this month’s NVMM Reads, it is a combination of all those things and more! There are so many factors that play a role in your life, some that you might not even think about. From the things you find most interesting to the place(s) you grew up in, everything you see and do helps shape who you are and how you perceive the world.

All About U.S. arranges a brief look at the lives of 50 kids living across the United States. Traveling from East to West, readers get to see a quick glance at how different children and their families interact with their communities. After going through 249 applicants, these families were interviewed to gain more insight into their lives for a more detailed story development. Demographics were also collected, generating a general breakdown of the families and how they compare to those of the U.S. as a whole. While every single person is unique in their own way, this book is a beautiful reminder of how different and yet the same we all can be, whether across the street or many hours away.

Download Printable Reading Guide

Extend Your Learning:

Use these comprehension questions with your kids or students to build their literacy skills! (Separate them)

What is the name of the kid from the state you live in?
Although the book only shares stories from people living in the 50 states of the U.S., there are other places, called territories (and one district), that fall under the sovereignty of the United States. Can you name them?
All the kids in the book had something that they enjoyed doing in their free time. What is something that you like doing in yours?
What is the name of one kid you could relate to in the book? How?
What is one new thing you learned from this book that intrigued you?
What is at least one state you would like to learn more about? What would you like to learn about it?

Want to learn more about different U.S. states? Visit this website for more information on each of them: U.S. states and territories | National Geographic Kids
Visit the Smithsonian Learning Lab to learn more about how people have lived throughout history in different places, including where you are from: Smithsonian Learning Lab: Discover, Create, Share

Mapping the Journey

“What Makes Home?” Collage

Home, however you define it, can look many different ways. Use this activity to create a collage of what home looks like to you!

What you will need: Magazines/books, paper, writing/drawing utensils, scissors, and glue or tape.
What you will be doing: Using the materials you have, create a collage showing things that represent home to you, such as people, pets, objects, foods, and traditions. Then, discuss what each items displayed means to you and how home is more than a building.

If you are one of our central Ohio neighbors, check out the book at your local branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library where the book is available. Then come to the NVMM and learn more about unique Veteran stories that can be found throughout United States History.

Back to Blog

NVMM Reads: All About U.S.: A Look at the Lives of 50 Real Kids from Across the United States

Extend Your Learning:

The NVMM is Open on MLK Day!

$1 Admission on Jan. 16 in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.