Junior Library Guild

Given the realities of globalization and the world’s linked economies, this title is as important as it is informative. The first chapter, “What Is an Economy,” introduces foundational facts before subsequent chapters cover how different countries face the same economic hurdles, how their unique economic systems affect the global market, and what kind of money is used throughout the world (e.g., India uses rupees and Japan uses yen). Terms such as free-market economy, gross domestic product, and socialism are explained and numerous color photos, diagrams, sidebars, and a graph break up the text. A glossary, reading list, Web site list, and an index round out the final pages, while answers to trivia questions and a summary make sure readers have digested all the data.