David J. Smith (author) facts for kids

David J. Smith is an American teacher, writer, and educational expert. He is known for creating books and programs that help young people understand the world better.

About David J. Smith

David J. Smith taught English, geography, and social studies for over 25 years. He was born on April 24 in Boston, Massachusetts. He became well-known for his unique way of teaching students to draw maps from memory. This special method is part of his program called "Mapping the World by Heart."

Since 1992, David has worked as a full-time educational consultant. He travels to many places like the US, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. He gives talks to teachers, parents, and students about technology, geography, and important global topics. Today, he lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.

How His Work Is Recognized

Many important news groups have noticed David Smith's successful teaching methods. These include NBC's Today Show, the Los Angeles Times, and the Associated Press. He has also written articles for major publications. Some of these are The New York Times Education Life section and "The International Educator."

Awards for David's Work

In 1992, David Smith received a special award from the US Department of Education. It was called the "A+ for Breaking the Mold" Award. This award recognized his new and creative ways of teaching.

Awards for His Books

David Smith's book If the World Were a Village: A Book About the World's People has won many awards. This book was illustrated by Shelagh Armstrong.

• Premio H.C.Andersen Award in 2003 (for the Italian version)
• International Reading Association Children's Book Award 2003
• IRA and Children's Book Council Children's Choice Book for 2003
• International Reading Association Teachers' Choice Book
• National Parenting Publications Awards—Gold Award Winner 2003
• Smithsonian Magazine "Notable Book of the Year"

Books by David J. Smith

Here are some of the books David J. Smith has written:

• IF: A Mind-Bending New Way of Looking At Big Ideas and Numbers, Kids Can Press; (September 2014), ISBN: 978-1894786348
• If the World Were a Village - Second Edition: A Book about the World's People, Kids Can Press; 2 edition (February 1, 2011), ISBN: 978-1554535958
• This Child, Every Child: A Book about the World's Children, Kids Can Press (February 1, 2011) ISBN: 978-1554534661
• If America Were a Village: A Book about the People of the United States, Kids Can Press, Ltd.; First edition (August 1, 2009), ISBN: 978-1554533442
• If the World Were a Village: A Book about the World's People, CitizenKid, by David J. Smith and Shelagh Armstrong (March 1, 2002), ISBN: 978-1550747799
• David Smith's Mapping the World By Heart, Fablevision Learning, Dedham, MA; (July 2010), ISBN: 978-1891405655