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2030: A Day in the Life of Tomorrow's Kids

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Technological advances are made every day, it seems. How will they change our lives over the course of the next 20 years? More specifically: What will it be like to be a kid in the year 2030?

"2030" follows a young boy as he wakes up, goes to school, plays with a friend, and eventually returns to bed. Something new (to us) and innovative shows up at every turn. From owning a dog with a computerized collar that can translate barking into English, to living in an eco-village cluster development and attending virtual batting practice, the text explores a variety of technological advancements that would affect a child. Some inventions or predictions seem far-fetched; others could be very close to implementation. (A GPS in every vehicle is an example of the latter.) Adults who turn these pages may be reminded of gadgets they saw in episodes of the Jetsons, Star Trek, Star Wars, or even the Back to the Future movies. "Clean-a-rella" could be Rosie the Robot's twin sister, quite frankly. After reading this book, young people could be prompted to think and to participate in discussions about what the future might hold for them.

The book may have trouble finding its real audience, though. The text is far too complex for the listed pre-pub target readership, "Ages 6-8." In fact, many members of that group would have trouble sitting still long enough for an adult to read the whole book to them. More likely readers would be the middle graders, represented by the "Ages 9-12" notice that the publisher now lists for the entry. But since the information is presented in picture book format, those kids may assume that the content is for "babies" and pass it by without opening the covers. Some might even think the pictures are too "cartoony." What a dilemma! It will take some effort by a parent, a teacher, or a librarian to offer this book to a youngster who is ready for it.

John Manders' illustrations are bright, colorful, and detailed. Authors Amy Zuckerman and James Daly are obviously familiar with their subject matter. The information presented here is interesting. But the book could have been made more interactive and more kid-friendly. Add a glossary to explain new or complex terms. Post simple discussion questions at the end, or scatter them throughout the volume. Have an accompanying web site that does more than merely advertise the book; one where young people can explore or experiment with even more innovations. As it stands now, there's no follow-up or any kind of prompt for a child to respond to, once the book is finished.

Very few children's books address the topics of technology or future studies. That could be because elementary school students live very much in the present. The future to them may mean summer vacation or Christmas or an upcoming birthday. Wondering what everyday life will be like 20 years from now can be a tremendous intellectual leap for a young person. And once they are able to grasp that concept, they may be disappointed to realize that they will be ADULTS in the year 2030, and therefore probably won't live the young and carefree life of the boy in the book anyway. Yes, unfortunately, this one's a real puzzler.

What will the world look like after President Obama's Green Jobs stimulus package has had 20 years to work some wonders? Amy Zuckerman and James Daly have researched current technology to explore what will be possible and eco-friendly in the coming decades. Brightly illustrated and clearly written this lets today's kids imagine what life will be like for their children, who might live in solar homes that recapture gray water...take hologram tours of distant locales in their classroom...ride in a car that drives itself...wear clothing with embedded Green technology to power all their personal gadgets, and much more.

If you've ever talked to your parents or grandparents about what they had, or didn't have in some cases, when they were kids you'd be amazed. Computers and cell phones were only dreams. The closest thing to a cell phone was the sort of thing Captain Kirk used to phone Dr. Spock on Star Trek and a remote control meant asking to one closest to the television to turn the channel. In this book the authors tell you to "buckle your seat belt and get ready-it's time to take a trip to the year 2030." Hang on tight, this book is something else!

Your clothes will have miniature solar discs that are right in the weave of the cloth so you won't need batteries to run all your "portable gadgets and games." Your data orb will not only tell you when someone is trying to reach you, but can also translate what your dog it trying to tell you. A robot will clean your house and smart appliances, which "use a special computer language and wireless signals," will be so sensitive they'll have breakfast ready for you before you enter the kitchen. Everything will be eco-friendly and you'll probably will live in an eco-village with your family. It all sounds soooo Harry Potterish doesn't it?

This book is fun, fun, fun and futuristic. The idea and gadgets are definite possibilities and, as we all know, with technological advances can become reality in 2030. The illustrations are appealing and have a jazzy graphic novel look to them. Get ready for a ride into the future with this great book. Say, have you been to the doctor lately to "upgrade your disease-fighting robots?" If so, you might want to take along this book to read in the waiting room!

Amy Zuckerman and James Daly's 2030: A DAY IN THE LIFE OF TOMORROW'S KIDS takes a look at what a kid's life might be like in the world of tomorrow, based on scientific trends and discoveries today. From amazing video presentations to the ability to beam health information directly to a doctor's office, this is filled with many engaging amazing possibilities!