Communities children live in today are compared to those of about 150 years ago. A table of contents introduces the definition of community and the components of community life: homes, shopping, schools, games, foods, clothing, cooperation, travel, and technology. Each chapter consists of two facing pages with a statement about modern life on the left and a contrasting historic example on the right. The present day child lives in a nine-room apartment; people of long ago lived in a one all purpose room. Children of today go to shopping malls; in the past they went to a general store.