What Is Government?

Help students understand the vital roles local and state governments play in society!

This social studies book explains how governments make laws and rules, provide services, and protect people in their communities. Clear examples show that government is built on cooperation and shared responsibility. The book connects what students experience at home and school to how towns, states, and the nation function.

What Is Government?

• Links the important functions of local and state services to students’ everyday lives
• Provides an infographic showing levels of cooperation from the personal to federal level, encouraging civic responsibility
• Includes an annotated town hall agenda that illustrates how government decisions can be made

What Is Government? is part of the Knowledge Builders: Social Studies Readers series. This series introduces young learners to the world with high-quality nonfiction that is captivating and informative. Each book blends engaging text with striking primary source imagery and dynamic text features, allowing every student to connect with social studies content in meaningful ways.

| Help students understand the vital roles local and state governments play in society! What Is Government? shows what governments do and how they help us. |

Lisa Perlman Greathouse started her writing career as a journalist, working for The Associated Press for over a decade. There, she reported on hundreds of stories, from interviewing presidential candidates to covering plane crashes. From there, she joined a communications agency, where she launched a custom publishing division and developed award-winning magazines for major clients.
During her professional writing career, Lisa's deep commitment to public education launched an interest in writing children's books. Over the past 20 years, she has written dozens of titles for Teacher Created Materials, mostly nonfiction readers, with a focus on science and social studies. Among her favorites is a biography about President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Lisa is a staunch public education advocate who has run for her local school board. She has two adult children and lives in Southern California with her partner.