Our Heroes: How Kids Are Making a Difference

by Janet Wilson

Biographies of ten children from around the world who opened up their hearts and minds to the injustices of the world and took action, changing their world for the better. In addition to the ten main profiles, sidebars feature many more children. Included is eleven-year-old Andrew Adansi-Bonnah from Ghana, who raised thousands of dollars for refugee children in Somalia after seeing their desperate situation covered in the news. Another child profiled is twelve-year-old Mimi Ausland from the United States, nicknamed "Dr. Doolittle" by her family. After learning about the shortage of food for shelter animals, she started a website to collect donations of dog and cat food; her site is now one of the most visited animal-rescue websites in the world. These children never set out to be heroes or to become famous, but they are role-models for us all.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Cultural, Social Justice

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 15, 2014

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Profiling ten youngsters from across the globe who are making a difference in the world, this book is simply inspiring. Not only may it prompt others to do their share to change things that need to be changed or right some wrongs, but it also may remind many children to be grateful for what they have. Some of the projects involved funding salaries for teachers for girls, working for a Children's Peace Forest, raising money for soccer equipment, uniforms, and fields, aiding the homeless, and collecting funds to stamp out hunger. There are several quotes about changing the world from the subjects of the book as well as from famous individuals who made a difference in their own ways. In addition to the brief stories about these world-changers, there are even more thumbnail sketches spelling out other ways the next generation is taking action to make a difference now, while they are young. This book would be a wonderful way to introduce a school or class community service project and teach students empathy as well as encourage them to feel empowered and able to make a change in their own small corner of the world.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an inspirational book!

I went online halfway through reading my digital ARC from Netgalley and bought a hardback copy for my 11 year old son. He is a sensitive boy with a compassionate nature and frequently talks about changing the things he considers are wrong with the world. I wanted him to see that if he wanted it enough, he too could make a difference, and what better way to inspire him than with 'Our Heroes: How Kids Are Making A Difference.'

The determination of these inspirational children, some so young still, should be a lesson to us all. I would go as far as to say that every classroom and every library should have a readily accessible copy or copies so that our future adults feel empowered to not just want change, but to make it happen.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read, rate and review this amazing book.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an inspiring book for children and adults. Each vignette features a child who had a simple revelation regarding issues like bullying, hunger, education and even body image and they took action. This book highlights stories of children from around the world and tells the reader how they can get involved by volunteering, donating items or time, helping others and starting organizations of their own. It's refreshing to read a book about true heroes, not celebrities or athletes. I highly recommend.

[Debbie Tanner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a terrific picture book about kids who are making a difference in the world. Each page profiles a child from a different country with an illustration as well as photographs and an explanation of this child has made a difference. There are lots of different kinds of stories from trying to help other kids who are hungry or homeless as well as trying to help animals. I think kids would love to read this one.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely book of short, inspiring biographies and stories about children who have done something to help change the world for the better. From 7 year old Taiyo in Canada who raised money to help children in Japan to 12 year old Arti in India who is working to abolish the caste system, the children are helping others in big ways. I think kids will enjoy the book and find it to be very inspiring.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Janet Wilson shows how children of different ages and cultures worked to help others. This book inspires children to act and tells them they can make a difference not matter how,old they are. The beautiful illustrations illuminate the children featured in the book.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book profiles ten children from across the globe who are making a difference in the world. It is inspiring to both children and adults. Not only does it send the message that anyone can make a difference, but it also may remind many children to be grateful for what they have.

Some of the projects involved funding salaries for teachers for girls, working for a Children's Peace Forest, raising money for soccer equipment, uniforms, and fields, aiding the homeless, and collecting funds to stamp out hunger. The projects range from very simple (collecting socks for the homeless) to more complex (speaking to a village about discrimination and allowing lower castes in India to do things they were not allowed in the past). There are several quotes about changing the world from the subjects of the book as well as from famous individuals who made a difference in their own ways. In addition to the brief stories about these world-changers, there are even more thumbnail sketches throughout the book and at the end, showing other ways the next generation is taking action to make a difference while they are young.

This book would be a wonderful way to introduce a school or class community service project and teach students empathy as well as encourage them to feel empowered and able to make a change in their own small corner of the world. One of the things I love about this book was the mention of Sarah Lewis, student from one of the schools I taught at, and her project about Socks for the homeless.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our Heroes by Janet Wilson is an inspirational, moving and visually appealing book about children who take action in the face of injustice. The message if the book is two-fold: 1. that change is possible and everyone can do their share and 2. we need each other to solve problems and cannot do this alone. Each child, at some point, was touched by seeing a real-world problem close at hand and decided to do act. They organized by reaching out to others and coming up with solutions that were creative and made an impact. The best part of the book is it gorgeous artwork; colorful, vivid and compelling. I really liked the short biographies at the end where there was a description of the actions that were taken. At times when I was reading the longer biographies I wanted to know more concretely how each project or action was actually organized. These shorter biographies showed me this and I came away feeling hopeful about our youth and all those who act to make a difference.

Thank you to Netgalley and Second Story Press for allowing to review this book for an honest opinion.