Real Kids, Real Stories, Real Change: Courageous Actions Around the World

Product Description Eleven-year-old Tilly saved lives in Thailand by warning people that a tsunami was coming. Fifteen-year-old Malika fought against segregation in her Alabama town. Ten-year-old Jean-Dominic won a battle against pesticides—and the cancer they caused in his body. Six-year-old Ryan raised $800,000 to drill water wells in Africa. And twelve-year-old Haruka invented a new environmentally friendly way to scoop dog poop. With the right role models, any child can be a hero. Thirty true stories profile kids who used their heads, their hearts, their courage, and sometimes their stubbornness to help others and do extraordinary things. As young readers meet these boys and girls from around the world, they may wonder, “What kind of hero lives inside of me?” Review “Sit back and enjoy these 30 incredible human interest stories all about children who have faced extraordinary odds and accomplished near miracles.”—Skipping Stones Magazine “A one-of-a-kind book that uses real-life examples to teach young people everywhere that they can make a positive difference.”—Midwest Book Review “Fabulous! This book is exciting, inspirational, and best of all, completely true!”—T.A. Barron, author of The Hero's Trail  “[T]hese true stories of children making significant change in their communities and countries will convince your students that one person can make a difference. The short chapters, which make excellent read alouds, tell of an eight-year-old who walked hundreds of miles to protest rain forest destruction in Mexico, a child with cancer who petitioned to stop the use of pesticides in Canada, and a young Taiwanese girl who fought for workers’ rights.”—Curriculum Connections   “A one-of-a-kind book that uses real-life examples to teach young people everywhere that they can make a positive difference.”—Midwest Book Review (Review for previous title, The Doggy Dung Disaster & Other True Stories)   “This collection of tales about real kids doing amazing things is inspiring.” —Washington Post (Review for previous title, The Doggy Dung Disaster & Other True Stories)   “ Real Kids, Real Stories, Real Change: Courageous Actions Around the World is an inspirational compendium that profiles thirty different real kids from around the world who used their skills and abilities to make a real difference, improving the world. Divided into five chapters, Real Kids, Real Stories, Real Change presents stories of kids saving the environment, kids standing up for themselves, kids helping others, kids overcoming challenges, and kids using talents and creativity. Examples include a painter of monkeys from China, a girl from India who climbs mountains, a boy in the USA who protects the habitat of endangered turtles, an orphan boy from Romania who champions the cause of other children who are orphaned and alone, an art prodigy from Japan who uses drawings to help heal the world, and more. Real Kids, Real Stories, Real Change is the perfect example of the saying, “A brave heart if a powerful weapon (Rudy Garcia-Tolson, p. 123). Real Kids, Real Stories, Real Change is written at reading level grade 5, and will have appeal for students ages 9–13.”—Midwest Book Review: Children’s Bookwatch: Reviewer’s Choice Book Description Thirty true stories profiling ordinary kids doing extraordinary things around the world About the Author Garth Sundem has written several books for teachers and kids. He has lived in many different countries and pursued various interests, including rock climbing and music. While young, Garth lived in Norway, France, and New York, and on Bainbridge Island, Washington. He has written a number of education books including Implementing an Effective Writing Program, The Ultimate Connection Kit for the Multilingual Classroom, a math-humor book titled Geek Logik, and The Geeks’ Guide to World Domination.