All of the people featured in these titles, have made a difference in the lives of others. Books to inspire and to lead to classroom discussions!
Malala, My Story of Standing Up for Girls’ Rights, written by Malala Yousafzai with Patricia McCormick.
This is a wonderful nonfiction chapter book, helping young readers to understand the story of Malala, why she is so well known and why she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The narrative puts into context the political situation in Pakistan in 2010 – 2020. It helps us to visualize family life for girls in Muslim countries and to see how difficult life is during extremists’ terrorism, but written in a child-friendly text. ISBN 978-0-316-52715-6, Hachette
Chasing A Star by Norma Charles is a novel set in the 1950’s and based on the real Canadian Olympic gold medal skater Barbara Ann Scott. Sophie admires the Canadian icon from a distance and treasures the doll, given to her by an aunt, that is based on the real life Olympic skater. Sophie can’t believe it when she discovers that her idol is actually coming to visit her city. Not only does Sophie get a chance to meet her, she actually manages to foil a plot to harm the famous skater. A wholesome, old-fashioned story for readers to sink their teeth in. ISBN 978-1-55380-077-4, Ronsdale Press
Seeker of Knowledge, the Man who Deciphered Egyptian Hieroglyphs, by James Rumford
This is the true story, an awesome, inspiring story, of a seven year old boy in France. He becomes enthralled with the idea of going to Egypt. One day a scientist shows him hieroglyphs. When he learns that no one can read them, he vowed to unlock their secret. And through hard work and studying, and with help from the Rosetta Stone, he does. He becomes the one to unlock the code of hieroglyphs and allow the world to learn about ancient Egyptians. ISBN 0-395-97934-X, Houghton Mifflin
Wangari Speaks Out, Wangari Maathai. This small but powerful hardcover book is part of a fascinating series published by Groundwood Books. All books in this series are speeches given by change makers. Wangari Maathai was a social and environmental activist. She was the first woman in East and Central Africa to earn a doctorate degree and the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. In this, her acceptance speech, Wangari gives vital information about growing food and protecting the environment. Commentary in the back section of the book makes the information accessible to young readers, adds layers of understanding and encourages them to apply this knowledge to their own actions. ISBN 978-1773069562, Groundwood Books
My Mother Was a Nanny by Laura James is a lovely tribute to multitasking mothers anywhere. This one lives in New York and came from Antiqua. Like most mothers, she can do anything – cook, clean, work hard, be a good listener and a teacher. And this special mom even has a very special surprise for her children at the end. A good story to share when discussing mothers or celebrating Mother’s Day. ISBN 978-1-77306-830-5, Groundwood Books
Margriet Ruurs writes, reads and reviews books from her home on a small Canadian island. She is available for author presentations at your school: www.margrietruurs.com