Description: "Kids today are more aware than ever of the issues that impact people, animals, and the planet, but getting involved can be an overwhelming prospect. Make Your Mark, Make a Difference: A Kid's Guide to Standing Up for People, Animals, and the Planet provides middle grade readers with tools to help them become informed and effective activists with an approach that offers hope and perspective. From Black Lives Matter to climate change, the book leads readers through an overview of issues, essential human rights background, and stories of how other young activists tackle local, national, and international problems. Readers will discover a multitude of ways to build change and learn that every contribution matters"--
Brief description: Joan MarieGalatis an internationallyaward-winning author of more than twenty-five books, includingThe Story of Malala Yousafzai: A Biography Book for New Readers, Dark Matters: Natures Reaction to Light Pollution, andToo Much Trash: How Litter Is Hurting Animals.She is known for presenting complex information to young readers in approachable and engaging ways. A professional speechwriter, former radio host, and frequent presenter, Joan has traveled across Canada and from Australia to South Korea to deliver literacy-building presentations based on her books. She lives near Edmonton, in Canada.Learn more atJoanGalat.com.
Review Quotes: A guide to recognizing and fighting many different kinds of injustice. The first section, "Examine Your World," gets readers to identify problems (starting with their homes, schools, and communities) and then to set specific, attainable goals and work toward solutions. Using an encouraging tone, Galat explains the concepts of human rights and activism, summarizing a slew of contemporary issues and offering condensed accounts of individual and group efforts with some brief, positive examples from around the world showing varied types of approaches. The case studies mostly highlight young people tackling problems, including some well-known names such as Malala Yousafzai and Mari Copeny. The middle sections examine in greater depth six broad areas for action: animals, the environment, space exploration, peace, equality, and poverty. The final section, "Change Is Everywhere," focuses on engaging in activism through the arts and on remaining positive and persistent while being realistic about the pace of progress. Some vocabulary is defined in the text, including terms such as discrimination and molestation. Text boxes introduce topics for conversation and suggest immediate actions readers can take (such as making pamphlets or properly disposing of old medications), thus helping readers clarify their ideas, raise funds, and enlist others. The text, which is punctuated with stock art, embodies the clear communication skills the author endorses and is leavened with subtle humor. The book explains and encourages the many life skills and qualities involved in effective activism, such as research, critical thinking, organization, record-keeping, and empathy. A hands-on, practical, wide-ranging, and information-packed handbook for budding activists. (source notes) (Nonfiction. 10-16)