Big or small, near or far, this series offers motivation and ideas
for readers interested in lending a hand. Opening the door for
someone who needs help, setting the table, cleaning a bedroom, or
playing with a toddler are all examples of volunteering.
Suggestions on a larger scale like raising funds or sponsoring an
event are included, but the ideas are always realistic for the
intended audience and often family-centric. An opening section on
why one should volunteer includes a checklist of five benefits and
culminates with "have fun!" The rest of each volume looks at
specific examples that build from routine, home-base, and completed
quickly to those that are more complex, long-term, and
far-reaching. For example, Animals begins with pets and pet choice
before talking about wild and endangered animals. Environment
include many simple reduce-reuse-recycle ideas beginning with
composting, picking up litter, growing your own food, planting
trees, and conserving water and electricity-all voluntarily. It
goes on to suggest cleaning up a vacant lot, organizing a sponsored
event dedicated to help a local environmental issue, or working on
an awareness campaign for a worldwide problem like the destruction
of rain forests. A concluding checklist includes a cautionary
caption about safety. A large, full-color photo on each page mostly
supports the text. Don't look for details on "how-to" here;
instead, offer these books to readers looking for inspiration, or
for adults needing a fresh approach to some hands-on civics
lessons. - Carol S. Surges, Longfellow Middle School, Wauwatosa, WI
School Library Journal September 2012 Issue-- "School Library
Journal"
(4) K-3 I Can Make a Difference series. Brief chapters cover the
benefits of volunteering and different kinds of volunteerism,
including adopting homeless pets, hanging up bird feeders, donating
items to others in need, and recycling. The design is
textbook-like, but volunteerism is presented as both important and
diverting. Color photos of varying quality appear on every page.
Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. - Carolyn Shute The Horn Book
Guide Fall 2012 issue-- "The Horn Book Guide"
The format of these books contains large colorful pictures with
captions which enhance the text. The brief chapters, written in
simple language, have bold glossary words. The theme of helping
others is carried out throughout each book. The book about animals
demonstrates how to help animals that are in danger, and a chapter
on encountering animals would prove very useful for children. This
series would be a wonderful addition to books about the community.
Bibliography. Glossary. Websites. Table of Contents. Index.
Recommended. -- Marilyn Teicher, Library Media Specialist, PS 86x,
Bronx, New York Library Media Connection Online Aug/Sept 2012; Vol.
31, No. 1-- "Library Media Connection Online"
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