You Are Mighty: A Guide to Changing the World
By Andrea Beach,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Lively, left-leaning how-to for kid activism.
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What's the Story?
YOU ARE MIGHTY: A GUIDE TO CHANGING THE WORLD is a how-to that takes kids step by step through a wide range of things they can do to solve problems and make their voices heard. Real-life examples of successful activists show how small changes can make big differences and that even kids can help bring about the changes they'd like to see in their communities. Workbook pages encourage kids to research their issue thoroughly, collaborate, enlist help from friends and family, to think creatively, and to carefully decide whether they action they want to take is the best way to accomplish their goal.
Is It Any Good?
Brimming with energy, this lively how-to will encourage kids to feel powerful enough to change the world and take them step by step through fighting the good fight. You Are Mighty: A Guide to Changing the World will inspire a sense of activism and the confidence that comes from empowerment. Along the way, kids will find plenty of good humor and vivid illustrations that enhance their understanding and show diverse examples of the people and topics discussed.
Although it's true that the advice can apply to taking action on any side of any issue, author Caroline Paul's socially progressive bias is pretty easy to detect and may put more socially conservative readers off. Social media, press attention, and posting videos are all strongly encouraged without mentioning pitfalls or safety guidelines, so parents may want to make sure their kids understand their family's guidelines and expectations about using those tools. Being aware of safety concerns and talking to parents is encouraged when it comes to direct action like marching or staging walkouts.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how You Are Mighty shows kids they can make the world a better place. Does it give you any ideas for problems you can help solve? How would you get started?
Social media can be a powerful took for getting information to a lot of people quickly and for generating interest in ideas and causes. What are your family's rules and guidelines about who can use social media, how much, how you stay safe, and what information should stay private?
Which activist do you admire the most? Why?
The author says, "this book doesn't tell you what to stand up for, or against … [or] define right from wrong." Does the author show her point of view about the issues she uses as examples?
Book Details
- Author: Caroline Paul
- Illustrator: Lauren Tamaki
- Genre: Advice
- Topics: Activism, Great Boy Role Models, Great Girl Role Models, History
- Book type: Non-Fiction
- Publication date: May 15, 2018
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 10 - 12
- Number of pages: 128
- Available on: Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: May 10, 2018
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