Reviews
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. Recommended., If you want to learn about different ways to help others or how to volunteer this is the book for you. There is a table of contents that lists how to help family, friends around the house, outside and in your community. If the reader needs more information they can go to the back of the book and check out the glossary, or Find Out More section. Vic Parker also added safety tips marked by symbols of little red people. -Linda Scholz, Chandler View Omaha Public Schools 12/30/2012, 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, (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, 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 textbooklike, but volunteerism is presented as both important and diverting. Color photos of varying quality appear on every page.
