Real Kids, Real Stories, Real Change: Courageous Actions Around the World Paperback – February 1, 2010

Inspiring stories that my students enjoy learning about!

This is one of the most energizing books I have read in awhile. Why? It provides thirty examples of young people from sixteen countries, I mean really young, one starting at age five, who have had a very positive impact on their country and in many cases the world, through their efforts.There are multiple reasons why this book is impressive in its message and how it is structured. First the message. These stories are real, and every one of them involved kids identifying something that they felt was wrong and then doing something successful about it. Not one of the examples was easy. This was not kids going to their parents and their parents taking over. In many cases their parents were an obstacle. It was kids doing something that many said could not be done.Now the structure. It is organized by the nature of the projects described in each chapter. The five chapters are Kids Saving the Environment, Kids Standing Up for Themselves, Kids Helping Others, Kids Overcoming Challenges, Kids Using Talents and Creativity. The stories are short and very easy to read, with pictures and graphics that help the story move ahead. There are Fast Fact boxes that provide information about the country where the action is occurring, or the kid taking action, or the success of the initiative. There are also Get Inspired postcard images in most chapters that provide information about how the reader can get involved in efforts that promote the particular initiative that has been described in the chapter.The Bibliography at the end of the book provides additional information about articles, books and other resources related to each chapter. Finally, the publisher Free Spirit needs a shout out. They have published other books about kids doing amazing things including Real Kids, Real Stories, Real Character  Real Kids, Real Stories, Real Character: Choices That Matter Around the World Bottom Line - this is an inspiring and at the same time very informative book for anybody interested in identifying ways to improve our world and the resources that support that goal.

One way that I protect the welfare of my young grandchildren is to purchase books on kindle to read myself before buying them for the children. This is certainly a grsndparent-approved book. It is filled with amazing stories of children who were passionate about their causes and often made great sacrifices in serving the welfare of others. There is tragedy in some of the stories but triumph in all. The one trait that all these child problem-solvers shared besides passion was persistence. They often failed initially to.ganer attention and support or the necessary resources, but did not give up. These young heroes made significant impacts on environmental issues, raised large amounts of money for cancer research, saved victims of abuse, created novel solutions to pressing problems and displayed amazing artistic and intellectual talents. They battled severe injuries, debilitating diseases, in some cases sadly fatal, and unacceptable societal conditions. Some lived in great poverty. But none were deterred by their outward circumstances, displaying intense commitment to their causes, saving polluted waterways, reforesting depleted farmlands, providing clean water to impoverished communities, selling lemonade to raise millions for cancer research, freeing enslaved children, writing best selling books and poetry, and becoming remarkable athletes (even after losing limbs). These stories can be used to inspire our own children, create gratitude for the blessings they enjoy, ignite compassion for others and encourage optimism and persistence in the face of life's obstacles and challenges. This book is most highly recommended for young readers.

Excellent book to take children beyond their own "normal" and learn about other kids who didn't just have a good idea, but acted upon it to make an impact larger than they ever imagined. We include this riveting book in every gift for my children's classmates (ages 8-10). I need to buy this in bulk! Thank you, Mr. Sundem, for writing a substantial children's book that doesn't insult their intelligence with superficial nonsense, but wakes children up to the infinite potential each one has!

I originally bought this book for my 9 year old daughter, who has to read material other than fiction for school. I ended up taking it with me to several substitute teaching jobs in case I needed something to do with the kids. So far, everyone has really enjoyed it. Children like hearing about what kids their own age have done to make the world and their part of the globe, better. I have a hard time pronouncing some of the names of the kids featured, but other than that, the are stories are easy to read, short enough to keep curious minds focused, and most of them are very interesting.

I love this book and currently use it with teaching the Wilson Reading System.

My son has LOVED this book and tells me about the stories he reads in it. The stories are amazing and some heart breaking. I dont know how one cannot want to be a better person after reading the stories of heroism and courage from these young people!

Bought it for my son to supplement his homework. Excellent resource for kids, really got him thinking about ways he can impact the world and get out of his own head.

I read this book to my ten year old son and he loved it. He wanted to read more about kids like these, so Garth, if you're thinking of writing another...??I also recommended the book to friends whose kids also loved it. Wonderfully inspiring to see how even those who seemingly have all the disadvantages stacked up against them, can overcome adversity and make such a difference to peoples' lives.It makes you realise that if we all pulled together, how incredible the changes around the world could be for the greater good.