Be the Change! Shaping Your Community

So many children want to make a difference, but are unsure where to turn or what first steps to take to become a leader. Veteran children's author Kristen Rajczak Nelson cleanly lays out everything young readers need to know about changing the world through community leadership. She details the skills needed to be a good leader in accessible, fun language, while also packing the book with calls to action in the "Your Turn!" sidebars. Young readers are sure to have activities they want to do after reading this essential text.

No one should take for granted the fact that Americans have the opportunity to say what we feel about issues. Young readers are taught in the social studies curriculum to engage in their community and be an active citizen, but how can they when they can't yet vote? This book teaches both the history of and necessity for activism in our society through easy-to-understand language. Each spread is complemented with a sidebar, many of which are directed right at young readers.

Young readers have a lot they're passionate about. This book details everything they need to know about how to go about spreading the word about what they love. The text includes a graphic on the age requirements set for different social media platforms to give them understandable guidelines. The unique layout pairs advice about building public speaking and writing skills with specific calls to civic action that are appropriate for elementary school readers. Examples of children who've spread their messages abound throughout the accessible, fun text, sidebars, and captions.

The planet needs help now more than ever. Habitats are at risk across the globe, and need our help to sustain the plant and animal life that depend on them. So many books for young readers talk about species that need conservation help, but there's little in the way of showing readers how they can actually help at their age. This book will not only inspire, but also direct young readers on how to act, helping the species they care about in their community. Students are called to action with "Your Turn!" sidebars throughout the text.

Citizen science, when scientists need observations from ordinary people to build a database and complete research, is hot right now in many science fields. Climate change, migration patterns, plant growth, population changes, and more require an all-hands-on-deck approach to data gathering that allows even young readers to participate in scientific pursuits. But how? This book, written by a veteran teacher, answers all the questions children have about how, where, and why it's so important to engage in citizen science. Accessible language and web resources throughout the text point young readers in the right direction. "An excellent resource for students in grades 3-6 to investigate ways to become involved in objective observation of the natural world through observations and experiments. An engaging, up-to-date resource with stimulating ideas for further observation and research doable by kids. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED." --Midwest Book Review

Mentorship is an informal building block of modern civilization. For society to remain viable, it is essential that people help others and pass on skills and lessons. But how can young readers participate in this process? This book explains through the use of many examples just how easy it is for students to begin mentoring at any age. The work further engages through the use of "Your Turn!" sidebars directed at the reader and by connecting common experiences they've had to the act of mentoring.