a hope, a dream, a better chance
to be whoever they want to be.
When there is shooting nearby,
she stops the music.
She tells them to lie low and quiet.
When it's over, she tells them to get
back on their toes.
And they do. They dance,
trampling the sounds of fear
beneath their feet."
In back matter, we meet the ballet teacher. Her name is Tuany Nascimento; she is a gymnast and a dancer in Rio who gave up her dream to provide for her family. Her story of courage in the face of crime and danger is just one of the stories shared here. There are seven agents of change presented here in free verse: their stories highlight the positive effects they have where they live.
They live in world communities and work to help alleviate some of the problems faced by children who live under unimaginable conditions. Back matter provides their names, and briefly describes how they work to make life better for the children in their own communities. Paper collage artwork uses bold colors and clear settings to help young readers understand the bravery and impact of what they are doing. Two brilliant illustrations accompany the text for each entry. Their willingness to initiate whatever small change they can make is admirable and shared to offer hope to those in untenable situations throughout the world. What an inspiration they are!
"An eight-year-old girl
attends a water ceremony in a community
that has murky water.
She is shocked to learn from her mother
that the children
from hundreds of communities
don't know what a drinking tap is."
attends a water ceremony in a community
that has murky water.
She is shocked to learn from her mother
that the children
from hundreds of communities
don't know what a drinking tap is."
Her name is Autumn Peltier from Manitoulin Island in Northern Ontario, Canada, a land rich in water that not all residents have access to ... how does that happen? The world needs to listen to what she has to say.
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