Editorials
Publishers Weekly
For those more interested in giving than receiving, A Kid's Guide to Giving by Freddi Zeiler comes in a clever package: the spiral-bound book's outer covering closes with a magnetic foldover flap, and a pocket inside the front cover doubles as a handy place to tuck notes. This book guides readers on how to decide what cause to support, the different types of causes (environmental, animal welfare, etc.), how to research the best way to help and places to jot notes. The book suggests simple ways to save for a donation: "Give up something small. Say you buy sodas from the machine at school a couple of times a week. Can you live without them? Sure you can!" An empowering and inspiring book. Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.School Library Journal
Gr 7 Up
In this inspiring and motivating book, Zeiler challenges teens to make a difference by contributing to charitable causes. Her enthusiastic, personal appeal offers advice on selecting a charity and deciding whether to donate money, useful items, or time. No matter how grand or small the offering, the author stresses the intrinsic and tangible rewards of giving. Sidebars present tips on getting started, checklists for fundraising, positive quotes from teen volunteers, and blurbs on historical nonprofit successes like the March of Dimes. A helpful and lengthy annotated directory of well-established charities is arranged by category ("People," "Animals," and "The Environment") and ranges from Adopt-a-Minefield to the Wilderness Society. Each entry explains the organization's mission, describes how donations are used and monies spent, presents pertinent facts, and provides contact information. This book meshes well with the step-by-step guidelines in Barbara Lewis's The Kid's Guide to Service Projects (Free Spirit, 2004) and the testimonials of Prudential Award teen volunteers in Susan K. Perry's Catch the Spirit (Watts, 2000). The increasing school emphasis on community service and global awareness makes Zeiler's title a valuable, consciousness-raising resource.—Gerry Larson, Durham School of the Arts, NC