Ways to Help Disadvantaged Youth

School Library Journal

Gr 4–6—These well-organized books will encourage children to contribute to the world around them. Each title is filled with examples of volunteer opportunities that can be accomplished with some adult involvement and supervision to guide, steer, and maintain focus so that youngsters will have varied and successful experiences. In School, O'Neal suggest that readers can organize the always-needed clean-up day, set up a recycling center, or plant a garden to enhance and contribute to the school community. Community offers specific examples and steps for making a neighborhood safer, organizing yard sales, spending time with an elderly person, helping at a soup kitchen, or offering to do storyhours at a library. In Celebrities, Reusser writes about 17 people, including Bono and his interest in eliminating world hunger and poverty, President Carter's dreams of building homes for the homeless, and charitable works by Rihanna, Shakira, Tony Hawk, and others. Disadvantaged Youth suggests tutoring, having a toy or food drive, etc. Each title lists additional resources that include books and online resources, such as national associations and state chapters of those associations. The best part of each book is the introduction, which clearly states what some of the primary issues and challenges are in each specific area. Except for Celebrities, this series is a good starting point to introduce and implement volunteerism in and around children's communities.—Patty Saidenberg, George Jackson Academy, New York City