A practical guide to help children make the world a better place.
Lucy Bell is an Australian book editor and music teacher. She has her Bachelor of Arts degree with majors in English and Ancient History, and has studied a Master of Publishing. Bell has now devoted her life to making a difference on this planet and also closing the literacy gap. She has created a wonderful resource for children and adults alike to be more mindful of our actions and the planet Earth.
We can all feel impotent when we see things that are wrong with this world. We wonder how one person can possibly make a difference. It all seems a bit overwhelming, but Bell has created the perfect answer to all our questions.
In her book, You Can Change the World, Bell has addressed many of the issues concerned citizens are worried about. What can we do about the overwhelming amount of plastic in our oceans and landfill? Is the food we eat sustainable and ethical? Are we using too many toxins and what can we replace them with? And how can we grow our own produce? These and so many more questions are answered in this book.
Bell has divided her book into chapters, each one dealing with some of the things we could change: plastic waste, food, gardening, energy, animal activism and how to just be kind, to name a few. Each chapter clearly states the problems, some fascinating facts with which to counter any naysayers, some very practical tips to help: alternative craft ideas, gift ideas, recycling, reusing, reducing and simple recipes. A perfect guide with which to arm ourselves. But I think the most powerful of all, are the things that child activists have accomplished. In each chapter we can read inspirational and practical stories of what children around the world are doing to improve their world.
This book is full of colourful illustrations, interesting headings and each chapter is clearly defined using a different colour background. Tips, recipes and instructions are easy to read, and the book is hefty and made to last a lifetime.
With 215 pages, You Can Change the World is inspiring, relevant and very useful, and would be an excellent addition to any school library and a great gift for socially conscious children or those families who just want some ideas about where to start.
As the people from OZharvest say in the final chapter, Be a change-maker! There are so many ways you can make a difference, and this wonderful book is the perfect place to start. It should be on the Christmas gift list for every Australian family who cares about our planet.
Reviewed by Sue Mauger
Distributed by: Pantera Press
Released: September 2019
RRP: $29.99