Becker, a former executive director of UNICEF, believes that children have great ideas about how to make the world a better place to live. Asking a number of questions, young readers are afforded the opportunity to consider solutions. The subtitle for this book gives parents a heads-up: it's a write-in, draw-in journal. Along with space for jotting down answers, Becker provides examples of ideas from children with whom she has spoken. Questions range from the personal and perhaps pedestrian, like "How would you get a nail biter to stop?" to figuring out how to repair the hole in the ozone. The idea is to help us recognize problems and get into the habit of thinking about solutions. Some of the suggested answers are a bit silly, but this book is all about thinking outside of the box. Highlighted with whimsical illustrations, this is a great gift for a budding change-maker in elementary school. And who knows? Maybe the kids will get it right for all of us!
Jeanette Larson, Books Editor, teaches children’s literature for the School of Library & Information Studies at Texas Woman’s University
