KIDSTORY: 50 Children and Young People who Shook Up the World written by Tom Adams and illustrated by Sarah Walsh is a treasure trove of young people who have made a difference in many areas such as the arts, science, sports, and the world of problem solving through activism. This book is a beautiful mix of young thinkers, designers, activists, artists, and inventors.
Many of the young people are well known such as climate activist Greta Thunberg and the courageous fighter for the right of girls to go to school in Pakistan and world-wide, Malala Yousafzai. Others, such as Boyan Slat who invented a floating barrier that would eventually pick up plastic bottles in the Pacific Ocean may not be as well-known.
There are also several people featured whose names will be well known to readers such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Louis Braille, Pelé and Stevie Wonder but their accomplishments during childhood may not be so well known. Mozart composed many symphonies, sonatas, and operas before he was fifteen. Louis Braille invented a full system of six dots with which the blind could read when he was fifteen, Pelé played professional soccer at the age of fifteen and Stevie Wonder was called a 12-year-old genius when he recorded his own work with Detroit’s Motown.
The book is alive with colorful illustrations by Sarah Walsh. Green, yellow, and blue colors celebrate the fifty children and young people discussed. A topnotch Glossary and Index stand strong in the back of the book.
Kidstory: 50 Children and Young People Who Shook Up the World is a fine book for readers nine years of age and UP. It will keep them engaged and thinking (Atheneum/ Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing Division, 2020).
The Children’s Bookshelf is a production of WCMU. Links to the podcast and the Activity Questions can be found at Children’s Bookshelf dot org.
Activity Questions for Kidstory: 50 Children and Young People Who Shook Up the World.
Take a long look at the inviting cover of this book and answer the following questions: What is Anne Frank writing? Why is it considered to be one of the most important historical writings? Why is there a sign in front of Boyan Slat? It says: “There is no planet B.” Why is there a yellow flower coming forth from the book that Greta Thunberg is reading? What could the book be about? Where did Ellie Simmons win the gold medal she is holding? Why is her winning so special? How does Mozart’s and Stevie Wonder’s music differ? Reread the material if you have difficulty answering any of these questions.
The front cover includes ten of the fifty people highlighted in this book. At the back, you can see all fifty of them. If you were to design a new front cover, who would you include? Why?
Play “Who Said It” by trying to identify the author of each statement: “Girls should never be afraid of being smart”. “Black Girl stories aren’t just for Black Girls.” “Every day is an opportunity, and I don’t want to waste it.” “Once I turned my empathy into action it opened my eyes to the fulfillment one receives by helping others.”
