Review: Courageous People Who Changed the World by Heidi Poelman

Courageous People Who Changed the World by Heidi Poelman

Book Description:

From the intrepid efforts of Susan B. Anthony to the quiet courage of Rosa Parks, Little Heroes: Courageous People Who Changed the World is a young child's first introduction to the brave people who fought to make the world a better place. Simple text and adorable illustrations tell the contributions of eight champions of freedom: Abraham Lincoln, Rosa Parks, Susan B. Anthony, Malala Yousafzai, Harriet Tubman, William Wilberforce, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr. A quote from each individual is included on each spread along with colorful, delightful artwork.

Andrea's Review:

I don't have littles at home anymore, but I thought this book was so cute and I think young kids would really enjoy the illustrations. I really liked the quotes and the brief summary of these historical figures. It is a great introduction to some people who have stood up for what was right and made a difference in the world.

I had my ten-year-old read it, and he said he knew about all but one of the people (Malala Yousafzai).

Rorie's Review:

My three younger kids really enjoyed this book. I like that it led us into a good discussion about all the bad things that have happened in our history (and still happen in places) and why it's important to learn about and remember these things so that we don't repeat them. I also like that it shows several different people who saw something that was wrong and worked to fix it, instead of just sitting back and waiting for someone else to do something about it.

Both of my 6-year-olds were amazed to hear the story about Malala - I think mostly because it is something that happened during their lifetime. My 10-year-old enjoyed reading about Rosa Parks, because he remembers learning about her in Kindergarten. I think this book is a good starting point to get kids interested in people that shaped history, and it gives them just enough information to pique their curiosity so they'll want to learn more.

Tarah's Review:

I think my favorite thing about this book is the fact that it's geared towards younger children and is non-fiction. There are so many fun books out there that marketed towards this age, but I know I generally stay away or don't notice those that are non-fiction. This one is just perfect. Not only does it teach little ones some very basics of history, but it also has a good message for each person it talks about. It's also not written in a dry, boring way. The illustrations are super cute and they make you want to pick up the book and look at flip through it because it is so eye-catching. I appreciated that it was very simple. (My 9-12 year old found it too simple, but I told them it wasn't supposed to be geared towards them. They weren't convinced).

Another thing about it that I appreciate as a parent is that it is in board book format. We are so hard on books here, no matter what I try to teach them, and the board books are just more sturdy and hold up better. If they get smudged with little peanut butter and jelly hands, I can just wipe it off and that's that.

Title:  Courageous People Who Changed the World
Author: Heidi Poelman
Illustrator: Kyle Kershner
Publisher: Familius
Published: April 2018
ISBN: 1945547758
Source: We received copies from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Purchase: Amazon