Summary (from Walker Books Australia website)

‘We Are What We Do’ are a movement whose aim is to inspire people – in this case, children – to use their everyday actions to change the world. Their maxim is: small actions x lots of people = big change. It’s not rocket science but it does work! The actions in the book – including one brand new knitting action – are fun and easy for children to do but add up to making a big difference. It gives children the responsibility for changing the world, one bit at a time.

Comments

This book is a fantastic implementation of a great concept – that big changes are brought about by lots of small actions. I love that the actions suggested in this book are so achievable and cover issues that kids can relate to. There are fun examples like teaching your gran how to text and more practical ones like growing your own vegetables and taking shorter showers.

To me the highlight of this book isn’t the actions, as great as they are, it is the fact that this book encourages kids to connect with other people. It encourages them to make others smile, to give compliments, to talk with others and to be positive about themselves and their potential. In a world where there is so much disconnection within families and communities, I think that this is a fantastic and very timely message.

I think it also has a much more significant impact. It is very hard to get someone to care about what is happening on the other side of the world to people that will never meet if they don’t even know what is happening to their neighbours and friends. Encouraging kids to think and care about their own circle of family and friends prepares them to step out to influence people beyond that circle when the opportunity arises.

I think that this fantastic book is a great idea for anyone who wants to encourage their kids to think more about their actions and the impact they can have in their world, whether that means being more positive and involved at school or working to protect the environment.

Check out the We Are What We Do website for more action ideas and information about the UK We Are What We Do organisation.

Review Copy Details
Title: 31 Ways to Change the World
Author: We Are What We Do
Publisher: Walker Books Australia, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-40632-7-809
Genre: Non-Fiction, Social change, Community development

Related Links

• Review of 31 Ways to Change the World at Suite101