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Children's Nonfiction Social Activists

How to Become an Accidental Activist

by (author) Elizabeth MacLeod & Frieda Wishinsky

illustrated by Jenn Playford

Publisher
Orca Book Publishers
Initial publish date
Apr 2021
Category
Social Activists, General, Inspirational & Personal Growth, Values & Virtues
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9781459826137
    Publish Date
    Apr 2021
    List Price
    $20.99
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9781459826113
    Publish Date
    Apr 2021
    List Price
    $26.95
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9781459841444
    Publish Date
    Jun 2024
    List Price
    $19.95

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Where to buy it

Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels

  • Age: 9 to 12
  • Grade: 4 to 7
  • Reading age: 9 to 12

Description

Just Get Started! Be Unstoppable! Dream Big!

How to Become an Accidental Activist profiles almost 100 activists from around the world, including change-makers like Greta Thunberg, Pete Seeger and Lilly Singh. This book shows us how ordinary people have persevered throughout history to do extraordinary things to help themselves and others.

These activists come from many different backgrounds and a drives to take action. They work for human rights, to help the environment, to preserve historic buildings and more. This book will inspire young readers by giving them tips on getting started, continuing when the going gets tough and encouraging others to get involved. They will learn how to use determination, channel their passions and dream big to change the world.

About the authors

Liz is one nosy author, which is why she loves writing non-fiction. She’s very curious about why people do what they do, and likes sharing with kids the amazing facts and secrets that she uncovers.As a kid in Thornhill, Ontario, the idea of being a writer never crossed Liz’s mind—she figured most authors were already dead and they definitely weren’t Canadian. Besides, it was science that interested Liz.But writing was already part of Liz’s life. After dinner on school nights, Liz and her two brothers would trudge up to their rooms, close their doors and start to do their homework—or so their parents thought. A few minutes later, a piece of paper would come sliding under Liz’s door. One of her brothers had drawn a picture, usually of some weird creature.Liz really couldn’t draw (still can’t!), so the only way she could respond was to write a short story, often about a mad scientist or space alien. She would slip the story under her brother’s door and—well, not a lot of homework got done.At university, Liz studied sciences—there was hardly any writing involved at all. But after university, she was hired as an editor at OWL magazine, where she could combine writing and her love of science. But it wasn’t long before Liz had a goal: to write a book. Her first one was about lions and since then she’s written more than fifty others.Royal Murder: The Deadly Intrigue of Ten Sovereigns (2008) is one of her favourite books because royalty has always fascinated Liz. She loved going behind the scenes with monarchs from Cleopatra to Dracula to find out just what they would do to hold onto power or protect their families.Bones Never Lie: How Forensics Helps Solve History’s Mysteries (2013) was the winner of numerous awards, including the Crime Writers of Canada 2014 Arthur Ellis Award in the Juvenile/YA category. Liz’s latest book with Annick Press, Galloping Through History: Incredible True Horse Stories (Spring 2015), combines, once again, her outstanding storytelling skills with her passion for history. This time her love of animals also shines through as she recounts the stories of six horses that changed the way humans live, travel, fight, work, and play.Liz lives in Toronto with her husband, Paul, and their cat Cosimo. While she writes, he is usually sprawled across her desk—often right on the book she needs for research!

Elizabeth MacLeod's profile page

 

Frieda Wishinsky
est l'auteure de plus de 40 livres pour enfants. Parmi les ouvrages déjà
parus, on peut citer, entre autres,

Ounga Bounga, Tu es méchante Lily-Ange!, Le sac à main de la reine,
Canada en vedette

et les romans de la série Catastrophe! Elle vit à Toronto, en
Ontario.

 

FRIEDA WISHINSKY has written over seventy books for children, including Oonga Boonga; You're Mean, Lily Jean; the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award winner Please, Louise!; the middle-grade series Survival, and the non-fiction books Explorers Who Made It . . . or died trying; Everything but the Kitchen Sink and Colossal Canada. Frieda lives in Toronto, Ontario with her husband. Visit her online at www.friedawishinsky.com.

Frieda Wishinsky's profile page

Jenn Playford has over 20 years' experience illustrating creative solutions in the field of editorial, publishing, advertising and product design, and her work has been showcased in Communication Arts and How magazine. Some of her clients include Zoomer magazine, Food Illustrated (UK), the LA Times, Delta Airlines, United Way, Running Press, Klutz Publishing and Galison/Mudpuppy. Recently her illustrations have been animated into videos for the Royal Bank of Canada and Locallove.ca. Jenn grew up in Europe and Toronto, and her international experiences have greatly influenced her, along with a passion for design, fashion and books. She now lives in Victoria, British Columbia, with her two children.

 

Jenn Playford's profile page

Awards

  • Short-listed, Rocky Mountain Book Awards
  • Commended, Children’s Book Council & National Council for Social Studies Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People
  • Short-listed, Rocky Mountain Book Award (RMBA)
  • Commended, NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Books List
  • Short-listed, Red Cedar Book Award
  • Nominated, Young Readers' Choice Book Awards of British Columbia (YRCABC) Red Cedar Book Awards
  • Commended, BC Books for BC Schools

Editorial Reviews

“To be commended for the varied and diverse range of activists…It is important and meaningful. Highly Recommended.”

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

“This volume will ­inspire readers to conduct further investigation into the movements that excite them, and they might be spurred to stand up and make their voices heard.”

School Library Journal

“The readable, chatty style and the humanity of the people and projects depicted make this a thoughtful and encouraging read for young people.”

Canadian Children's Book News

“Inspiring and uplifting, this is a book that can make an impact for children wanting to learn more, or who want to get out there and make their own small difference in their world.”

Sal's Fiction Addiction

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