How to Make a Better World

How to Make a Better World by Keily Swift (DK Penguin, Random House) PB RRP $19.99 ISBN9780241412206

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

This is a book for all future activists who wish to create a better world for everyone. It’s packed with tips on how a young person can change the world, one step at a time. The book starts with focusing on ‘You’, letting readers know that it’s important to feel good, believe in oneself and taking care of one’s mind and body. It invites the reader to imagine how they could do to save the planet if they could – think clean oceans, freedom of speech, equality for all, world peace, saving animals, a kindness revolution. Then it shows how the reader can take care of himself (get active, get good sleep, practice mindfulness and so on). Learning to recognise one’s emotions is valuable as is knowing the power of positive thinking.

Moving on, the author Swift, who is Managing Editor of First News, an award-winning weekly newspaper for children, shows how, among other things, to celebrate heritage, volunteer (join a beach clean-up, for instance), put a stop to bullying. Swift highlights inspiring young people who are influential, such as Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, educational reformist Malala Yousafzai and UNICEF goodwill ambassador Millie Bobby Brown.

Young individuals can make a difference in many ways, perhaps by establishing little community libraries, getting their voice heard, becoming an activist. ‘You don’t need to launch a formal campaign,’ says Swift, ‘start getting your message heard. Voice an opinion and try to make an impact.” Making posters and flyers, taking part in demonstrations, not discriminating, raising money and spotting fake news are ways in which young people can participate in making change in the world.

In the back of this colourful book for readers aged 8 years and over, is a list of organisations, websites and campaigns to give more information and ideas. There is also a glossary and a comprehensive index and acknowledgements.

There ought to be no excuse for anyone reading this easy to read, comprehensive book not to become involved if they are moved in any way to make a change to one’s world, even if it’s only on a small scale.

101 Things to Do to Become a Superhero or Evil Genius

 101 Things to Do to Become a Superhero by Helen Szirtes and Richard Horne, designed and illustrated by Richard Horne (Bloomsbury)

PB RRP $15.99

ISBN 978 1 4088 0257 1

Reviewed by Nean McKenzie

From the series of '101Things', Horne and Szirtes team up again to tackle the topic of how to become either a superhero, or an evil genius, or both. Written with a humour that upper primary boys or girls should appreciate, this book is packed full with information, checklists, activities and stars to stick on the pages completed.

Visually breaking the book up each page has a different coloured header relating to its theme. For example identity is blue, saving the world is green and special powers are brown. The left side of the double page has a small picture with information underneath. The reader then fills out the right side by doing some sort of activity. Activities range from trying to fly (nothing dangerous), to perfecting one's evil laugh. The densely filled pages contain many hours of entertainment should the entire book be completed.

The print is quite small but is broken up further by headings and dot points and always relates to something to do on the next page. In this way less keen readers may be encouraged to keep going. Pages jump from one topic to another and one activity to another. There is no need to read the book in any order, although there is an introduction at the beginning and some answers at the end (no cheating).

101 Things to Do to Become a Superhero or Evil Genius is a very interactive book which encourages imagination and uses humour well. By the end of the book the reader will have unintentionally learnt a few things. And this is regardless of whether they have used it for good or for evil.