Make Your Mark, Make a Difference: A Kid's Guide to Standing Up for People, Animals, and the Planet

In the introduction to Make Your Mark, Make a Difference: A Kid’s Guide To Standing Up For People, Animals, And The Planet, author Joan Marie Galat notes, “I’ve always promoted the idea that adults who want to explore a complex topic should start with a good children’s nonfiction book.” (p. 4) This is a better-than-good nonfiction book about becoming an activist and making a difference in the world and beyond. Although the subtitle identifies it as “A Kid’s Guide”, it is as much or more a guide for adults working to support and facilitate emerging activists of all ages.

Make Your Mark, Make a Difference is divided into 11 chapters organized into four parts: “Examine Your World”, “Animal and Earth Issues”, “People Issues”, and “Change is Everywhere”. Issues examined include farm animals, the environment, world peace, equality, outer space, and other current local and global concerns. Everything about the organization of this book appeals to me, including the 21 pages of “Notes” at the end.

Throughout the book, Galat repeatedly stresses the need for an activist to be credible. “Appealing to logic and reason will prove most effective, and sharing your source will demonstrate that you’re credible—someone people can believe and trust.” (p. 64) She models this by citing her sources as well as including her personal experiences and credentials. “My research found estimates suggesting that twelve to twenty million animals are sacrificed for dissection annually in the United States, but I have been unable to verify these numbers with unbiased sources. As an author doing my homework, I cannot present these numbers as factual.” (p. 96)

The number of things done right in Make Your Mark, Make a Difference: A Kid’s Guide To Standing Up For People, Animals, And The Planet is impressive. This book will empower readers to choose a passion, develop the skills to become effective change agents, and understand that change takes time and perseverance.

It is possible that a few already committed young activists will discover this book on their own. It is a guide, not a ponderous text. They will read this book independently and be inspired by the many examples of people of all ages around the world who have made a difference. It is equally or more likely that this book will be a useful guide in the hands of a skilled adult looking to help young (or old) beginning activists stand up for people, animals, and the planet.

Buy it, read it, and promote it to young people waiting to make their mark, and make a difference. Making it available to your students will create the opportunity for the guide to make a difference. Use Make Your Mark, Make a Difference: A Kid’s Guide To Standing Up For People, Animals, And The Planet with your students, and you, yourself, will make a difference. My one wish is that Make Your Mark, Make A Difference contained more Canadian examples.