This collection is made up of 40 real life stories
about children throughout history who made their mark on the world.
They
feature kids from countries around the globe, from varying timelines and mixed
age groups. Each story inspires with a
collective theme of courage, bravery and initiative.
The detail is generous, and
highlights the contribution each child made, and the impact their choices had
on humanity.
Previously published in 1999 under the title Tough Stuff, true stories about kids and
courage, this 2019 edition has been updated re-titled Kids Who Did.
It shines an everlasting light on the amazing
successes of kids who believed they could and did, who dreamed and made their
dreams come true, and others that changed the course of history and others’
lives with their passion.
Billy Corcoran and Tatum De Koning are among those awarded medals for bravery. There are geniuses like Billy Sidas who had
an IQ of between 250 and 300 and taught himself countless languages, George
Bidder who counted any amount of numbers in his head, and chess champions, the
Polgar sisters.
Well-researched and presented in a non-didactic
form, its warm prose pours onto the page and reaches out to the mind and heart.
Each of the stories has great historical significance and will leave a lasting
impression on the reader.
Kids
Who Did salutes children’s lives, some of which died or
were killed in their effort to change things for other children. Luckier ones
grew up and saw the benefits of the change for which they fought. These kids
were rebels, who never took no for an answer, but stood up against terrible
odds and persevered regardless of hardships, to create a better future for
themselves and other kids. Some survived torture and starvation; others became
famous and had sad ends. The book is not about famous people, but about
ordinary children that achieved extraordinary things because they believed in
them.
There are chapters on Superstars, Rescuers,
Whiz-kids, Feral Kids, Rulers, Rebels, Battlers, Survivors, and Climate
Warriors, and additional reading and resources
It is a one-sitting read and will be given
permanent residence on the bookshelf, to be revisited often and used as a
reference. It encourages and inspires children to strive for high ideals, to
clutch tightly to what they long to do, and never say something can’t be done
or achieved. These lives are proof of that.
Title:
Kids Who Did
Author:
Kirsty Murray
Publisher:
Allen & Unwin, $19.99
Publication
Date: 1 April
2019
Format:
Paperback
For
ages: 8 - 14
Type:
Non Fiction