An inspiring book for children and adults both on using kindness and forgiveness to change the world. Includes beautiful inclusive illustrations!

Such a beautiful book giving children (and adults!) some simple and concrete ways that they can influence the world through their own daily actions,

Including the practice of forgiveness.
Forgiveness is SO important, especially in today's society.

Little things add up to big things, and this was very well represented in this book.

Spreading kindness and compassion is such an easy task to do.

Whenever possible, be kind. It is ALWAYS possible to be kind.

Very nice theme and drawings for this book. It was so nice to see these ideas in print. We need more books to demonstrate leadership and kindness for our youth as a counter to what we see in popular media.

This was an adorable book that has a great message and is also sensitive enough for younger readers. I can tell how engaging a book is by how many questions my son asks while I'm reading and he stopped me on almost every page.

The illustrations were also lovely and the facial expressions and the way they changed after experiencing the acts of kindness make it easy for a young child to understand the results of those actions.

I enjoyed the first half of the book, I love the idea of giving kids suggestions on little things they can do that make a big impact on others. The examples show how important these actions are. The reminder to stand up for others but not "bully the bully" would lead t9 great discussion. The illustrations were clear and showed diversity.

After the "stay in school" part the book fell apart for me. The tone and structure changed and became preachy. Some words were defined and threw off the rhythm of the story. Explaining forgiveness may work in a book with that structure but not this one. The biography at the end felt like it should be an authors note and not be presented as part of the story.

I thought the illustrations were really beautiful and I loved how the page showed the “rule” and then a picture with no words. I
also liked how the characters included people from all different backgrounds. I’ve never heard of Eva Kor but that last few pages were informative about her life. I would use this as a read aloud at the beginning of the year to teach about kindness.

I read Eva's biography about six months ago.
This simple book presents Eva's way of looking at life. Simple acts of compassion and a desired normalcy (making the bed, helping others) will change the doer and the recipient. Love and a desire to make things better will change (your) world.
Marie Letourneau fills the pages with meaningful illustrations which add to the impact of this book of hope and history that impacts all people. All libraries need this book so we can all remember work together to create a better world together.
I requested and received a free temporary e-book on Adobe Digital Editions from Tanglewood Publishing/Tanglewood via NetGalley. Thank you!

This is a great story book that I think would be a wonderful addition to any family home. Kids could learn a lot from this story and it's so important for children to learn about the world around them. This curates generosity and kindness.

Inspired by the teaching of Eva Kor, this lovely picture book inspires children to change the world right where they are. From simple tasks like cleaning your room, to big things such as standing up to a bully, these actions can have ripple effects that grow a positive mindset. Eva Kor was a Holocaust survivor. She learned how to forgive, not that what happened to her was ok, but to allow herself to move on. Her ideas continue to resonate with children who are struggling with problems big and small.

I loved the illustrations and the wonderful message. I highly recommend this book for all ages.

This was a sweet little book about kindness and compassion. I especially liked the story behind the story, about Eva Kor and her path of forgiveness. A wonderful book to read aloud to children and to spark discussions of how we can spread kindness and compassion.

"How to Change the World in 12 Easy Steps" by Peggy Porter Tierney is a child friendly primer on kindness written with simple but beautiful prose by Peggy Porter Tierney. Tierney bases her suggestions on the life lessons shared by the late Eva Mozes Kor, an Auschwitz survivor and speaker. Some of the ideas, "cleaning your room", "picking up litter" are standard fare for this type of picture book. But the book's description of forgiveness, how it allows one to have more space for happiness, is more novel, a powerful message, especially considering its source, the courageous Ms. Kor. As a teacher I really appreciated the reminder that forgiving someone doesn't mean that we allow them to continue to hurt us. I think that's a really important distinction not always expressed in children's books. The illustrations by Marie Letourneau depict a diverse group of children doing small things with a big impact for making the world a better place for all of us.

Received book to review from #netgallery. Shared it with my 8 year old grandson. The book is beautiful written with simple ideas that can make a difference in the world we live in. It is a great reminder how the simplest thing can make a difference in our world.

Great book for kids and adults alike. I loved the representation in the book and the central theme that little things add up to big things. Reading this book with little ones can be an excellent conversation starter!

**Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**

I hope this small picture book reaches every corner of the world.

What we need the most at the moment.

This isn't just for the kids but also for the adults to remind ourselves that we are human and these are some of the most basic things we need to bring to our lives.

I find the artstyle and the illustrations quite basic and easy to the eyes.

Thank you, author/artist and the publisher for the advance reader copy.

This book carries with it a great message of how you can change the world with everyday good deeds. I did find it a little strange that the ages of the children kept changing and there was a random adult used in one of the 12 examples. Given the target age for this book, I think it would have been better to keep that consistency and relatability of the young children.

With more awareness and inspiration, children nowadays are keen on making a difference. They make beautiful posters on saving the ocean, write persuasive letters for placing more recycling bins and they turn off lights during Earth Hour, but sometimes, all of us need a reminder that only small steps lead to incremental progress over time.

Inspired by the life lessons of Eva Kor, a child survivor of Auschwitz, this book does just that. It reassures children that they can change the world, but through small steps – like making the bed, tidying the room, giving parents a hug, throwing trash away, helping those in need, smiling at someone… But the best reminders are those on accepting people for who they are and to never give up. The message on forgiveness is insightful – “Forgiveness doesn’t mean that what they did was okay or that you have to be friends… Forgiveness means that you decide you don’t want to be angry, and when anger is gone, there is more space for happiness.”

Complemented by soothing illustrations, the appeal of this book lies in its simplicity and the power of everyday actions. A must-buy!

The illustrations and texts are simple yet engaging for young readers to understand. The 12 steps mentioned are all easy steps we all can take. There are many motivational and positive talk books for children but this one also provides another opportunity for the young readers to visit what they can do on a daily basis. A great book for discussions and implementation.

Wow this book is PHENOMENAL! The message of acceptance and forgiveness throughout is great. The author is inspiring as she was able to forgive after everything she had been through. This was a great read with a fantastic message about acceptance, kindness and forgiveness!

Thanks to NetGalley and Tanglewood publishing for this ARC!

Reflections: ever feel discouraged and wish things could be different?

How to Change the World in 12 Easy Steps opens with a girl in a super hero cape, ready to take on the injustices of the world. This delightfully illustrated book shows diversity in many ways and shows accessibility (wheelchairs and glasses).
The longest paragraphs tell what forgiveness is and what it doesn’t mean. The book ends with the story of Eva Kor, a survivor of the Holocaust.
I’m looking forward to the invention of chocolate spinach!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Tanglewood.