by Rona Arato
Maple Tree Press, 2008
ISBN 978-1-897349-34-2
$19.95 96 pp, colour photos historical timeline index, ages 8 – 12
www.mapletreepress.com
Courage and Compassion is a collection of short profiles of ten remarkable Canadians who have made a difference to the lives of others through their extraordinary efforts to uphold human rights. The lives of these people span four hundred years from the 1600s to the present: Jeanne Mance (1606 – 1673), Josiah Henson (1789 – 1883), Nellie McClung (1873 – 1951), Lester B. Pearson (1897 – 1972), Roger Obata (1915 – 2002), June Callwood (1924 – 2007), Judy Feld Carr (1938 – ), Elijah Harper (1949 – ), Craig Kielburger (1982 – ) and Hannah Taylor (1996 – ). The issues that these heroes have tackled include peace, health care, equal rights, education, racism, child labour and homelessness. As well as the inspiring actions of these crusaders, readers will learn about the attitudes and common practices of their times, which led each to work for change. The large print and many illustrations make Courage and Compassion an easy and fascinating read and a great resource for classroom assignments.
This review is from Canadian Teacher Magazine’s March 2009 issue.