Book Review
A short overview of this book
Be the Difference: 40+ ideas for kids to create positive change using empathy, kindness, equality and environmental awareness by Jayneen Sanders is a lovely children’s book that will inspire children to change the world.
This is what the Author says…
This engaging book provides over 40 powerful ideas on how kids and the people who love them can make a difference. Using kid-friendly text and beautiful illustrations, the focus is on three key areas: empathy and kindness, racial and gender equality, and caring for the environment. We know from research that ‘doing good is good for you’. The participant benefits both mentally and physically. Encouraging a mindset of giving and being part of positive change when a child is young, benefits both the child and their future. The aim of this book is to introduce kids to the many positive things they can do, both personally and collectively to make this world a kinder and more caring place. This book can be read over a number of sessions by children or to children by parents and caregivers, or integrated into a classroom setting. There are also further discussion questions/ideas included at the back of the book.
You can learn more on this page, about how to talk to kids about sex education.
Ideal Age
Ideal for children aged 5 to 12 years.
Buy this book
✅ Buy a copy of Be the Difference by Jayneen Sanders from Amazon.
Video Transcription
A transcription in case you are more of a reader than a listener
Hey there! I’m Cath Hak, also known as Cath Hakanson, and welcome to Sex Ed Rescue. This is the place where I help parents find an easier way to tackle sex education with their kids. Today, I want to talk about a fantastic book called Be the Difference by Janine Sanders.
Now, I’m a big believer in using books as a starting point for important conversations with our children. And this book covers some really crucial topics like empathy, kindness, equality, and environmental awareness. It’s not just about sex education, but also about raising our kids to be compassionate and accepting individuals.
Janine Sanders has written several books on body safety, emotions, and feelings, which are all essential aspects of sex education and growing up to be decent human beings. Empathy is something I always emphasize because it helps our kids understand that everyone is different, and that’s totally okay. It’s about teaching them to be kind and accepting of others, even when they’re different.
This book also touches on conversations that become more relevant as kids grow older, like current events, recycling, and even the ethics behind pornography. By starting these conversations early on, we’re setting the stage for more meaningful discussions about love, sex, and relationships as they get older.
Now, let’s take a look at the book itself. It’s filled with lots of great information and ideas for kids to create positive change. It starts off by explaining why making a difference matters and then dives into empathy, kindness, and compassion. There are plenty of activities and suggestions for kids to help others, ask questions, and be good listeners.
The book also emphasizes equality for all, regardless of gender. It encourages kids to follow their interests and not let stereotypes hold them back. It’s all about embracing differences and understanding that someone who dresses or behaves differently is still perfectly fine.
And of course, there’s a section on the environment too! It covers topics like recycling, veggie gardens, and endangered animals. It’s important for our kids to understand their role in taking care of the planet and being change makers.
The book wraps up by reminding kids that they have a choice in how they treat others and make a difference in the world. It even highlights two amazing change makers who made a difference when they were young.
To help you expand on the conversations sparked by the book, there are discussion questions at the back. These will come in handy when you want to delve deeper into the topics covered.
I really love this book because it’s not just about sex education, but about instilling important values in our kids. It’s a great resource for starting conversations and helping our children make smart decisions while being respectful towards others.
So, if you’re looking for a helpful book that covers empathy, kindness, equality, and environmental awareness, Be the Difference is definitely worth checking out. I hope you find it as valuable as I did. Cheers!
