Dorothy Day

Maura D. Shaw is the author of several books for young readers, including the award-winning Ten Amazing People: And How They Changed the World (SkyLight Paths); the historical novel Owl's Journey and Gandhi: India's Great Soul. Her nondenominational handbook of Earth-honoring activities for parents and children, Celebrating the Great Mother, is popular with families and groups.Stephen Marchesi has created numerous drawings for textbooks, magazines and picture books, including Martin Luther King, Jr. and the March on Washington; Meet Abraham Lincoln; Mary McLeod Bethune: Voice of Black Hope and Mars: The Red Planet. A graduate of Pratt Institute, his books have been on the Children's Book Council bestsellers list and on the Bank Street College Children's Book of the Year lists.

This story demonstates how one person's life is worth more than anyone can imagine. Readers are gifted with a clear scope and sequence of the life of Dorothy Day—a person that made a world of difference. She grew up when times were tough and did not always have a lot to eat. As an adult, she felt that helping other people should be a focus for all. Besides feeding others and starting a newspaper called The Catholic Worker she took on challenges to fight for women's rights. This well-written and easy to follow text presents readers with the opportunityto delve into Day's world and understand how important her life work really was. Text is broken into several informative sections, which progress in a chronological manner. Black and white photos accompany text and effectively createan overall feeling of hard times—during which Day made a difference. Three special sections in the book tells young readers how they can publish their own newspaper, help curb world hunger and create artwork to represent a loving heart. These activities allow the reader to experience some of the same things that Dorothy Day did, thereby bringing her life to their level. A two page, easy-to-read timeline and a glossaryround out the book. Put this and others from the "Spiritual Biographies for Young Readers" series, in school, church or home libraries to allow children to read about significant role models.