A Party for the Needy

BOOK REVIEW: Somebody Cares! A new children’s book by Renee Heiss When twelve-year-old Lexii plans her birthday party, she wants something special. What she finds is a way to celebrate her special day while making many exceptional days for needy children. What she doesn’t expect is an emotional reaction from one of her friends at her unusual birthday. Kids can use her suggestions to plan their own celebration! The subject of this story book is the Care Bags Foundation, led by Annie Wignall who started her efforts for underprivileged children in her Iowa community when she was only eleven years old. With the aid of individuals and businesses, Annie expanded her foundation to assist children around the world. Annie and her volunteers pack “care bags” filled with toiletries and toys for needy children. Her bags have gone to the children of 9/11 victims, Hurricane Katrina survivors, Haitian children following the devastating earthquake, and Japanese children following the tsunami, in addition to individual children in need as identified by local welfare agencies. By using this book as a springboard to other charitable encounters, teachers, parents, and group leaders can help young philanthropists begin a similar challenge to acquire needed items. They can also make simple bags because the author includes directions in the back of the picture book. Published by WestBow Press, Somebody Cares! helps children appreciate the value of philanthropy and how easy it can be to support needy children. About the Author Ms. Heiss is an instructor for the Institute of Children’s Literature and the author of hundreds of stories and articles for children. Two of her articles won the esteemed Society of Children’s Book Writers Magazine Merit Honor Award. She is a retired Child Development teacher, parent of three daughters, and grandparent of three young children. She does workshops for her three books: Helping Kids Help, Somebody Cares!, and Feng Shui for the Classroom.

www.carebags4kids.org www.reneeheiss.com/somebodycares.html