By Deborah Dimmett, The University of Arizona

I discuss issues concerning poverty and hunger in the last WOW Currents post and include a request for readers to share titles of picture and chapter books in children’s literature that explore these issues. Upon my recent return from Haiti, I further explore books that focus on these critical global problems.

Picture and Chapter Books
Maddi’s Fridge by Lois Brandt and Vin Vogel
Uncle Willie and the Soup Kitchen by DyAnn DiSalvo-Ryan
The Lady in the Box by Ann McGovern and Mami Backer
Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting and Lauren Castillo
One Potato, Two Potato by Cynthia DeFelice and Andrea U’Ren
Dear Mr. Rosenwald by Carole Boston
Changing Places: A Kid’s View of Shelter Living by Judy Wallace and Glen Finland
The Good Garden: How One Family Went from Hunger to Having Enough by Katie Smith Milway and Sylvie Daigneault
Hungry Planet: What the World Eats by Peter Menzel and Faith D’Aluisio
Lives Turned Upside Down: Homeless Children in Their Own Words and Photographs by Jim Hubbard
Sam and the Lucky Money by Karen Chinn and Cornelius Van Wright
A Shelter in Our Car by Monica Gunning and Elaine Pedlar
The Teddy Bear by David McPhail
Those Shoes by MacBeth Boelts and Noah Z. Jones
Tight Times by Barbara Shook Hazen and Trina Schart Hyman
Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña and Christian Robinson
Migrant by Maxine Trottier and Isabelle Arsenault
Mama Panya’s Pancakes by Mary and Rich Chamberlin and Julia Cairns
Beatrice’s Goat by Page McBrier and Lori Lohstoeter
One Grain of Rice: A Mathematical Folktale by Demi
Mama Miti: Wangari Maathai and the Trees of Kenya by Donna Jo Napoli and Kadir Nelson
Ada’s Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay by Susan Hood and Sally Wern Comport
The Streets Are Free by Kurusa and Monika Doppert
Chandra’s Magic Light: A Story in Nepal by Theresa Heine and Judith Gueyfier
The Hard-Times Jar by Ethel Footman Smothers and John Holyfield
One Hen: How a Small Loan Made a Big Difference by Katie Smith Milway and Eugenie Fernandes
Mimi’s Village and How Basic Health Transformed It by Kate Smith Milway and Eugenie Fernandes
The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes and Louis Stobodkin
Rickshaw Girl by Mitali Perkins and Jamie Hogan
Serafina’s Promise by Anne E. Burg
Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman

Consider engaging children in learning more about the causes of poverty and hunger as well as the kinds of sustainable approaches employed around the world to eradicate hunger. Below is a list of awareness projects that may be of interest:

Activities to Improve Children’s Awareness of Poverty and Hunger
World Food Day – Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Read to Feed – Heifer International
Free Rice – World Food Programme
Free Game: Food Force! – Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
7 Great Lessons to Teach Kids About Hunger and Food Insecurity – Kid World Citizen
20 Service Projects for Kids to Fight Hunger – Lemon Lime Adventures

Journey through Worlds of Words during our open reading hours: Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Check out our two online journals,WOW Review and WOW Stories, and keep up with WOW’s news and events.

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• Themes: Deborah Dimmett
• Descriptors: Books & Resources, WOW Currents