Product Description

Magical heroes like Harry Potter, Spiderman, or Catwoman provide plenty of entertainment for kids, but in real life heroes are made of sterner stuff than celluloid fantasies. In this inspiring collection of biographies, critically acclaimed writer and psychologist Sandra McLeod Humphrey teaches young people that heroes were once ordinary people whose strength of character helped them to achieve extraordinary things. Starting with only their dreams, they worked hard and overcame obstacles to make their dreams come true. Some overcame physical handicaps, others psychological barriers like extreme shyness or feelings of inferiority; some faced racial discrimination or educational disadvantage, others financial burdens. In spite of these frustrations and discouragements, all of these people discovered in themselves the patience, perseverance, and determination to pursue their dreams beyond every obstacle. The message is clear: No matter who you are or where you come from, you too can accomplish extraordinary things, as long as you dare to dream and never, never, never give up!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #16894 in Books
• Published on: 2005-03-11
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 115 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781591022800
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From School Library Journal
Grade 5-7–A collection of biographical sketches of famous 20th-century individuals, from Albert Einstein to Sammy Sosa. Although the group is eclectic, the individuals all have one thing in common: they became successful in the face of adversity and therefore are great candidates to become heroes for today's youth. In approximately four pages, Humphrey discusses each subject's childhood, education, and family life. Then the individual's adult life is discussed, as well as how that person's success may be attributed to hard work and courage. Each sketch ends with a quote from the subject. This book is good for reluctant readers as each biography can be read independently. However, information is brief, and major sections of each individual's life are omitted; e.g., Abraham Lincoln's entry jumps from his being elected to Congress to becoming President of the United States. Whether this title can inspire children to be courageous is uncertain, but it can introduce them to some very interesting people.–Lori Matthews, Loyola School, New York City
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Gr. 4-7. "They all had courage . . . they all had obstacles to overcome." Following a brief, inspirational introduction, the author presents 25 biographical sketches about individuals who made their dreams come true. Each four-page profile comprises one section on childhood, one on the hero's adult life, and a small black-and-white photo. The appeal is in the astonishing facts; the clear, direct style; and the diversity of individuals across history, race, class, and profession, including famous political leaders (Lincoln, King, and Eleanor Roosevelt) as well as athletes, artists, scientists, preachers, and writers. Astronaut Ellen Ochoa, NBA star Michael Jordan, and Heather Whitestone, profoundly deaf, who was crowned Miss America in 1995, are among the subjects. Forget documentation. Other than a lengthy bibliography, there are no sources, even for direct quotes. Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
"Dare to Dream! gives our young people real heroes they can respect and emulate." -- Dr. Terry Hitchcock, Executive Director, The Heroes & Dreams Foundation

"The author succeeds marvelously through story form in helping to make hope a reality in the lives of today's youth." -- Dr. Donald Draayer, 1990 National Superintendent of the Year

"The role models in Dare to Dream! provide a 'north star' that brings meaning and purpose to young people everywhere." -- Gene Bedley, PTA National Educator of the Year

"This is the type of book all young people need to read." -- Dr. Philip Bigler, 1998 National Teacher of the Year

Customer Reviews

Should Be Recommend Reading
If I had been given a history book written by Humphrey, I would've fell in love with History! She writes in a way that makes historical figures seem interesting, lively, and important. Not only does she include many personal attributes with each profile, but she explains why these people made significant contributions to history (past and present)!

Inspire Your Dreamer
This collection of twenty-five short biographies introduces us to heroes in all avenues of achievement: invention, medicine, arts, science, education, sports. Each story is a testament to perseverence and self-determination. Whatever a child's dream (science, education, sports, invention, performing arts), there is a hero AND heroine who made their dream come true. The collection ran the gamut of great achievers. Some I knew about, others were new. The stories were too short for my taste. Although balanced in numbers, some of the selections puzzle me. For example, why Sammy Sosa and not Roberto Clemente? The stories have enough information to potentially inspire a child to research and learn more about a person of interest. Great balance of men and women for all fields of achievement.
The mini-biographies were choppy at times. The collection may be too heavy with sports figures (24% are athletes, all but one male), including Michael Jordan, who left school early to go pro? The biographies celebrate personal triumphs, despite others' judgments and roadblocks. A great book for talking about being true to one's self!

Teach Children How to Lead Exemplary Lives
In today's fast-paced, media-driven world, we have plenty of celebrities, but few heroes. While celebrities are famous (in many cases, for questionable behavior), heroes are esteemed for character, courage and achievement. In other words, a celebrity does not a hero make.

As parents, how do we teach our children to see the difference? How do we teach them that the actress who gets attention for taking off her clothes or the athlete who gets media coverage for punching a fan are merely celebrities, not heroes?

Sandra McLeod Humphrey's latest book, "Dare to Dream! 25 Extraordinary Lives" provides a solution to our dilemma. Humphrey, a retired psychologist and author of the series of "What Do You Do?" books (which foster moral development in children), has done it again with her latest book. "Dare to Dream!" reveals the struggles of real-life heroes and how tough choices led to development of character, moral fiber and social change. Reading about how these people led their lives will give your children role models after which to pattern their behavior.

"Dare to Dream!" has something for every child. Sandra McLeod Humphrey has carefully selected heroes from every ethnicity and walk of life, from sports to science, from music to poetry. Humphrey chronicles hero development during each person's life, from child to adult, so kids can begin to see how choices shape a life. Included in the book are current heroines (like Maya Angelou) and historic heroes (like Abe Lincoln). Although the characterizations are information-rich, they are brief-most are no more than two or three pages-which makes the book a great summer read. While reading the engaging stories from "Dare to Dream!" your children will be sharpening their literary skills and learning how to rise above time, place and circumstance to become heroes of their own lives.


Laura Ramirez
Author of "Keepers of the Children: Native American Wisdom and Parenting"
www.walk-in-peace.com
Publisher of Family Matters Online Parenting Magazine
www.parenting-child-development.com