Seeds of Change by Jen Cullerton Johnson

As a young girl in Kenya, Wangari was taught to respect nature. She grew up loving the land, plants, and animals that surrounded her – from the giant mugumo trees her people, the Kikuyu, revered to the tiny tadpoles that swam in the river.
Although most Kenyan girls were not educated, curious, hardworking Wangari was allowed to go to school. There, her mind sprouted like a seed. She excelled at science and went on to study in the United States. After returning home, Wangari blazed a trail across Kenya, using her knowledge and compassion to promote the rights of her countrywomen and to help save the land, one tree at a time. Seeds of Change: Planting a Path to Peace brings to life the empowering story of Wangari Maathai, the first African woman, and environmentalist, to win a Nobel Peace Prize. Engaging narrative and vibrant images paint a robust portrait of this inspiring champion of the land and of women’s rights.
For more information go to The Green Belt Movement

This is one of the most compelling stories I have read. It is very suitable for older children and adults. I used it as a follow-up to the Iqbal Novel Study.

This is the continued work of Craig and Mark Kielberger. Check out their websites.

Free the Children: A Young Man Fights Against Child Labor and Proves that Children Can Change the World by Graig Kielburger

In a Toronto suburb in April 1995, twelve-year-old Craig Kielburger opened the daily paper as usual and began to search for the comics page. But his morning ritual was interrupted when an article about a boy his own age caught his eye.
It was the story of Iqbal Masih, a Pakistani boy who, at the age of four, was sold into slavery by his parents. For the next six years, the article read, Iqbal was shackled to a carpet loom, tying thousands upon thousands of tiny knots, twelve hours a day, six days a week. For this he was paid three cents a day. Amazingly, Iqbal's will was never broken: he escaped and began efforts to reveal the horror of child labour. But when Iqbal began to gain international attention, and Pakistani carpet manufacturers began to lose orders, he was shot dead.
Craig's life was changed forever that morning. To find out more about child labour he contacted human-rights organizations around the world, and with a small band of his friends from school he formed his own human-rights organization called Free the Children. In the weeks that followed, Free the Children took off, fuelled entirely by the efforts and enthusiasm of children Craig's own age.
Soon Craig decided that he had to see first-hand the working conditions of South Asian children. At the time he was not allowed to take the subway alone to downtown Toronto, but he convinced his reluctant parents to let him fly halfway around the world. For seven weeks, in the company of a young Canadian human-rights worker named Alam Rahman, Craig journeyed through the world of slums, sweatshops, and back alleys where so many of the children of South Asia live in servitude, often performing the most menial and dangerous of jobs.
In his travels in Bangladesh, Thailand, India, Nepal, and Pakistan, Craig witnessed the shocking variety and extent of child labour, and was transformed from a typical, middle-class kid into a revolutionary. In New Delhi and Islamabad he created a sensation - and learned something of the power of the media - when he famously crossed paths with Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, who was touring Asia with the 'Team Canada' trade mission. By the time he returned to Canada, Craig and the young people of Free the Children had gained an international profile.
On his extraordinary journey Craig lost his faith in the ability of adults to uphold the rights of children, but his conviction that children themselves have the power to fight for their rights and those of their peers was stronger than ever.

To find out more about Me to We go here.
To find out more about Free the Children go here.

Suitable for children in grades 4 and up.

Environmentalists from our First Nations by Vincent Schilling

The stories of these passionate environmentalists take us from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to the Black Mesa in Arizona. Melina Laboucan-Massimo uses her passion to stop oil extraction in Alberta's tar sands. Winona LaDuke is a voice for reclaiming Native lands, advocating renewable energy resources, and protecting Native cultures. Clayton Thomas-Muller is a dynamic advocate for indigenous self-determination and campaigner against tar sands extraction. Ben Powless brings his youthful energy and skills to addressing climate change issues. Tom Goldtooth protects sacred sites and organizes global direct-action campaigns for the environment. Grace Thorpe is a grandmother who dedicated her retirement years to keeping Native reservations from becoming nuclear waste dumps. Sarah James is a voice from northern Alaska defending the Porcupine caribou herd and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Enei Begaye & Evon Peter are married activists who work as a team on environmental issues and sustainable strategies for Native people. Klee Benally uses the media to empower Native communities in their fight for environmental justice. Teague Allston works to ensure a tribal voice is heard in Washington DC.

Very inspiring and suitable for grade 4 and up.

Exceptional Women Environmentalists by Frances Rooney

From Rachel Carson, the woman who started the modern environmental movement, to Severn Cullis-Suzuki, former host of Suzuki's Nature Quest, to Marina Silva, who fights to keep the Brazilian rain forest from disappearing, read about these ten amazing women who prove how ordinary people can do extraordinary things. While the threat of environmental crises becomes more dominant in the media and popular culture, these trailblazing women are taking action to make a vital difference for our planet.
Women Profiled:
Severn Cullis-Suzuki (Canada), environmentalist and founder of the Environmental Children's Organization;
Sheila Watt-Cloutier (Canada), activist in raising the profile of the Inuit people and the effects of global warming on the North, nominated for the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize; Rachel Carson (U.S.), founder of the modern environmental movement; Jane Goodall (England/Africa), foremost researcher and tireless advocate of primates; Dai Qing (China), journalist and activist against the Three Gorges Dam project in China; Fatima Jibrell (Somalia), founder of Horn Relief and other education-relief organizations in Somalia; Vandana Shiva (India), champion for women's rights and the global food supply, physicist, ecologist, and author; Marina Silva (Brazil), ȁc;Amazonian Legendȁd; for Brazilian rainforests and human rights;
Sharon Beder (Australia), leader in environmental and water supply issues;
Olya Melen (Ukraine), youngest recipient of the (2006) Goldman Environmental Prize, saved Danube Delta wetlands.

A Kid's Guide to Hunger and Homelessness: How to Take Action! by Cathryn Berger Kaye

Kids explore what others in the world (including young people) have done and are doing to address the issues, find out what their community needs and develop a service project. The workbook includes facts, quotations, real-life examples, write-on pages, resources, a note to adults – and lots of inspiration to get out there and make a difference in the world. Includes exclusive interviews with author and activist Francis Moor Lappe and Lindsey Lee Johnson, author of Soul Moon Soup, the story of a girl living on the streets with her mother.
About the Author 
Cathryn Berger Kaye is an international service learning consultant and a former classroom teacher. She works with the state departments of education, university faculty and student, school districts, and classroom teachers on a variety of education issues such as service learning, civic responsibility, student leadership, and respectful school communities. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two daughters. 

Kids with Courage - True Stories About Young People Making a Difference by Barbara A. Lewis

The student had a loaded gun and a room full of hostages. Police surrounded the school. Then Ruben Ortega got mad…
It was the middle of winter and the woman had no shoes. Frank Daily looked down at his Nikes and made a decision…
The house was filled with smoke and flames. And Melinda Clark couldn’t find her little brother…
Andrew Holleman had practically grown up on the wetlands. He loved its plants, creatures, and gooey mud. The he heard about the developer’s plan…
As fun to read as fiction, these exciting true stories prove that anyone, at any age, in any life circumstance, can make a difference in the world – including you. Meet young people of all ages who take social action, fight crime, work to save the environment, and even perform heroic acts. Find out what gives them the courage to speak out, come to the rescue, and stand up for their beliefs. They many inspire you to do great things, too.

It's Your World - If you Don't Like it Change It: Activism for Teenagers by Mikki Halpin

“You can change the world.”
Free Speech, Racism, The Environment, Gay Rights, Bullying and School Safety, Animal Welfare, War, information about Safe Sex and Birth Control, Free Speech, HIV and AIDS, Women’s Rights. These are the issues you care about – and now you can do something about them. It’s Your World will show you how to act on your beliefs, no matter what they are, and make a difference.
Information inside includes:
• The basics of activism
• Activism projects and outreach ideas
• The 5 minute activist
• How to be an activist at home, at school, and in your community
• Stories from teenagers who have taken on the world – and won!
• Resources including books, movies, and Web sites

The Teen Guide to Global Action - How to Connect with Others to Create Social Change by Barbara A. Lewis

“Who says you have to wait to change the world?”
Virginia teen Zach Hunter started Loose Change to Loosen Chains, an organization dedicated to ending modern-day slavery. Janine Licare witnessed the destruction of Costa Rican rain forests and assembled a network of youth to help protect them. Zuhra Bahman began a foundation in her native Afghanistan that gives girls and women more education opportunities.
What do these young people have in common? They are part of a global youth movement working to make the world a better place. The Teen Guide to Global Action tells the stories of these and other inspiring change-makers while providing practical tools you can use to get involved. Inside the book you will find:
• “Action Plans” for researching issues and mapping out projects.
• “Connect” sidebars with over 100 organizations and Web Links
• “By the Numbers” facts and statistics on global issues
• “Quick Tips” for effective fundraising, volunteering, protest, and other actions
• “Point & Click” resources to learn more about service and social action topics.
Featuring hands-on ideas to get involved locally, nationally, or on an international level, this book is the go-to source to begin making a difference today.
To find out more about the author Barbara A. Lewis, go here.

What Do You Stand For? A Guide to Building Character by Barbara A. Lewis (for kids go here)

Some kids stand out. Other people look up to them and want to be like them. Their parents and teachers are proud of them. They make friends easily, and they seem to know the right things to say and do. This book can help a young person discover their own good qualities and make them stronger. These qualities are called positive character traits. When they develop good character, people respect them and you respect yourself.
In this resource there are:
• Quizzes that tell a person about themselves
• True Stories about real kids with character
• Descriptions of ten important character traits
• What If? situations that challenge a child’s thinking
• Resources including books, organizations, and websites for learning more about the character traits
Respect, Forgiveness, Citizenship, Cooperation, Safety, Honesty, Fairness, Responsibility, Caring
About the Author:
A former public school teacher and gifted education teacher and coordinator, Barbara A. Lewis has received many awards for excellence in writing, teaching, and leading youth in service projects and social action. She and her students have been honoured for community contributions by Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, and featured in The Congressional Record, as well as in national media outlets such as Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, Family Circle, CBS This Morning, CBS World News and CNN. Barbara is sought-after speaker on topics including character development, service, and social action. Her books include The Kid’s Guide to Social Action, The Teen Guide to Global Action, What Do You Stand For?,  and Kids with Courage.
Barbara has lived in Utah, Indiana, New Jersey, Switzerland, Belgium, and Poland. She now resides in Utah with her husband Lawrence. She has four children and nine grandchildren.

A Kid's Guide to Service Projects by Barbara A. Lewis

This guide has over 500 service ideas for young people who want to make a difference. Kids can pick a topic that interests them – animals, crime fighting, the environment, hunger, politics, and safety. Then, they can flip through the book and choose from hundreds of ideas for all kinds of service projects, from simple things they can do all on their own, to large scale commitments that involve whole communities. A special sections includes step-by-step instructions for creating flyers, petitions, press releases, and more.