The Magic of Making a Difference: One CAN Make a Difference
by Dr. Melana E. Uhrik
Archway Publishing


"Let us always remember that we each have the magic of making a difference, no matter how big or little, young or old."

Author Uhrik offers a shimmering story of how anyone can overcome doubts and fears to transform difficult circumstances and inspire life's next steps. Immersed in Aiden Huddleston's bright, illustrative settings, the reader meets Lizzy, an energetic girl who wants to help her schoolmates by joining in feeding hungry children by donating canned food. Before setting out for school one morning, Lizzy asks for a can to add to the effort, without realizing what a struggle it is for her mother to make ends meet. When her mother refuses, Lizzy, a good student with many friends. is still hopeful that her class can win a prize by bringing the most contributions.

The next day, she asks again, still with no result. On the last day of the contest, Lizzy makes a final effort. Her mother searches the cupboard's far corner, finding a can of bamboo shoots. The effort has its reward: Lizzy's class wins the competition by one can. This shows her mother that "one can make a difference," imbuing her with the determination to ameliorate her difficulties as a single mom, while encouraging her child to persevere in the wish to help others through constructive persistence in all situations.

Uhrik has experienced the book's central scenario as a single mother whose daughter's determination to fulfill a small but significant task prompted the author to initiate a widespread community effort to feed the hungry, garnering significant attention, including designation as a "Community Hero." Here she offers readers twelve tip sheets to widen her theme and inspire further, positive pathways. She has collaborated with artist Huddleston, a remarkably talented teenager, in the creation of this salutary tale and tip sheets in question-and-answer format to encourage readers' further exploration of the dynamic themes purposefully presented here.

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