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Never Too Young!: 50 Unstoppable Kids Who Made a Difference
Anyone—no matter how young—can make a difference! Meet 50 incredible kids who had a positive impact in their communities . . . and the world.
From Picasso, who changed the art world forever, to Malala Yousafzai, the brave teen who was shot for advocating education for girls, the 50 kids profiled in Never Too Young! will inspire and empower young readers. Some, like Anne Frank, Ruby Bridges, and Stevie Wonder, are prominent figures, while others are lesser known though their achievements are just as compelling. They come from a variety of historical periods and backgrounds, and have made an impact in politics, sports, the arts, science, and more.
Includes: Louis Armstrong, Louis Braille, Ruby Bridges, Thandiwe Chama, Michael Chang, Nadia Comaneci, Kelvin Doe, Bobby Fisher, Anne Frank, Tavi Gevinson, Om Prakash Gurjar, S.E. Hinton, Askrit Jawal, Joan of Arc, Helen Keller, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Pelé, Pablo Picasso, Pocahontas, Sacagawea, Shirley Temple, Venus and Serena Williams. Stevie Wonder, Malala Yousafzai, and more!
From Picasso, who changed the art world forever, to Malala Yousafzai, the brave teen who was shot for advocating education for girls, the 50 kids profiled in Never Too Young! will inspire and empower young readers. Some, like Anne Frank, Ruby Bridges, and Stevie Wonder, are prominent figures, while others are lesser known though their achievements are just as compelling. They come from a variety of historical periods and backgrounds, and have made an impact in politics, sports, the arts, science, and more.
Includes: Louis Armstrong, Louis Braille, Ruby Bridges, Thandiwe Chama, Michael Chang, Nadia Comaneci, Kelvin Doe, Bobby Fisher, Anne Frank, Tavi Gevinson, Om Prakash Gurjar, S.E. Hinton, Askrit Jawal, Joan of Arc, Helen Keller, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Pelé, Pablo Picasso, Pocahontas, Sacagawea, Shirley Temple, Venus and Serena Williams. Stevie Wonder, Malala Yousafzai, and more!
112 pages, Hardcover
Published September 4, 2018
5 people are currently reading
134 people want to read
About the author
Aileen Weintraub
75 books35 followersAileen Weintraub is an award-winning author, journalist, and editor. She has written for the Washington Post, Glamour, NBC, and AARP, among others. She has also published several children’s books, including Never Too Young! 50 Unstoppable Kids Who Made a Difference and We Got Game! 35 Female Athletes Who Changed the World.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
May 22, 2019
Adorably illustrated one-page bios of kids who have improved the world through activism, invention, athleticism, defiance, etc.
May 7, 2023
What an inspirational book for children. There are so many ways to change the world right where you are, and these kids have proven that. My favorite mini-bio’s were of Mozart and Picasso. They were so young when their talents for music and art surfaced, and their parents were so supportive! There are so many good stories in here - kids speaking up and standing up for what they believe in. I hope these biographies inspire every child who reads this.
September 10, 2018
This collection of 50 kids who made a difference in the world before they became adults and inspires kids to chase their dreams, proving they can change the world.
Fifty figures are presented in these pages, each one reaching a major accomplishment which greatly influenced the world around them before they hit the age of eighteen. Some are historical, while others are still alive today. Some are even still kids. The range in accomplishments is vast. From performing arts to science to philanthropy, these kids have made an impact in every aspect of life. They also come from every where across the globe—Africa, Asian, the Americas...there are no boundaries.
The book begins with a quick table of contents, making it easy to find a specific person. However, they are not in any particular order. There's a quick introduction from the author, which makes it clear this is a book to empower and inspire kids. After raising the excitement to dive in, the reader meets the fifty 'kids' on each of the following two-page spreads. The name of the person is in bold type directly followed by the area they made an influence in. Then there's a one page description of who they were, their special qualities, what they did, why they did it, and what influence they had. On the other side, there's a lovely illustration of the figure as a child, the dates they were alive (or born), as well as a famous quote from them. At the end, a 'What Now?' page again inspires readers to go out into the world and try their best without worrying about only being a kid because if these other kids can change the world, so can they. Last but not least, there's a section of sources listed.
The figures in these pages represent a kaleidoscope of possibilities and make it clear through facts that kids can make a difference. It doesn't matter what area they are talented in, which part of life their ideas hit upon or even from which circumstances they come from. All of these children gave their best to work at whatever activity they found important and didn't give up. Granted, sometimes a pinch of luck was involved but that was by no means the main factor and for many, not even involved. The texts are never boring but bring each figure to life and make their dreams as well as accomplishments clear. It's great for readers to thumb through time and again, and each time to learn something new.
This is one of those books which should be available to kids—school libraries, classrooms, and homeschools. It hits home and makes kids realize that they aren't necessarily too young to accomplish their dreams. Instead, they should chase them.
I received a complimentary copy and found it such a wonderful book for children that I wanted to leave my honest thoughts.
Fifty figures are presented in these pages, each one reaching a major accomplishment which greatly influenced the world around them before they hit the age of eighteen. Some are historical, while others are still alive today. Some are even still kids. The range in accomplishments is vast. From performing arts to science to philanthropy, these kids have made an impact in every aspect of life. They also come from every where across the globe—Africa, Asian, the Americas...there are no boundaries.
The book begins with a quick table of contents, making it easy to find a specific person. However, they are not in any particular order. There's a quick introduction from the author, which makes it clear this is a book to empower and inspire kids. After raising the excitement to dive in, the reader meets the fifty 'kids' on each of the following two-page spreads. The name of the person is in bold type directly followed by the area they made an influence in. Then there's a one page description of who they were, their special qualities, what they did, why they did it, and what influence they had. On the other side, there's a lovely illustration of the figure as a child, the dates they were alive (or born), as well as a famous quote from them. At the end, a 'What Now?' page again inspires readers to go out into the world and try their best without worrying about only being a kid because if these other kids can change the world, so can they. Last but not least, there's a section of sources listed.
The figures in these pages represent a kaleidoscope of possibilities and make it clear through facts that kids can make a difference. It doesn't matter what area they are talented in, which part of life their ideas hit upon or even from which circumstances they come from. All of these children gave their best to work at whatever activity they found important and didn't give up. Granted, sometimes a pinch of luck was involved but that was by no means the main factor and for many, not even involved. The texts are never boring but bring each figure to life and make their dreams as well as accomplishments clear. It's great for readers to thumb through time and again, and each time to learn something new.
This is one of those books which should be available to kids—school libraries, classrooms, and homeschools. It hits home and makes kids realize that they aren't necessarily too young to accomplish their dreams. Instead, they should chase them.
I received a complimentary copy and found it such a wonderful book for children that I wanted to leave my honest thoughts.
October 16, 2020
It was surprisingly hard to find a book about young people who have made a difference in the world that doesn’t focus on some aspect of sexuality. This book does have one story about a transgender child.
Besides that, there are many activists, inventors, artists, athletes, etc. I like the many different ideas kids can glean from this book about ways they can make a difference from collecting shoes and glasses to making robotic arms.
It leaves out any risqué parts of people’s lives (like drugs and promiscuity) which is good for this book. Even people without squeaky clean lives can make a difference for good.
Besides that, there are many activists, inventors, artists, athletes, etc. I like the many different ideas kids can glean from this book about ways they can make a difference from collecting shoes and glasses to making robotic arms.
It leaves out any risqué parts of people’s lives (like drugs and promiscuity) which is good for this book. Even people without squeaky clean lives can make a difference for good.
December 17, 2020
I read this book aloud to my son, while laying in bed in the mornings, a few pages at a time. We had read some other books with one page biographies of world-changers, and I was drawn to the idea that all of these people were changing the world as kids.
Some names were familiar, some were not. Artists, activists, musicians, scientists, and more....I was glad to see so much diversity in this book, from children who had made smaller change in their community to some who had literally changed the world. I love how this could spark some conversation on how my kids could make the world better! And I love that my husband and I are learning new things alongside my kids as I read!!
Some names were familiar, some were not. Artists, activists, musicians, scientists, and more....I was glad to see so much diversity in this book, from children who had made smaller change in their community to some who had literally changed the world. I love how this could spark some conversation on how my kids could make the world better! And I love that my husband and I are learning new things alongside my kids as I read!!
September 12, 2018
"Never Too Young," written by Aileen Weintraub, includes an introduction, table of contents, and a page of text about each of "50 unstoppable kids who made a difference." The book is beautifully designed (there are lively and colorful illustrations by Laura Horton), and the eye-catching cover and contents should appeal to the target audience, children ages 8-12. The prose is clear and informative and, since the biographies are short, readers may browse or, if they wish, read the chapters in order.
The arrangement of the biographical sketches is somewhat puzzling. It would have made more sense to list the subjects chronologically, instead of inserting Joan of Arc, Mozart, Louis Braille, and Helen Keller among contemporary kids who are not yet well known. Another possibility would have been to arrange the essays by category: the arts, sciences, human rights, philanthropy, and sports.
Weintraub includes children from various walks of life, but emphasizes multiculturalism, resourcefulness, talent, kindness, and standing up for oneself and others. We learn about Ruby Bridges, the first black child to attend an all white school in New Orleans; Yash Gupta, the founder of "a nonprofit organization that collects and distributes eyeglasses to students in need around the world"; Praveen Kumar Gorakavi, a native of India who invented a low-cost artificial limb; and Margaret Knight, who introduced a shut off valve to help protect workers in cotton mills from injury during the nineteenth century. Thandiwe Chama fought to provide a decent education for Zambian children, and Cassandra Lin has worked with her peers to develop alternative energy sources. In addition, there are profiles of artists, musicians, a fashion designer, and athletes. "Never Too Young" introduces children in grades 3-7 to the possibility that youngsters blessed with initiative, intelligence, caring, and/or creativity can set and meet lofty goals well before they reach adulthood.
The arrangement of the biographical sketches is somewhat puzzling. It would have made more sense to list the subjects chronologically, instead of inserting Joan of Arc, Mozart, Louis Braille, and Helen Keller among contemporary kids who are not yet well known. Another possibility would have been to arrange the essays by category: the arts, sciences, human rights, philanthropy, and sports.
Weintraub includes children from various walks of life, but emphasizes multiculturalism, resourcefulness, talent, kindness, and standing up for oneself and others. We learn about Ruby Bridges, the first black child to attend an all white school in New Orleans; Yash Gupta, the founder of "a nonprofit organization that collects and distributes eyeglasses to students in need around the world"; Praveen Kumar Gorakavi, a native of India who invented a low-cost artificial limb; and Margaret Knight, who introduced a shut off valve to help protect workers in cotton mills from injury during the nineteenth century. Thandiwe Chama fought to provide a decent education for Zambian children, and Cassandra Lin has worked with her peers to develop alternative energy sources. In addition, there are profiles of artists, musicians, a fashion designer, and athletes. "Never Too Young" introduces children in grades 3-7 to the possibility that youngsters blessed with initiative, intelligence, caring, and/or creativity can set and meet lofty goals well before they reach adulthood.
November 22, 2019
This book was really good!! I learned about a lot of great kids. I liked the pictures but
I have to rate it as a 3 stars because there is a serious factual and or editing error in the Nadia Comaeci section. It says "In 1993, at the age of nineteen, Nadia retired" page 41. If you are just reading and not calculating... that is a problem as Nadia was born in 1961 she she would be age 19 in 1980. She also retired in 1984.
She was inducted into the hall of fame in 1993 so the rest of the sentence is correct , but this HUGE mistake makes this ineligible in my book, for any honors or awards!
Fact checker
https://www.biography.com/athlete/nad...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nadia_C...
I did learn a lot and met cool kids like, Autumn De Forest and Tavi Gevinso and some I already knew!
I feel sad that some editor didn't pick up on this.... Sigh! this was a very good book that kids would like!
I have to rate it as a 3 stars because there is a serious factual and or editing error in the Nadia Comaeci section. It says "In 1993, at the age of nineteen, Nadia retired" page 41. If you are just reading and not calculating... that is a problem as Nadia was born in 1961 she she would be age 19 in 1980. She also retired in 1984.
She was inducted into the hall of fame in 1993 so the rest of the sentence is correct , but this HUGE mistake makes this ineligible in my book, for any honors or awards!
Fact checker
https://www.biography.com/athlete/nad...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nadia_C...
I did learn a lot and met cool kids like, Autumn De Forest and Tavi Gevinso and some I already knew!
I feel sad that some editor didn't pick up on this.... Sigh! this was a very good book that kids would like!
April 6, 2021
I've been looking at a lot of similar collections lately and this inspiring biographical compilation for middle graders is engaging and attractively illustrated. I love the breadth of the teens represented and I love how the author dug deep to find kids who are doing amazing things but not necessarily world famous things. Many of the teens in this book started charities or made speeches because they were following a passion. This approach isn't something I have seen often in this type of biography book. The writing was factual but interesting. The subjects span hundreds of years but there is a heavy emphasis on kids' accomplishments in the last few decades. Some are activists, but pleasantly, the book focuses much more on charitable giving, looking out for their communities (and eventually their global communities), and many STEM biographies. These were, I think, the most surprising and the least publicized. A worthwhile book for classroom or home.
September 13, 2018
This book is made up of 50 short biography stories. Every page spread features an illustration of the famous child along with a brief biography of what made them famous or special.
Pros:
- simple and to the point
- filled with relevant details
- kids had an easy time reading and learning
Cons:
- no order to the biographies
Overall this is a great book. I wish the biographies had some order like date or category, but they did not. However, the information present was amazing and perfect for the kids to be inspired from.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine and were in no way influenced by outside sources. I am a professional on Little Lady Plays
Pros:
- simple and to the point
- filled with relevant details
- kids had an easy time reading and learning
Cons:
- no order to the biographies
Overall this is a great book. I wish the biographies had some order like date or category, but they did not. However, the information present was amazing and perfect for the kids to be inspired from.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine and were in no way influenced by outside sources. I am a professional on Little Lady Plays
January 11, 2020
3.5 stars. This gives a short biography of multiple people (past and present) who have done something amazing. It covers musicians, athletes, scientists, philanthropists, inventors, activists... All of them were a relatively young age when they changed the world.
Of course, I started with Elvis. Everyone should. The person who stood out the most to me though was a young man who discovered a blood test to find pancreatic cancer before it is too late. The survival rate is so low because you don't discover it until the advanced stages. I can't wait to see when this makes it through all the testing phases and becomes standard in medicine.
Of course, I started with Elvis. Everyone should. The person who stood out the most to me though was a young man who discovered a blood test to find pancreatic cancer before it is too late. The survival rate is so low because you don't discover it until the advanced stages. I can't wait to see when this makes it through all the testing phases and becomes standard in medicine.
November 9, 2018
This middle grade informational book takes a look at the lives and accomplishments of young people who have had an impact on the world around them. These brief sketches take readers to young people from hundreds of years ago (Mozart, Joan of Arc) to kids in more modern times. This is a good mentor text for informational writing and kids will be attracted to it because it showcases young people that they will be able to relate to.
March 31, 2020
This was a lovely and inspiring collection of short biographies of extraordinary kids. The layout is appealing, with lots of bright background art and nicely done portraits of each of the 50 subjects. The depth and breadth of the book were excellent too, as it represents kids from various periods in history, from all over the world, and from a wide variety of gender identities and ethnicities. Both my fifth-grader and I found it fascinating and inspiring.
November 12, 2018
Warning: if you are a grown-up reading this book, you might feel like you have done nothing with your life after reading about these youngsters who accomplished something, small or big, while under the age of 18.
Would highly recommend for younglings who think that whatever they do they will never leave an impact upon the world.
Would highly recommend for younglings who think that whatever they do they will never leave an impact upon the world.
December 23, 2018
Collected biography of changemakers who made a difference before they were 18. A nice spread of gender, race, ethnicity and time period. Single page biographies are faced by full color illustrations.
A much younger feel than The Rad women series, but the information is good.
A much younger feel than The Rad women series, but the information is good.
January 5, 2019
Read this to see if my nieces and nephews might enjoy it, but a mistake on the Nadia Comaneci page gives me a bit of a pause (possibly just a typo, but it bugged me). That being said I did like the diverse collection of kids they wrote about and the one page per person style makes it a fu. Read.
May 27, 2023
This book was so interesting! I had the opportunity to learn about the incredible things that youths have accomplished and found out some new facts about kids that I am already familiar with. I highly recommend this book to anyone, young or old!
September 6, 2018
4.5/5
January 15, 2019
I loved reading about different children who have changed the world!
February 8, 2019
A lot of well known child prodigies are in this. I was hoping there would be more less known. Even still it is very informitive.
March 11, 2019
Just bought this book for the elementary school library I work in and I'm super excited to add it to my collection. Really inspiring!
September 24, 2019
Faith in humanity restored.
May 28, 2023
Thinking Day 2023--Germany
January 5, 2024
I read these to my class as a launch at the end of the day. Loved it!
October 16, 2025
so good... so many people from a young age changing the world for good!!
January 16, 2019
This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!
Hello, friends! Our book today is Never Too Young!: 50 Unstoppable Kids Who Made A Difference, written by Aileen Weintraub and illustrated by Laura Horton, a compendium of young change-makers who made major accomplishments in their fields before the age of 18.
Including a short forward, the book introduces the reader to 50 figures throughout history that made notable contributions to their fields while still in their formative years. Each biography features a full-page vignette illustration of the subject, often paired with a quotation by them. Opposite is a three-to-five paragraph biography noting where the youngster hailed from, what field they made their mark in and how, and what they went on to do in their adult years (where applicable). There is a healthy mix of historical and modern examples from all over the world, ranging from notable names such as Joan of Arc, Anne Frank, and Louis Braille, to less-familiar luminaries and role models like Aisholpan Nurgaiv, Katie Stagliano, and Thandiwe Chama.
Absolutely awesome. These biology compendiums for kids have become quite popular recently, and it’s wonderful to see the format used to inspire while it educates. With the aim of not only teaching children about history, culture, world events, and the arts, the text also serves to encourage children that there is no age limit on getting involved with the world around them. The biographies are bite-sized enough so that even JJ comfortably enjoyed a few; an older child could easily finish the book in a few sittings. The illustrations all have a genial quality that makes each figure feel like a new friend. This is a great book for encouraging children to make a difference in the world around them, and know that their voices and talents matter, and we just adored it. Absolutely Baby Bookworm approved!
(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)
Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!
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October 6, 2018Get. This. Book. It is diversity at its finest, for one. Each life sketch is a two-page spread with a biography, illustrated image, and a quote from the featured child. Being able to start reading anywhere (maybe with someone they know) creates huge appeal among reluctant readers. The features are well done and can easily encourage more reading on the person or subject. Last but not least, each story is written at a level that can be easily understood by younger audiences not quite ready to read books at this level.
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December 4, 2018Who said that kids can’t change the world? Get to know 50 amazing people who accomplished incredible things before they turned 18. Each page of "Never Too Young" features a mini-biography of a different young activist, entrepreneur, artist, or innovator along with a vibrantly illustrated portrait. This inspiring and comprehensive book strikes a great balance between modern and historical, famous and lesser known figures, as well as individuals across the gender spectrum. It would make a wonderful addition to any collection, and has a similar format and style as Ann Shen’s "Bad Girls Throughout History: 100 Remarkable Women Who Changed the World."
Check this book out at the Villa Park Public Library:
https://catalog.swanlibraries.net/client/en_US/vpd/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:2694716/ada?qu=never+too+young&lm=VPD
Check this book out at the Villa Park Public Library:
https://catalog.swanlibraries.net/client/en_US/vpd/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:2694716/ada?qu=never+too+young&lm=VPD
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