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How to Change the World in 12 Easy Steps

Illustrated by Marie Letourneau
Published by Tanglewood
Distributed by Simon & Schuster

About The Book

Kids teaching kids how to make the world happier, prettier, friendlier, kinder, safer, smarter, accepting, and loving. It’s easy!


Taken from the life lessons of Eva Kor, Auschwitz child survivor, this title empowers children by offering concrete, simple actions that can change reaer's own lives, their community, and even the world. Charming illustrations bring lightness to a book with serious ideas that work.

"The simplicity of the 12 easy steps in this book is disarming and deeply moving. This no-fuss guide counts on children's humanity for its force, rather than spirituality or any whiff of religious thought, and in doing so, its impact is immense." —School Library Journal, starred review

"A touching and beautiful guide to consideration and kindness." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Eva's greatest magic was her ability to connect with children, to introduce them to their own unimagined capability. This astonishing little book captures her spirit beautifully and will help to grow world-changes for generations to come." —Ted Green, Filmmaker of award-winning documentary Eva A-7063

About The Author

Peggy Porter Tierney is the founder and President of Tanglewood Books and has worked in publishing as an editor and publisher for 27 years. Peggy published Eva Kor’s YA memoir, Surviving the Angel of  Death, and served on the board of the CANDLES Holocaust Museum that Ms. Kor founded. This is Tierney’s first book as an author. She currently resides in Indianapolis.

About The Illustrator

Marie Letourneau lives with her family on Long Island, NY. She is the author and illustrator of The Mice of Bistrot Sept Frères and Argyle Fox, and she illustrated Is a Worry Worrying You? and The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Mermaids. Marie loves animals, beets, and roller skating. She is a former roller derby queen and loves animals. 

Product Details

Raves and Reviews

"A touching and beautiful guide to consideration and kindness."

– Kirkus, starred review

"Eva's greatest magic was her ability to connect with children, to introduce them to their own unimagined capability. This astonishing little book captures her spirit beautifully and will help to grow world-changes for generations to come."

– Ted Green, Filmmaker of award-winning documentary Eva A-7063

"How to Change the World in 12 Easy Steps is an adorable children's book....This wonderful book should be nightly reading for little ones so that these messages become ingrained. I highly recommend this book!"

– Nadine Briggs, CEO, Simply Social Kids

*Starred review from Kirkus

Everyone has the power to change the world, even children. All they need to do, encourages Tierney, is start small…, clean their room, or invite someone sitting alone to join them. Other steps are more nuanced: accepting people for who they are, never giving up on their dreams, and standing up to a bully without becoming a bully. Letourneau draws racially diverse children thoughtfully engaging with the wor…and amplify each step. The final step is a beautiful explication of forgiveness: “Forgiveness doesn’t mean what they did was okay…Forgiveness means that you decide you don’t want to be angry, and when the anger is gone, there is more space for happiness” It and the entire book were inspired by Eva Kor, a Holocaust survivor, who inspired may with her capacity to forgive.

– Peggy Porter Tierney and Marie Letourneau

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More books from this illustrator: Marie Letourneau