If I Had a Hammer: Stories of Building Homes and Hope with Habitat for Humanity - Softcover

Rubel, David

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0763647691 ISBN 13: 9780763647698

Publisher: Candlewick, 2010

Synopsis

President Jimmy Carter’s compelling anecdotes inspire a personal look at Habitat for Humanity that is sure to fire up a younger generation.

For a quarter-century in more than ninety countries, Habitat for Humanity has built homes in partnership with the people who need them, aided by more than a million multigenerational volunteers. Two of the most devoted are former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn. This captivating account, abundantly illustrated with photos, relays personal stories from volunteers and homeowners with special resonance for young readers. Exploring everything from creative home design to the emotional rewards of helping to build a house from the ground up, this is an essential resource for inspiring future youth volunteers. Included in the paperback edition is a riveting account of building a neighborhood in Thailand for the 2009 Jimmy and Rosalynn Work Project. Back matter includes an afterword, an index, and information about how to get involved.

About this title

About the Author:

David Rubel is the author of the SCHOLASTIC ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE PRESIDENTS AND THEIR TIMES and the SCHOLASTIC ATLAS OF THE UNITED STATES. He lives in Chatham, New York.

Jimmy Carter served as the thirty-ninth president of the United States from 1977 to 1981 and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize. A prolific author, Jimmy Carter has published more than twenty books. He lives with his wife, Rosalynn, in Plains, Georgia.

From Booklist:

Technology and faith are the subjects in this hands-on account of Habitat for Humanity, the organization that helps create safe, decent housing for those in need in the U.S. and across the globe. Starting with his eloquent foreword, former President Jimmy Carter talks throughout the book about how, inspired by his Christian faith, he is committed to Habitat’s work ethic, which stipulates that the poor are not given a handout but a handup. As part of the program, rich and poor people build homes together, and volunteers cover their own costs. The book’s open design, with clear type on thick, quality paper, includes many color photos of people living in poverty, from Durban, South Africa, to Berea, Kentucky. Also included are close-up images of volunteers and residents installing roofs, painting windows, and completing new homes. The text’s details about the essentials of providing shelter, fresh water, electricity, and effective sewage systems for all combine into a powerful message that will inspire many readers, including adults. Grades 6-12. --Hazel Rochman

About this edition

• Publisher: Candlewick
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0763647691
• ISBN 13: 9780763647698
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 176