Dictionary for a Better World: Poems, Quotes, and Anecdotes from A to Z

How can we make the world a better place?

This inspiring resource for middle-grade readers is organized as a dictionary; each entry presents a word related to creating a better world, such as ally, empathy, or respect. For each word, there is a poem, a quote from an inspiring person, a personal anecdote from the authors, and a try it prompt for an activity.

This second poetic collaboration from Irene Latham and Charles Waters builds upon themes of diversity and inclusiveness from their previous book Can I Touch Your Hair? Poems of Race, Mistakes, and Friendship. Illustrations from Iranian-British artist Mehrdokht Amini offer readers a rich visual experience.

Latham and Waters’s personal stories are plainspoken and relatable … and the suggested actions, accessible… The approach creates multiple pathways for engagement. Extensive supplementary materials include an index of poetic forms.–starred, Publishers Weekly