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

Great overview of work that Habitat does around the world

This book does a very good job of explaining the world of Habitat For Humanity. Since the target audience is the younger set, it is written in a manner that is easy for all to understand. As a person who has built on a number of HFH projects around the world, including the Carter Builds, I can attest that it is a true representation of how things are done. I also know a number of the people profiled in the book personally and can say that their stories are not embellished. Habitat DOES change lives and I think the author does a remarkable job of conveying that in an interesting and motivating way. There is just the right balance of emotion, moving without being sappy. While I had heard many snippets of the history of the organization over the years, I particularly enjoyed how this book filled in some of the gaps for me. There is some misinformation out there about Habitat, such as that it was founded by Jimmy Carter which is not true, and this book gives a definitive factual reference for all who are interested in the subject. It is very well researched. The photos are beautiful and draw you into the story. You can't help but fall in love with the homeowners, the volunteers and the mission itself. I believe that an entire generation of volunteers will emerge as a result of this book, as many youngsters will be exposed to it. The Smithsonian has named it a 2009 Notable Book for Children, while the Children's Book Council and the National Council for the Social Studies have named it a 2010 Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People. The Michigan Reading Association has also chosen to include 'If I Had a Hammer' in its 2010-2011 Great Lakes Great Books program. If you weren't a convert to the goal of ridding the world of substandard housing by a hand up instead of a handout before, you will be after reading this book. I highly recommend it.