Dare to Dream!: 25 Extraordinary Lives

If I had been given a history book written by Humphrey, I would've fell in love with History! She writes in a way that makes historical figures seem interesting, lively, and important. Not only does she include many personal attributes with each profile, but she explains why these people made significant contributions to history (past and present)!

In today's fast-paced, media-driven world, we have plenty of celebrities, but few heroes. While celebrities are famous (in many cases, for questionable behavior), heroes are esteemed for character, courage and achievement. In other words, a celebrity does not a hero make. As parents, how do we teach our children to see the difference? How do we teach them that the actress who gets attention for taking off her clothes or the athlete who gets media coverage for punching a fan are merely celebrities, not heroes? Sandra McLeod Humphrey's latest book, "Dare to Dream! 25 Extraordinary Lives" provides a solution to our dilemma. Humphrey, a retired psychologist and author of the series of "What Do You Do?" books (which foster moral development in children), has done it again with her latest book. "Dare to Dream!" reveals the struggles of real-life heroes and how tough choices led to development of character, moral fiber and social change. Reading about how these people led their lives will give your children role models after which to pattern their behavior. "Dare to Dream!" has something for every child. Sandra McLeod Humphrey has carefully selected heroes from every ethnicity and walk of life, from sports to science, from music to poetry. Humphrey chronicles hero development during each person's life, from child to adult, so kids can begin to see how choices shape a life. Included in the book are current heroines (like Maya Angelou) and historic heroes (like Abe Lincoln). Although the characterizations are information-rich, they are brief-most are no more than two or three pages-which makes the book a great summer read. While reading the engaging stories from "Dare to Dream!" your children will be sharpening their literary skills and learning how to rise above time, place and circumstance to become heroes of their own lives. Laura Ramirez Author of "Keepers of the Children: Native American Wisdom and Parenting" www.walk-in-peace.com Publisher of Family Matters Online Parenting Magazine www.parenting-child-development.com

"dare to dream" is an excellent book for children who suffer from learning disabilities and social issues. Many of the heroes chosen for this book had difficult childhoods. It's refreshing to see how they excelled when they were able to fly on their own. Children need to have hope for their future and faith in following their dreams. Thanks to Sharon they now have a book they can turn to for an entire list of heroes! Dotsie Bregel (...)

I feel that Sandra Humphrey's DARE TO DREAM is one of the best new children's books on today's market! It is definitely the book to buy for children that need a boost to their own self-esteem by recognizing that ordinary people that follow their dreams and never give up CAN become extraordinary individuals! Ms. Humphrey's well-researched biographies of these 25 heroes and heroines, past and present, makes me realize just how much their constant setbacks actually helped create the core of their characters and personalities, and firmly resolved their drive to succeed when it would have been much easier to just give up on their dreams. It renewed my own strength of purpose as an adult to follow my own dreams, especially when my spirit started to sag with what I considered overwhelming defeat. I would highly recommend DARE TO DREAM for our troubled young people that so desperately need role models to look up to -- real people that really DID what they set their minds to do. They will learn through the lives highlighted that it is okay to be different; that no matter HOW others perceive you, it is okay to believe in yourself; you should follow your heart to attain your goals; and, no matter the obstacle... NEVER EVER give up your dreams! This book WILL DEFINITELY turn some lives around, young and old, when the reader realizes there IS hope for their dreams to be followed after all!

Our whole family LOVES this book. We are reading one story every night before going to bed and I am being inspired by these stories just as much as the kids are. These true life stories about true life heroes mean so much more to the kids because they realize it's not pretend and these people really lived and really accomplished their goals despite great obstacles. With all the media hype of often less than honorable superstars, fame and fortune, it is so great to see a book that enourages real heroism, humility, bravery and true character. I hope everyone buys this book so that they too will be inspired. Kids need to hear more about real heroes like this because the world does not teach enough about them. AWESOME book!