In a foreword, former president Carter, who became a hands-on participant in Habitat for Humanity after leaving office, notes that in Habitat's homebuilding work he and his wife, Rosalynn, have found a way “to put our faith into practice.” Personal insights from the Carters, other volunteers, Habitat homeowners and several celebrities who have worked with the organization (Jamie Lee Curtis, Garth Brooks) add diverse voices to Rubel's (Scholastic Encyclopedia of the Presidents and Their Times) uplifting account of the group's mission and accomplishments. The book offers many intriguing nuts and bolts, as Rubel offers a chronicle of Habitat's origins and detailed rundowns of construction processes. Especially eye-opening are vignettes about projects in developing countries, where Habitat strives to reconcile modern building methods with local customs (as when “outdoor toilets are the cultural norm and indoor toilets are considered bizarre”). Copious photos of substandard housing in the U.S. and around the world, the Habitat homes that replaced them and the gratified residents who helped build them underscore both the physical and emotional benefits of the group's work. Ages 9–13. (Oct.)

This in-depth and inspirational look at Habitat for Humanity begins with a foreword by President Jimmy Carter, a long-time champion of Habitat. Carter explains how he and his wife got involved with the organization, whose goal is to rid the world of substandard housing. Throughout each chapter, the dedication and support of the Carters is woven into every story. The exhaustive examination of Habitat tells of what led to its formation in 1976, how the Carters got involved in 1984, and discusses Habitat's projects. Moving personal stories of both volunteers and housing recipients are offered in every chapter, illustrating how much passionate work goes into every project and the life-altering changes building and receiving a home offers. A chapter examines how Habitat designs and builds its homes, including the unique considerations and challenges each project faces. It also details the step-by-step work and on the job training that takes place. Chapters on the international work Habitat does and volunteers worldwide offer a global perspective on substandard housing. The key message throughout is that decent housing is a basic human right. The personal stories, from President Carter and other volunteers, convey just how important this organization is. Filled with photographs from building sites around the world, this informative book's main strength is its powerful stories from those who are forever changed by their work with Habitat for Humanity. This is an excellent resource for classrooms, providing opportunities for discussions on charity, poverty, volunteerism, and communities. Reviewer: Amanda MacGregor

This inspirational book, with contributor former President Jimmy Carter, is full of anecdotes aimed at prodding the youngest generation to get involved in Habitat for Humanity, an organization that builds homes for needy families in more than ninety countries around the world. This account begins with the early life of Millard Fuller, Habitat's founder, who learned as a child to care about the poor, living in rural Alabama on a farming commune where blacks and whites coexisted as equals. From this controversial beginning, Fuller conceived the idea to rid the world of substandard housing by making affordable homes with volunteer labor. No matter whether it is in rural West Virginia or a remote village in Laos, the families highlighted in the story marvel at the life-changing leg up the Habitat homes have provided to them. Builders are sensitive to the ecosystems, water conservation, and other unique issues (like putting bars on windows to keep monkeys out in India) so not all homes are alike. Besides discussing the organization, training, and fundraising efforts required to keep the program running, a final segment in the book examines how a house is actually built from the ground up. Interspersed with inspirational testimony and photos from new homeowners and some of the more than one million regular volunteers, the text is straightforward but readable and will surely enlighten young people about this uplifting organization and inspire them to participate. The author has contributed to several juvenile reference books. Reviewer: Kevin Beach

Gr 7 Up—After his presidency, Jimmy Carter embraced his ideals by promoting a humanitarian project. He found one when he decided to build houses for needy families through Habitat for Humanity. Carter's prestige and determination helped the group grow from 7 employees and 40 volunteers in 1980 to one million volunteers in 2009. This book examines how Habitat got its start, what participation means to its volunteers, and its mission today. Enthusiastically and in clear, simple terms, Rubel gives interesting commentary about just what it takes for a group of novices to join together to build a house, including the basic construction and architectural tasks involved. The author also highlights some unique challenges. Focusing on plumbing issues, for example, composting toilets, communal bathrooms, and outhouses doubling as chicken coops make for a surprisingly interesting as well as inspirational story. Besides the facts and practical information, the uplifting spirit behind Habitat for Humanity is captured through the full-color photographs, quotes, and reflections of volunteers and housing recipients. A great choice for book reports as well as for additional biographical information about President Carter.—Margaret Auguste, Franklin Middle School, Somerset, NJ

An eloquent preface by Habitat for Humanity's most prominent volunteer kicks off this moving introduction to a sampling of the other volunteers who have worked on and/or now live in some of the 300,000-plus homes the organization has built. Rubel traces Habitat's history and describes how it typically first goes about selecting families to work with, then plans and constructs safe, sturdy homes-but it's the stories of the people involved that make the most compelling reading, from President Carter's first meeting with Habitat's founder Millard Fuller ("I didn't know who this nut from my hometown was, but my first impression was negative") to Filipino washerwoman Emma Bocalan's epiphanic "Look at my beautiful home!" and veteran volunteer Sherwood Kirk's closing "I mean, they're letting us build their home, and we're getting so much more out of it than they are." Sheaves of color photos featuring construction sites and joyful faces underscore the theme that giving people not "a handout but a hand up" is genuinely worthy work. (afterword, index, "How to Get Involved") (Nonfiction. 11-18)

"You have it in your power to ease suffering. Do it. You will be surprised how happy it makes you."
Ann Curry, NBC News — Quote

"This is an inspiring book, telling how ideas starting on a little farm in Georgia have grown to a worldwide movement bringing people together. How? Read it."
Pete Seeger, American folk singer and co-writer of the song, "If I Had a Hammer." — Quote

After President Carter lost the 1980 election to Ronald Reagan, he was at a loss as to what he should do with the rest of his life. The answer came in the form of Millard Fuller, a gentleman from Alabama who wanted to help those who were less fortunate. In 1976, he started an organization called Habitat for Humanity, which is dedicated to providing clean, comfortable housing for those who have fallen on difficult times. With President Carter's help, Habitat has raised millions of dollars to build houses across the United States and the world. Thousands of volunteers, including high-paid celebrities, flock to Habitat sites every year to help their cause. This book offers a behind-the-scenes look at Habitat for Humanity. It is peppered with stories from volunteers whose lives have been changed because of their experience. It also discusses how and where the organization gets its materials, building codes that it must follow (especially in foreign countries), and dealing with sanitation issues. The book is filled with pictures of various building sites, as well as volunteers, President Carter, and new Habitat homeowners whose lives have been transformed through the process. Friendships have been made, political differences set aside, and religious intolerance obliterated, all through the work that Habitat has done and will continue to do. Reviewer: Jonatha Basye

Gr 6 Up—Habitat for Humanity has a worldwide reputation for helping those in need change their lives by assisting them in the building of their own homes. The history of this philanthropic organization and its creators is recounted in this book (Candlewick, 2009) by David Rubel. The genesis for Habitat for Humanity began in a Christian community founded in Georgia in 1942 called Koinonia Farm. The community was devoted to emulating the life of Jesus Christ in their daily lives by helping the poor in their community. Millard Fuller, who ultimately began Habitat for Humanity, became associated with them in 1965 and created Habitat some 11 years later. Upon leaving the White House, Jimmy Carter and his wife became active volunteers. They sponsor and build at least one project every year somewhere in the world. Listeners learn how a typical Habitat house is built from start to finish—from choosing the owners, funding the project, and coordinating volunteers to turning over the keys to the owners. Habitat believes in giving the owners a hand up, not a hand out, and requires that they invest their own sweat as the house is being built. As a consequence of all their hard work, they gain a measure of dignity and self-respect which affects all areas of their lives. John Miller's narration is straightforward. Young adults, and adults, may be inspired to go out and do something positive in their own communities. One person does make a difference.—Joan Kindig, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA