Books published by publisher Second ACT Press

With dreams of becoming a firefighter, a young boy searches through his closet to find what he needs for a day of adventure as a firefighter. A hat as a helmet, a yellow coat, and rain books complete his firefighter uniform. And of course, his favorite toy, Fred, because all firefighters need a trusty sidekick.When the alarm bell rings, off he goes to rescue a kitten and find lost pets.

Biographies of ten children from around the world who opened up their hearts and minds to the injustices of the world and took action, changing their world for the better. In addition to the ten main profiles, sidebars feature many more children. Included is eleven-year-old Andrew Adansi-Bonnah from Ghana, who raised thousands of dollars for refugee children in Somalia after seeing their desperate situation covered in the news. Another child profiled is twelve-year-old Mimi Ausland from the United States, nicknamed “Dr. Doolittle” by her family. After learning about the shortage of food for shelter animals, she started a website to collect donations of dog and cat food; her site is now one of the most visited animal-rescue websites in the world. These children never set out to be heroes or to become famous, but they are role-models for us all.

The story of the determined Ojibwe Nokomis (grandmother) Josephine Mandamin and her great love for Nibi (water). Nokomis walks to raise awareness of our need to protect water for future generations and for all life on the planet. She, along with other women, men and youth, have walked the perimeter of the Great Lakes and along the banks of numerous rivers and lakes. The walks are full of challenges, and by her example Josephine invites us all to take up our responsibility to protect our water, the giver of life, and to protect our planet for all generations.Dual-language edition in English & Anishinaabemowin.

The story of the beautiful relationship between a little girl and her grandfather. When she asks her grandfather how to say something in his language, Cree, he admits that his language was stolen from him when he was a boy. The little girl then sets out to help her grandfather find his language again. This sensitive, beautifully illustrated picture book explores the intergenerational impact of Canada's residential school system, which separated young Indigenous children from their families.

The determined story of an Ojibwe grandmother (nokomis), Josephine Mandamin, and her great love for nibi (water). Nokomis walks to raise awareness of our need to protect nibi for future generations and for all life on the planet. She, along with other women, men and youth, has walked around all the Great Lakes from the four salt waters, or oceans, to Lake Superior. The walks are full of challenges, and by her example she challenges us all to take up our responsibility to protect our water, the giver of life, and to protect our planet for all generations.

Minimal text and stunning photographs from around the world describe the remarkable, often dangerous journeys children make every day on their way to and from school. No simple school bus picks them up each day, but rather children travel through disaster zones, cross rapids, climb mountains, and maneuver on ziplines daily to get to the classroom. Some of them even carry their desks!

It is 2008, and thirteen-year-old Shannen and the other students at J.R. Nakogee Elementary are tired of attending class in portables that smell and don't keep out the cold winter air. They make a YouTube video describing the poor conditions, and their plea for a decent school attracts attention and support from community leaders and children across the country. Inspired, the students decide to turn their grade-eight class trip into a visit to Ottawa, to speak to the Canadian government. Once there, Shannen speaks passionately to the politicians about the need to give Native children the opportunity to succeed. The following summer, Shannen is nominated for the International Children's Peace Prize. Tragically, Shannen was killed in a car crash in 2010, and was not able to see the dream of her school fulfilled. Her family, friends and supporters continue to honor her memory as they work for equality for children in Native communities everywhere.

This around-the-world tour introduces readers to children who have taken on the role of social activist, fighting for human rights and social justice in countries as diverse as Yemen and Congo, Canada and the United States. Ten children receive main profiles, and over a dozen others are featured in smaller sidebars. Anita Khushwaha fought against gender and class bias in her community in India. Emman Bagual founded Mind Your Rights to fight child labor in the Philippines. Zach Bonner walked 1,000 miles to raise awareness about homeless children in the United States. A diverse range of other issues is covered, including aboriginal rights, human trafficking and child soldiers, and the full United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child can be found alongside tips for how kids everywhere can make a difference.

Children learn through simple easy to understand repetition. Your child’s imagination will almost immediately expand to limitless possibilities. When one little princess questions her future, she learns no matter where life takes her, she will always be secure in her parents' love.So, if you’re tired of royal Disney bedtime stories. This story, filled with simple rhymes and sweet illustrations, will encourage your "little princess" to explore her imagination and discover a world of choices.Give your child the gift of a lifetime, the gift of believing in themselves. Purchase A Most Reluctant Princess and add this fun picture book to your child’s library.

Are Benjamin’s parents right? Is he spending too much time alone indoors playing video games and not enough time outdoors? And what’s so bad about that? Why does he need to tryout for sports? Ben loves video games.Don't his parent understand that he’s terrible at sports? Ben would rather cheer on his big brother, the high school star athlete than let the whole world find out his secret. He stinks at sports.But his parents are determined Ben spend the summer outdoors. Will Ben’s summer end in humiliation as he fears or will he find success and make new friends?An engaging and entertaining story for young readers, between the ages of 6-9 years old who are bridging the gap from early readers to chapter books.Teachwell wrote, “Just when you thought there were no more “funny, poignant, good-for-kids-and-adults books,” Jean Cogdell gives us “Tryouts for Ben.” Think “Wimpy Kid” with the perspective of Hank Zipzer.”

This is the story of the beautiful relationship between a little girl and her grandfather. When she asks her grandfather how to say something in his language, Cree, he admits that his language was stolen from him when he was a boy. The little girl then sets out to help her grandfather find his language again. This sensitive and warmly illustrated picture book explores the intergenerational impact of the residential school system that separated young Indigenous children from their families. The story recognizes the pain of those whose culture and language were taken from them, how that pain is passed down and how healing can also be shared.Dual-language edition in English and Cree.

This little boy wants to know what he will be when he grows up. An astronaut or maybe the President? One thing he knows for sure, he can't be a "Little Prince," if his mommy's not a Queen. What will he be when he grows up?This story is written in simple rhyme and filled with sweet illustrations of a “Little Prince” with a big imagination and a lot of questions. Young boys will enjoy hearing how one “Little Prince” discovers a world of possibilities.