Young Writers Make An Impact
Adora Svitak, Wyatt Workman, Alec Greven, Skyller Story, Marley Dias...
What do they have in common?
Kids like Adora Svitak, Wyatt Workman, Alec Greven, Skyller Story, Marley Dias are showing their peers what’s possible.
They’re proof that age doesn’t matter when it comes to making a difference.
These young authors are role models, demonstrating that kids can achieve their dreams and make a real impact on the world.
ADORA SVITAK.
Adora Svitak became a global influencer at a young age with her book Dare to Dream: 20 Lessons to Build a Future Worth Having.
Adora has become a passionate advocate for children’s rights and education.
Through her TED talks and published works, she has inspired thousands of young people to pursue their passions and embrace their potential. Adora’s advocacy highlights how children can contribute significantly to societal change, and her voice resonates across global platforms.
Adora Svitak says the world needs "childish" thinking: bold ideas, wild creativity and especially optimism. Kids' big dreams deserve high expectations, she says, starting with grownups' willingness to learn from children as much as to teach.
Exhibit from Adora's TED talk:
Now, I want to start with a question: When was the last time you were called "childish"?
For kids like me, being called childish can be a frequent occurrence.
Every time we make irrational demands, exhibit irresponsible behavior, or display any other signs of being normal American citizens, we are called childish.
Which really bothers me.
After all, take a look at these events:
Imperialism and colonization, world wars, George W. Bush. Ask yourself, who's responsible? Adults.
Now, what have kids done?
Well, Anne Frank touched millions with her powerful account of the Holocaust.
Ruby Bridges helped to end segregation in the United States.
And, most recently,
Charlie Simpson helped to raise 120,000 pounds for Haiti, on his little bike.
So as you can see evidenced by such examples, age has absolutely nothing to do with it.
WYATT WORKMAN
I created a claymation film and accompanying picture book titled Save the Sea from the Trash Monster! in 2010 to spotlight the mistreatment of our ocean and its creatures.
Out of the project came 70 sculptures of sea creature characters, as well as T-shirts, aluminum water bottles, and book copies that were sold to raise more than $9,500 for notable conservation causes such as Oceana.
In the following years, the project was recognized by The Pacific Aquarium in Long Beach, CA (Young Hero of the Year), the 2012 Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes, the GQ Gentlemen’s Fund Conservation Pillar (2012 Man of the Year), Action for Nature Eco Hero Award, A&I Books (Book of the Month), and featured in Time Magazine for Kids, The New York Times, The LA Times, and the Christian Science Monitor.
As a result of the success of the project, I have spoken on platforms such as the Nate Berkus Show, KCal News, TEDx Santa Monica, and to various elementary schools and podcasts as an environmental advocate. I continue to advocate and support worthwhile causes through my illustrative practices.
ALEC GREVEN
Alec Greven made a significant impact in the publishing world by becoming a New York Times best-selling author at the age of nine.
His book, How to Talk to Girls, resonated with both children and adults, showcasing a unique blend of humor and wisdom from a child's perspective.
Alec's success demonstrated that age is no barrier to influence, inspiring countless young writers and proving that even the youngest voices can make a difference.
His subsequent books on communication with parents and navigating school life further solidified his role as a relatable and insightful author for children.
Many children (and even adults) struggle with communication, especially in social situations involving the opposite gender, parents, or peers at school.
Traditional self-help books often fail to resonate with younger audiences because they are written from an adult's perspective.
Alec Greven addressed this gap by writing self-help books from a child's perspective, offering advice that is both simple and relatable.
His books provided a fresh, humorous approach to common communication challenges, making the content accessible and engaging for young readers. By doing so, Alec not only helped his peers navigate tricky social situations but also offered parents insights into how their children view and manage these interactions.
Alec Greven became a New York Times best-selling author at just nine years old with his first book, How to Talk to Girls. This book quickly gained popularity for its humorous and relatable advice. Alec went on to write more books, including How to Talk to Moms, How to Talk to Dads, How to Talk to Santa (2009), and Rules for School (2010).
Alec's success brought him into the spotlight, and he made several appearances on popular TV shows. He first appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2008 and again in 2009. He also appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien in 2008 and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in 2009. Alec returned to The Ellen DeGeneres Show in April 2009 to talk about his books How to Talk to Moms and How to Talk to Dads.
SKYLLER STORY
Skyller lives and breathes hockey, and his favorite player is none other than Alex Ovechkin.
One day, his imagination ran wild as he wondered what would happen if Alex Ovechkin played football and Tom Brady took up hockey. From this playful thought, a book was born: What Happens When GOATs Trade Places: A Hilarious Adventure Of GOATs, Goals and Greatness!
But Skyller didn’t stop there.
While watching an interview with Elon Musk talking about living on Mars, Skyller had another big idea: “What’s the point of moving to Mars if you can’t play hockey there?”
That question sparked his curiosity, and soon he was researching everything from Mars’ gravity to the weight of a hockey puck on the Red Planet. His imagination took off, leading to his second book, Hockey on Mars.
Skyller’s creative journey didn’t end there. His latest project was a collaboration with two of his friends, tackling some big topics: happiness, depression, social media, and video game addiction.
Together, they explored how kids can make their own choices by saying no to the digital world and embracing real-life connections, sports, and of course, hockey. This effort led to the creation of their book, Happiness is a Choice, written in a choose-your-own-adventure style, where readers decide how the story unfolds based on the choices they make.
MARLEY DIAS
Marley Dias launched the #1000BlackGirlBooks campaign when she was just 11 years old.
Frustrated by the lack of diversity in the books she was assigned to read in school, Marley set out to collect and donate 1,000 books that feature black girls as protagonists.
Her campaign quickly went viral, and she has since collected over 12,000 books and published her own book, Marley Dias Gets It Done: And So Can You!
Marley’s advocacy for diversity in literature has made her a global influencer and a powerful voice for change.
The Awesome Impact of Young Authors
Young authors are making waves far beyond their own communities, reaching readers across the country and even around the world. Their stories and successes show other kids that they can do amazing things, no matter their age. Here’s why encouraging young authors is such a big deal:
❤️ Sparking a Love for Reading and Writing
When kids see others their age writing and publishing books, it lights a spark in them to pick up a pen (or keyboard) too. This can boost literacy and get more kids excited about reading and learning. Schools and educational programs can share these young authors’ stories to inspire students and prove that hard work and creativity really do pay off.
💡Unleashing Creativity and New Ideas
Young authors bring fresh and imaginative ideas to the table.
Their unique stories can introduce new perspectives and inspire creativity not just in literature, but in all sorts of fields. By encouraging kids to write, we’re helping to build a generation full of innovators and original thinkers.
💪 Boosting Confidence and Grit
Writing and publishing a book is no easy task, especially for a kid!
Doing so gives young authors a huge confidence boost. The process teaches them resilience, perseverance, and the value of sticking with something until it’s done. These are skills that will help them in every part of their lives.
