This encouraging book presents examples of children volunteering to help others and enjoying the process. Elementary-school students are shown knitting hats and scarves for homeless families, picking produce at a community farm, and packing donated after-school snacks for kids. A girl and her father deliver hot meals to a man "who doesn't see too well." Members of a Boys and Girls Club pick up trash monthly along a nearby roadway. And best of all, a professional trainer of assistance dogs brings them to a school, pairs them with kids, and has them work together to give the dogs practice in responding to commands. Crisp, colorful photos show the participants at work and, when their work is done, occasionally playing around, too. For instance, after watering young cottonwood trees during a drought, three boys enjoy a rock-throwing contest beside a river. Succinct text explains the volunteer activities. Clearly, the answer to the title's question is an emphatic "Yes!"

Gr 1-4 With service learning projects in elementary schools on the rise, this title would be a good one to share with children who are considering the options. Through beautifully crisp and colorful photographs and explanatory narrative, Ancona shares a variety of endeavors that children have undertaken in his Southwestern community, such as knitting hats for homeless people; sorting, packing, and delivering food for a food bank; picking up trash; and mentoring younger students. The kids' determination, passion, and commitment comes through in the photos, while the text explains what they are doing in accessible but not overly simple descriptions. Teachers looking to begin a service project might want to start here as a way to introduce the topic and inspire children to think of the possibilities. This title could also be used as a model/mentor text for creating a classroom book to document children's projects VERDICT A good choice for schools, scouts, and local groups looking to foster community service. Maggie Chase, Boise State University, ID