The President Builds a House: The Work of Habitat for Humanity

Former President and First Lady Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter are more than Habitat for Humanity's most famous supporters--they also don overalls and hammers and help with the actual building of the homes done through Habitat's volunteer organization. Some principles of the organization are that cost of the homes must be kept low through donations; the money must be paid back, without interest; the homes must go to families with children; and every potential owner must work alongside the volunteers to construct the homes. This book shows the 20 homes in Atlanta that were built in just a few days. The houses are humble, but for the new owners, it's obvious that these are the dearest places in the world. Illustrated throughout with numerous black-and-white photos, this documentation of the Atlanta project is a moving tribute to the willingness of people to help others in need. The text is minimal, but it conveys the spirit of Habitat's workers and relies on Miller's matter-of-fact pictures for much of the information. An inspiring book, this encourages concepts of volunteerism and cooperation--the bonus is that it will also provide children with a fascinating look at the way houses are built. Ages 8-12. (July)