About

Saints Like Us is a collection of short stories about real men, women and children of African descent. Some of them are well known. Many are not. All of them did something brave, kind or quietly remarkable, often in hard times and usually without expecting anyone to notice.

The stories are written for readers aged 8 to 14. Each one is short enough to read in a single sitting, and each one is true.

What we are trying to do

Children learn who they can become from the people they read about. Too often, the people in their books do not look like them, or come from places far from home. We want young readers of African descent to meet people like themselves who made a difference, and we want every reader to know these lives are part of everyone’s history.

The title says what we believe: the people in these stories were not superheroes. They were teachers, farmers, doctors, mothers, students and neighbours. If they could do good in the world, so can we.

Why true stories

Every story is based on a real person and real events. To make the stories readable for children, some scenes and conversations are imagined, but the person, the place and what they did are real.

At the end of each story, “About this story” says who and what it is based on, and lists sources for anyone who wants to find out more.

Reading and listening

The stories use short paragraphs and clear language, so they work well for children reading on their own and for reading aloud. Many stories also have an audio recording, so a child can listen while they follow the words, or just listen.

Families can read a story together at bedtime. Teachers can use one to start a class discussion, or as a way into a history or reading lesson. The stories are free to read, and there are no adverts.

Who writes them

Placeholder: a short introduction to the author, written in the first person.