Hannah Taylor's Night Table recommendations by McNally Robinson - Wednesday, Jan 27, 2010 at 9:29am As the Ladybug Foundation looks forward at the economic crisis we see that homelessness, hunger and poverty impacts us all. My hope is that when everyone looks back on these troubling times we remember how we all cared and helped each other. The Ladybug Foundation has raised over two million dollars to help Canadian hunger and homelessness and support more than forty shelters, missions, soup kitchens and food banks across Canada. We all have a lot of work to do.

The most exciting thing at the Ladybug Foundation right now is the fact that Rick, who has struggled with poverty for more than 20 years, now works with us on our advisory board. He is one of my heroes and he shows us all that anything is possible.

I love McNally Robinson. They have a beautiful and caring heart because they don't just care about books, they care about the people reading the books, just like me. I read a novel about every week. Here are the three books that I love and want to tell you about.

Rafi's Song and the Stones of Erebus by Fred Perrin

In this story a courageous and loving girl sets forth on a quest to save the world along with some quizzical comrades. This is a beautifully written story with an even more important message. After all of the challenges that Rafi faces, she ends up defeating the evil with love, not violence and hate. Fred Perrin is from Winnipeg, is married to whom he calls his princess and they share ownership of a dog named Hector who apparently is more dragon-like than canine. This is a story that truly matters.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

In this book, we follow the March sisters as they figure out who they are in the world and how to cope with their father off at war, but not without a few adventures along the way. With the help of a boy next door, a seemingly cranky old man and their loving Ma, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy show the world that women are a force to be reckoned with. This charming classic is sure to please anyone from 10 to 99!

Ruby's Hope by Hannah Taylor

Now this one feels a little braggy, but I will do my best. In this story Ruby the ladybug learns that when you give from your heart you get so much more back. It is a story that had been in my heart and mind for a long time and once I finally had it down on paper I knew it was a story that needed to be told. This is a story that hopefully teaches both young and old, for it has a timeless lesson.

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Hannah Taylor is the 13 year-old author of Ruby's Hope (Ladybug Foundation, 2007), founder of The Ladybug Foundation and the recipient of a 2007 Future Leaders Award - 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada from the Women's Executive Network. Join us at our Grant Park location to honour National Red Scarf Day on Saturday, January 30th, 2010 at 7:30 pm with Hannah Taylor who will be appearing with Rick Adams of the Ladybug Foundation and Isobel the sled dog from Churchill.

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