Seven Million Steps: The True Story of Dick Gregory’s Run for the Hungry

K-Gr 3–This inspiring picture book shares the story of a run across the United States in 1976 to raise awareness of hunger. The story is written in second-person point of view to help readers see the events from activist Dick Gregory’s (1932–2017) perspective. “You’re no machine. You’re just a somebody who’s trying to do the right thing,” it reads. Riveting oil paintings capture the loneliness of running through the deserts of Arizona, the solemn face of Muhammad Ali as he joins the run for a while, and the weary eyes of a mother looking into an empty kitchen cabinet. Readers are asked to imagine what they would do if they knew someone who went to bed hungry every night. Back matter includes Gregory’s own description of the purpose of his cross-country marathon, how many miles were run per day, and an explanation of the difference between hunger and food insecurity. There are author’s notes from both writers, in which Christian Gregory (Dick’s son) asks readers, “What steps can you take to make the world better?”