Synopses & Reviews
As a young girl growing up in Kenya, Wangari was surrounded by trees. But years later when she returns home, she is shocked to see whole forests being cut down, and she knows that soon all the trees will be destroyed. So Wangari decides to do somethingand#151;and starts by planting nine seedlings in her own backyard. And as they grow, so do her plans. . . .
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;This true story of Wangari Maathai, environmentalist and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, is a shining example of how one womanand#8217;s passion, vision, and determination inspired great change.
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Includes an authorand#8217;s note.
This book was printed on 100% recycled paper with 50% postconsumer waste.
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Review
"This delightful picture-book biography of the environmentalist has engaging illustrations and accessible, succinct prose. . . . This book would be a superb choice for read-alouds or assignments."--
School Library Journal, starred review (11/08)
Review
"Wangari Maathai, the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner whose Green Belt Movement has planted 30 million trees in Kenya, is the subject of Winterand#8217;s (The Librarian of Basra) eloquent picture biography. . . . Winterand#8217;s images appear in framed, same-size squares on each page, creating a flat, frieze-like effect that pays off as Wangariand#8217;s movement grows and the activities within each frame multiplyand#8212;a powerful demonstration of Wangariand#8217;s work."andnbsp; --Publishers Weekly, starred review (8/11/08)
Review
andquot;The tightly focused text moves quickly without sacrificing impact . . . Winterandrsquo;s images appear in framed, same-size squares on each page, creating a flat, frieze-like effect that pays off as Wangariandrsquo;s movement grows and the activities within each frame multiplyandmdash;a powerful demonstration of Wangariandrsquo;s work.andquot;andmdash;
Publishers Weekly, starred review
andquot;This delightful picture-book biography of the environmentalist has engaging illustrations and accessible, succinct prose. . . . This book would be a superb choice for read-alouds or assignments.andquot;andmdash;School Library Journal, starred review
andquot;The compact story does offer a way into one of our less-limned Nobel Prize winners, and with adults to fill the gaps in, this could be an appealing introcduction.andquot;andmdash;The Bulletin
andquot;The ethics and outcome of the tale are not forced on the reader. Rather, it is told very gentlyandmdash;like any good storyandmdash;and is brightly illustrated.andrdquo;andmdash;The Georgia Straight
andquot;Award-winning writer and illustrator Jeanette Winter's clear text and bold paintings (right) make it easy to imagine the story of Maathai and the women of the Green Belt Movement she started.andquot;andmdash;American Scientist
andquot; . . . beautifully illustrated and simply written for young children.andquot;--Sacramento Bee
andquot;Jeanette Winter's singular illustrative style is recognizable by the organic patterns and lively pastel hues . . . Scenes of crouching women planting tiny saplings . . . and, later, images of lush, bird-filled forests . . . celebrate [Maathai's] powerful vision.andquot;andmdash;Audubon
Smithsonian Magazine, Best Books of the Year 2008
Review
"Comfortingly familiar and intriguingly different at the same time, this trip to the market and back again will carry readers to a place filled with joie de vivre."
and#8212;Kirkus
"Sure to be a hit where Welcome to Zanzibar Road (Clarion, 2006) is popular."
and#8212;School Library Journal
"Daly creates a distinctive and memorable sense of community in his energetic, yet easygoing mixed-media spreads."
and#8212;Publishers Weekly
"Fans of Daly's first Zanzibar road title will find more to love here."
and#8212;The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Review
* andquot;Loneliness, cultural displacement, tentative friendship, and an explosion of sharing and kindness are accessible even to very young readers...An amazingly lovely import.andquot;
andmdash;Kirkus, starred review
andquot;With its bold visual metaphors, andquot;My Two Blanketsandquot; ingeniously captures a childand#39;s efforts to weave the old with the new.andquot;
andmdash;New York Times Book Review
andquot;The illustrations, a combination of watercolor and oils, heighten the effect of the thought-provoking story. Just the right format for children to think about immigrants and friendship.andquot;
andmdash;Booklist
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Synopsis
A picture book based on the true story of Wangari Maathai, an environmental and political activist in Kenya and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004
Synopsis
From the author of "The Librarian of Basra" comes a picture book based on the true story of Wangari Maathai, an environmental and political activist in Kenya and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 who sets out to replenish her country's forests. Full color.
Synopsis
Moving is hard--but friends make it easier.
In this stunning multicultural picture book illustrated by Kate Greenaway Medalist Freya Blackwood, a young girl has moved to a new country with her auntie,and#160;and misses all sheand#39;s ever known. Everything in her new country feels so strange: the animals, the plants--even the wind. To comfort herself, she creates a safe place under her old blanket, which is made out of memories, thoughts, and reminders of home. After meeting a new friend in the park, the girl begins to weave a new blanket--one made of friendship, new words, and a renewed sense of belonging. Itand#39;s very different from the old blanket, but it eventually becomes just as warm and familiar--and one to share with her new friend.
and#160; and#160; and#160;Fans of Tricia Tusa, Helen Oxenbury, Marla Frazee, and Matt Phelan will delight in reading this warm story alongside Blackwoodand#39;s artwork.
Synopsis
All Tererai ever wanted was an education. But in Zimbabwe, education for girls was hatigoneimpossible. So Tererai taught herself to read and write with her brothers schoolbooks and solved math problems while watching cattle graze. When Tererai became a wife and mother at a very young age, she wrote her goals on a scrap of paper and buried them in a canan ancient ritual that reminded Tererai that she couldn't give up on her dreams. Today, Dr. Tererai Trent holds four advanced degrees and is the founder of Tererai Trent International, a charitable organization that creates educational opportunities for girls and women in sub-Saharan Africa. Tererai's remarkable story and award-winning illustrator Jan Spivey Gilchrist's graceful watercolors will inspire young readers everywhere.
Synopsis
Cartwheel moves to a new country with her auntie, and everything is strange: the animals, the plantsandmdash;even the wind. An old blanket gives Cartwheel comfort when sheandrsquo;s sadandmdash;and a new blanket just might change her world.and#160;and#160;This multiculturaland#160;story of friendship is about leaving home, moving to a foreign and strange place, and finding a new friend. Itand#39;s a story for all who have experienced change. Irena Kobaldandrsquo;s poetic text, paired with Kate Greenaway medalist Freya Blackwoodand#39;s powerful paintings, renders an emotional and heart-warming story about two children from diverse backgrounds coming together to become new friends.and#160;
Synopsis
Five new stories featuring Mama Jumbo, Little Chico, and their friends on Zanzibar Road in an African village.
Synopsis
Readers first met the elephant Mama Jumbo in Niki Daly's Welcome to Zanzibar Road. Here she is sporting her flippy-floppy, flappy-slippy, this-way-that-way pompom hat in five easy-to-read adventures including a bubble gum rescue and a brand-new tutti-frutti shirt for Mama Jumbo's adopted child, Little Chico the chicken. Full-color ink-and-watercolor illustrations bubble over with tiny details of the vivacious African village and Mama Jumbo's comfortable home under the pawpaw tree. A charming picture book/chapter book hybrid that's terrific for reading aloud.
About the Author
Irena Kobald is multi-lingual Austrian immigrant to Australia, who teaches aboriginal children in Australian outback communities (the closest shop is 250 kms away!). The children she teaches use English as a fifth language (many speak several Aboriginal languages).andnbsp;Freya Blackwood grew up in Orange in New South Wales, Australia. As the daughter of a painter and an architect, she was encouraged to draw from a young age, and produced many illustrated books as a child. andnbsp;She earned a design degree (Visual Communications) at the University of Technology, Sydney and then worked for several years in the film industry in Sydney and Wellington, New Zealand. Many of her books have been translated into other languages and can be read by people all over the world. She now lives back in Orange, New South Wales, Australia with her divine daughter Ivy, their rather naughty whippet Pivot, and four noisy chickens.