LM_Netters,
Toni Buzzeo just posted a glowing review of Planting the Trees of Kenya. I
want to add my voice to hers because I loved this one, too. This is the
review I posted on the NMRLS Youth Services Book Review website in June.
Planting the Trees of Kenya: The Story of Wangari Maathai by Claire A.
Nivola. FSG, 2008. 978-0-374-39918-4
Can one person really change the course of history? Wangari Maathai is well
on her way to doing that in her native land of Kenya. When she was little,
the fig trees in Kenya were considered sacred, not to be touched or cut
down. Wangari left to study biology in America. When she returned after only
five years away, she found the trees of Kenya had been almost wiped out to
make way for farms. Her country's topsoil was eroding because "Without
trees there were no roots to hold the soil in place." The blown dirt
polluted the streams making it difficult for people and animals to find
drinking water. When she saw all this, Wangari had "a simple and big idea."
She appealed to the women of Kenya to begin planting trees. "They could
begin to change their own lives." Over the past thirty years, the people of
Kenya took Wangari Maathai's idea, and one tree at a time, have planted
thirty million trees, thus bringing about improvements in their own lives as
well as the economy and environment of their country. An Author's Note tells
readers that Wangari Maathai is the first African woman to receive the Nobel
Peace Prize. Wangari's formation of the Green Belt Movement is an inspiring
story, told here simply and clearly. The illustrations are detailed and
colorful and sparkle with life. Sadly, though the book begs to be read aloud
to a group, the drawings are so detailed that clarity would be lost if held
up to viewing by a large group. Nivola has done an outstanding job telling
the story of this truly remarkable human being. Highly recommended for all
libraries.
http://www.nmrls.org/youth/ysbookreview/nonfiction/planting-the-trees-of-ken
ya-the-story-of-wangari-maathai-by-claire-a-nivola/
Mary Melaugh
Marshall Middle School Library
Billerica, MA
mmelaugh@comcast.net
Curently reading: Fortune's Fool by Kathleen Karr
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