This wonderful book tells the story of woman who made such an inspiring difference in the world. Wangari grew up in Kenya before soending years in America getting her education. She returned to Kenya after that and started a movement to create the greenbelt which brought her recognition world wide as her idea turned into an accomplishment. She is an absolute inspiration and I know children will love reading this book, it’s one that should be a staple in classrooms around the globe.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a copy in exchange for my honest review./

A bright and beautiful illustrated book that tells the tale of Wangari, a young girl who longs to learn more about the earth and nature around her. It tells the story of the Green Belt movement in Africa founded by Wangari, who won the Nobel Peace prize in 2004. A very inspiring story about helping the earth and lifting others' out of poverty.

This book tells an inspiring story about a woman who made a difference! Perfect to share with a little one during women’s history month.

Wangari Muri Maathai was a young girl growing up in Kenya when her mother exposed her to trees and the beauty of the natural world. From this beginning, Wangari went on to lots of education. When she returned to Kenya after years in America, Wangari led a movement to create a greenbelt with many trees. It was quite an accomplishment and one that brought her recognition.

Now Wangari Muri Maatha’s story is told in a gorgeously illustrated picture book. This one belongs in home and preschool libraries. It shows respect for the earth and for what an individual can do.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 and the founder of the Green Belt Movement, Wangari Muri Maathai was a woman determined to convince others that the land should be respected.

During her childhood, Wangari explored the trees and the rivers around her village, developing a deep love for the earth around her. Railing against the confines assigned to women in her community, she ensured she received a quality education. Returning home, she found that few shared her feelings for the land, it being decimated by villages and the government. So she worked to enlighten society, making it recognise the importance of the trees and the benefits they could bring to the people.

This is a visually captivating book, using bold colours and simple shapes to depict the Kenyan landscape. Throughout, clear spaces are given for the text so it's easy to find on the page and, for the most part, written on a plain white background, which aids young readers with following the text. Periodically, there are pages dedicated to displaying a key idea breaking up the main narrative.

The tone of this story changes about halfway from being whimsical and metaphorical to more biographical. This would be a great book for using as a lesson prompt in schools, both for meeting the curriculum and for promoting good discussion, particularly as the first half would require explanation and teaching to understand the content.

I'd say there is an issue with the font and illustrations on the title page; the calligraphic style and over-lapping imagery make it difficult to read the title. Also, a few commas are missing in the dialogue (these don't impact the clarity but should be present).

The topic and writing style make this ideal for reading to four to eight-year-olds. From the vocabulary used and how much of it is phonetically decodable, a child would be about eight years old to read this independently or with minimal support.

This book is very educational for children. I really loved how simply the author talk about her culture and the problem of the environment and the impossibility to study for the women in Africa.

I also love how strong the protagonist is, it's a good exaple for the little girls (and the little boys too). I can't wait to have this book in paperback because I will surely gift it to my nephew!!