As a young girl in Kenya, Wangari's mother taught her to respect nature. Wangari grew to love the land, plants, and animals that surrounded her-from the giant mugumo tree her Kikuyu people so revered
As a young girl in Kenya, Wangari's mother taught her to respect nature. Wangari grew to love the land, plants, and animals that surrounded her-from the giant mugumo tree her Kikuyu people so revered to the tiny tadpoles that swam in the river.
Though most girls in Kenya were not educated, curious hard-working Wangari was allowed to go to school. There her mind sprouted like a seed. Blazing a trail in the field of science, Wangari used her knowledge and compassion to promote the rights of her countrywomen and help save the land, one tree at a time.
Seeds of Change brings to life the empowering story of the first African woman, and environmentalist, to win a Nobel Peace Prize. Detailed narrative and vibrant images paint a robust portrait of this inspiring champion of women's rights and the environment.
Major Selling Points
- Brings to life the extraordinary accomplishments of trailblazing scientist Wangari Maathai, an inspirational woman who not only transcended the limits placed on women and girls in her society, but supported her countrywomen in their struggles for equal rights and meaningful work.
- Shows the importance of protecting our environment-including the negative results of depleted natural resources-and how each person can make a difference.
- Presents a compelling portrait of an individual driven by a desire to make positive change in the world around her in spite of adversity.
- Bold, vibrantly painted scratchboard illustrations engagingly capture the people, clothing, and landscape of Kenya; created by African American fine artist Sonia Lynn Sadler, a unique new talent in children's book illustration.,
- Ties in with the "Culture," "Time, Continuity, and Change," "People, Places, and Environments," and "Individual Development and Identity" strands of the Social Studies Curriculum Standards. (source: NCSS Standards)
Comparative Books
- Mama Miti: Wangari Maathai and the Trees of Kenya by Donna Jo Napoli, illustrated by Kadir Nelson (Simon & Schuster, 2010, $16.99, ISBN 978-1416935056). [Not yet released]
The following picture books about Wangari Maathai cover her story in more spare detail:
- Wangari's Trees of Peace: A True Story from Africa by Jeannette Winter (Harcourt, 2008, $17.00, ISBN 978-0152065454). Captures Wangari Maathai's accomplishments in spare text and folk art-style illustrations.
- Planting the Trees of Kenya: The Story of Wangari Maathai by Claire A. Nivola (Farrar, Straus, & Giroux, 2008, $16.99, ISBN 978-0374399184). Uses simple, succinct language and delicate watercolor art to share Maathai's message and work.
Other picture books about individuals changing the world, one deed at a time:
-One Hen: How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference by Katie Smith Milway, illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes (Kids Can Press, 2008, $18.95, ISBN 978-1554530281). Story of a young Ashanti boy who uses money from a micro-loan to buy a hen, which he then parlays into a large poultry farm.
- Listen to the Wind by Greg Mortensen and Susan L. Roth, illustrated by Susan L. Roth (Dial, 2009, $16.99, ISBN 978-0803730588). Brings Mortensen's story of building a school in a small Pakistani village (as told in his adult book Three Cups of Tea) to a picture book audience.
View Description for sales people
JEN CULLERTON JOHNSON is a writer, educator, and environmentalist with an MFA in Nonfiction Writing and an MEd in Curriculum Development. She has taught in countries all over the world, including Argentina, Ecuador, and Japan. Johnson currently teaches at an inner-city elementary school in Chicago, Illinois, where she also conducts writing workshops. She is inspired by Wangari Maathai's dedication to women and the environment.
SONIA LYNN SADLER is a full-time illustrator and fine artist. Growing up with a father in the military, she lived in five different states and traveled to many different countries. Currently splitting time between Maryland and New Jersey, Sadler focuses on artwork exploring the cultures, lives, and stories of peoples of African descent. Her unique style reflects a variety of techniques and mediums-from watercolor to scratchboard-and draws color and pattern inspiration from quilts.
