Wangari's Trees of Peace: A True Story from Africa

Wangari Maathai grew up in Kenya. Under Mount Kenya there were many beautiful trees. She and her mother used to go into the forest to gather wood. She also helped her mother in the garden. Because Wangari was an excellent student, she won a scholarship to a college in America. She lived in the states for six years and when she returned she was shocked at what she saw. Kenya was not the same as it was before. There were no trees to be seen and women were struggling to get firewood for their homes and had to walk many miles to get it. The birds were gone. Everything was stark and barren. It was enough to make her cry, but she had a plan. She began simply by "planting nine seedlings." From this tiny idea and a few seeds grew an even greater idea. Wangari started a nursery and convinced other women that they needed trees again. "Our lives will be better when we have trees again. You'll see. We are planting the seeds of hope." Kenyan men thought she was a fool and jailed her when she tried to block some cutting. She was alone in jail, yet she wasn't. Would the forests of Kenya return from a small idea and nine seedlings? This was a wonderful, true life tale of a woman who wanted to save the environment in a small way, but ended up changing the face of a nation. The story and writing are very appealing and the art work is very complimentary. This is understandably a Vermont Red Clover Nominee for the 2009-10 year award. In the back of the book is a brief biography of Wangari, a woman whose spirit you are sure to fall in love with!

This is an excellent picture book follow-up to the adult version, The Challenge for Africa. It will make students aware that one person can make a difference. It will broaden their awareness of the issues that other countries are dealing with.

I bought this for my 8-year-old niece. She and her mother read it together and really loved it. This is a great story, clearly told. For all our progress on the gender front, girls still need positive female role models, and Wangari Maathai, founder of the Green Belt Movement and Nobel Prize Winner is a terrific one. The story values education but also stresses the importance of putting education to use. Also, the story helps children understand sustainability. Finally, the story stresses how we all need to take part in forging solutions. One person can't fix enormous problems by herself.

We gave this book to both sets of grandchildren, each almost 3 and 4. They love it! One of the almost 3 year olds keeps asking me to read the book about trees, and one of the 4 year olds has now become interested in everything to do with Kenya. She keeps talking about Wangari as if she knows her. The book touched something in the children, as her memoir, Unbowed, did in me. I will recommend it to every teacher, too, as a read-aloud in schools.

Since this is based on a true story, it is a great way to introduce children to environmental responsibility, as a matter of social justice. Even though women in African cultures are confined to certain roles, Wangari convinces women that they can make a difference in their culture. Wangari teaches them that by planting the seeds that will grow into trees and re-covering their land in green forestation, they are planting seeds of hope in their communities.