Planting Peace: The Story of Wangari Maathai

In 28 individually titled spreads, this engaging narrative nonfiction picture book relays the life of Kenyan preservationist Wangari Maathai (1940-2011), "the first woman to get a PhD in East Africa," the founder of the Green Belt Movement, and a Nobel Peace Prize winner who fought for justice. Tracing Maathai's life, including her childhood and education, Hooks uses elegant yet accessible prose: "They became the roots of the movement and their efforts its leaves." Carpentier's saturated geometric illustrations emphasize the bold impact of Maathai's actions, including her work empowering rural women to plant millions of trees and help rebuild Kenya's infrastructure, and peaceful protesting that halted construction of a skyscraper in Nairobi's largest city park. A well-paced profile of an inspiring environmentalist who built a movement. Front matter includes info about Maathai's inspiration; back matter includes a glossary and an index. Ages 7-up. (May)

Gr 3-6--A thorough and colorful introduction to a world icon. Wangari Maathai grew up in Kenya, in a beautiful village lush with tall fig trees and vegetable gardens. She began her lifelong fascination with the natural world by watching eggs turn into tadpoles and then grow into frogs in the clear stream near her home. Maathai took her love of learning to the United States, where she pursued both her bachelor's and her PhD in biology. While learning and thriving in the U.S., she watched the political developments back in Kenya with growing unease as the newly elected president preached division and advocated for the planting of more cash crops. Her worst fears were confirmed when she returned home to see her beloved fig trees cut and villages covered in dust. Cash crops had stripped the soil. Maathai got to work, advocating for planting tree seeds to communities all over Kenya, bringing people together for the common goal of healing their land and helping their families. She continued to fight for her country with political activism, standing up and speaking out for the people of Kenya. Hooks takes a methodical approach to the subject's life story. The text is straightforward, but Maathai's inspirational story lifts and carries the narrative. Carpentier's bold, colorful illustrations evoke the beautiful land that Wangari was so passionate about, and help create a sense of place for readers. With a glossary, further reading list, an array of websites, and an index, this book is made for research projects. VERDICT An inspirational, essential work for biography sections everywhere.--Savannah Kitchens, Parnell Mem. Lib., Montevallo, AL