Wangari's Trees of Peace: A True Story from Africa    by Jeanette Winter Order:  USA  Can Harcourt, 2008 (2008) Hardcover      Reviewed by Hilary Daninhirsch Nobel Prize Winner Wangari Maathai's dedication to environmentalism is the theme of this picture book. Wangari, a native Kenyan, studied in America, and when she returned to her homeland, she saw that her village was stripped of trees; they were cut down for construction of buildings, but no one had replanted. The land was barren; crops could not grow, which forced the women to walk miles from their home to find food and take care of their families. Dismayed, Wangari planted a few trees in her backyard. The seedlings that grew also planted an idea in her mind: 'Next, Wangari convinces the village women that planting trees is a good thing. She gives each one a seedling. "Our lives will be better when we have trees again. You'll see. We are planting the seeds of hope."' Despite hardships and roadblocks, including an arrest, she managed to lead a literal green movement that resulted in Kenya being reforested. This book may inspire young people to take care of their planet; it is presented in an understandable format with simple language and block-style illustrations. If this book piques the interest of your child, another children's book about Wangari Maathai, released earlier this year, is Planting the Trees of Kenya: The Story of Wangari Maathai by Claire A. Nivola. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews