Seeds of Change

Review
By Jan Hamilton, Prince Memorial Library

The best of recent picture books about Wangari Maathai, this presents a very complete view of her childhood and education. As a child, Wangari refused to be a victor of inequality and her family supported her wish to attend school. While she was being educated the people of Kenya struggled to hold dear traditional beliefs and customs but many environmental issues developed. From there the story is well known, trees were planted and she started the Green Belt Movement.

The illustrations are fantastic and perfectly compliment the story. Sadler’s love of quilts is obvious in her use of color and space. This belongs in all public and elementary school libraries. Many teachers of higher grades will want this book in their classroom.