Malala: Activist for Girls' Education

by Raphaële Frier, Aurélia Fronty (Illustrator)

Malala Yousafzai stood up to the Taliban and fought for the right for all girls to receive an education. When she was just fifteen-years old, the Taliban attempted to kill Malala, but even this did not stop her activism. At age eighteen Malala became the youngest person to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her work to ensure the education of all children around the world. Malala's courage and conviction will inspire young readers in this beautifully illustrated biography. From the Hardcover edition.

Genres: Picture Books, Biography, Nonfiction, Childrens, Cultural, Activism, Education

48 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 5, 2015

Reviews

[KamRun · Rating 4 out of 5]

زمان اینکه زنان برای احقاق حقوق خود به مردان متوسل بشوند و از آنان کمک بخواهند گذشته است. اکنون ما زن‌ها، خود برای احقاق حقوق خود به پا خواسته‌ایم. یک کودک، یک معلم، یک کتاب و یک قلم... این‌ها تمام ابزاری است که دنیا را تکان خواهد داد - ملاله یوسف‌زی

به دلایلی، علاقه خاصی به مرور نوشته‌ها و سرگذشت ملاله نداشته‌ام. این مووضع نه به خود ملاله و حقانیت راه او، بلکه بیشتر به سیاست‌های یک بام و دو هوای سازمان‌ها و ارگان‌های حقوق بشری و سیاسی مربوط می‌شود. اما این کتاب، به عنوان کتاب کودک نظرم را بشدت جلب کرد. بنظرم می‌‍توان از سرنوشت و راه ملاله - و نه جایگاه امروزش - برای کودکان الگوی مفیدی استخراج کرد. این موضوع زمانی به ذهنم خطور کرد که دختربچه‌ای سیزده، چهارده‌ساله کتاب‌هایی از شخصیت‌های تاثیرگذار که از فرش به عرش رسیده‌اند طلب کرد؛ کاراکترهایی که مد نظر داشت افرادی نظیر استیو جابز و مایکل فلپس بودند. این، نخستین بار بود که کتابی از ملاله به یک کودک پیشنهاد می‌دادم
بنظرم داستان ملاله از دو منظر می‌تواند برای کودکان - بخصوص دختران - الهام‌بخش باشد: 1-مبارزه علیه وضع موجودِ دختران و زنان 2-ایستادگی پای آرمان‌ها تا سر حد مرگ

درباره کتاب
کتاب توامان چند نقظه قوت و ضعف (البته قابل اغماض) دارد: طراحی شکیل با ورق‌های گلاسه، تصویرسازی جذاب و از نظر معنایی غنی مهم‌ترین نقطه قوت کتاب هستند. نقطه ضعف کتاب هم گذر سریع از آرمان‌ها و حوادث و زندگی دخترانی‌ست که ملاله برای آن‌ها قربانی شد. در واقع بیشتر تمرکز کتاب بر روی ملاله است، در حالی که اگر منطقی بنگریم، ملاله هدف نیست، بت نیست، تنها یک وسیله است در راهِ گذار به برابری کودکان : حق تحصیل، خواندن و نوشتن برای همه، اعم از پسر و دختر

پیش‌تر به تصویرسازی فوق‌العاده زیبا و متاثرکننده کتاب اشاره کردم. تصویر آشنای زیر مربوط می‌شود به ممنوعیت‌هایی که طالبان برای مردم محلی در نظر گرفتند



و تصویر زیر، حادثه شلیک به ملاله، هنگامی که در سرویس مدرسه حضور داشت را به تصویر می‌کشد



نقدی به نسخه فارسی
بعد از مشاهده نسخه ربان اصلی ( و دیگر ترجمه‌های غیرفارسی)، طرح جلد نسخه فارسی (ملاله در زمینه‌ای کاملا سیاه) در مقایسه با تصاویر کارتونی و رنگی ملاله در دیگر نسخ توجهم را جلب کرد. نخست تصور کردم این مورد شاید به کژسلیقگی گرافیست مربوط باشد، اما اندک اندک این تصور در ذهنم شکل گرفت که انتخاب این تصویر کاملا با برنامه‌ای حساب‌شده صورت گرفته است، نوعی سانسور. در تصویر اصلی، ملاله بسیار زیبا و دیدنی اما با حجاب به تصویر کشده شده است، در حالی که در نسخه فارسی، عکسی حقیقی از ملاله جایگزین این تصویر کارتونی شده که مسئله حجاب با توجه به موهای سیاه ملاله، شال سیاه و زمینه‌ی سیاه آنچنان به چشم نمیاید (این تصویر نیز نسخه‌های گوناگونی دارد، اما برای جلد نسخه فارسی، تصویر با بالاترین کنتراست انتخاب شده است). بنظر می‌رسد این انتخاب، نتیجه تسلیم گروه ترجمه و نشر کتاب مذکور در مقابل تفکر تبعیض‌آمیز و رایج علیه زنان محجبه باشد که مصداقش، تمسخر آن دسته از زنان محجبه‌ای است که در عین انتخاب حجاب به عنوان پوشش شخصی، به حقوق مدنی افراد و کرامت انسانی دیگری باور دارند (مثال دم‌دستی: تمسخر زنان محجبه‌ای که در مهمانی‌ها می‌رقصند). در تصویر زیر می‌توانید جلد نسخه فارسی با کنتراست بالا، تصویر اصلی با کنتراست پایین و همینطور طرح جلد نسخه اورجینال را مشاهده کنید

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

“One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world.”
― Malala Yousafzai

Malala is a beautifully illustrated biography telling the story of Malala Yousafzai, who stood up to the Taliban and fought for the right for all girls to receive an education.

It features illustrations that really manage to capture Malala Yousafzai's strength and endurance. I mean, they're detailed in just the right places:









Though the illustrations were stunning, I felt like most of the major events in Malala's life were a bit skipped over and rushed, so I was left wanting more. As a result, this made me want to pick up her biography (I Am Malala) and explore more of her world, which I'm planning on doing next.

*Note: I'm an Amazon Affiliate. If you're interested in buying Malala, just click on the image below to go through my link. I'll make a small commission!*


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[Hilda · Rating 5 out of 5]

One child, one teacher, one pen, and one book can change the world.

This is one of those books every school should have. It's a biography and talks about the day Malala Yousafzai was shot. It does it so simply and truthfully, it's kid friendly without dumbing it down. The illustrations are beautiful and the story is beyond inspiring.

Malala dreams of books and notebooks instead of war in her beloved valley.

In Malala's dreams she wishes airplanes dropped pens, notebooks, and books instead of bombs.


And what a beautiful world this would be if it was true.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This picture book is a biography of Malala Yousafzai’s life. Malala is known for her activism around education for all students. The author is able to describe Malala’s life and the things she went through in order to become an activist. The book showcases the struggles that she had to face as a girl living in Pakistan. The author is able to portray all the social injustices that she went through which led her to become an activist. Since she went through so many hard times, including being shot at, Malala’s goal was to make sure that all children receive an education no matter where they are from. The story explains the experiences that Malala faced going against the Taliban which is a serious thing to do. Malala’s story is heard in this book.

I really enjoyed reading this story because the author was able to portray Malala in such a powerful light. Her story is so powerful and the book allowed me to see how hard Malala worked toward her goal. This book was able to show how standing up for something you believe in can make a change in different societies. I liked how it emphasized the importance of education which, at times, can be overlooked. The book discusses many aspects of the Pakistani culture which I am not too familiar with. It allowed me to learn about things that I was not aware of. The pictures in the book were so detailed and allowed me to make connections with the text. I felt very inspired after reading the book and I know that students would also feel inspired. This is a great book to read with older students in order to discuss the different themes and experiences that Malala went through.

In 2018, this book received an honor for the Mildred L. Batchelder Award. It was originally written in French but was translated to English by Julie Cormier. I found this book on the Mildred L. Batchelder Award list that can be located here: http://www.ala.org/alsc/sites/ala.org... I was able to read this book on Epic!. There was no audio recording of the book. I did check my local library to see if they had copies and they do. It is also available on YouTube as a read aloud. There are many places where this book can be accessed.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I saw this on *Netgalley I had to request it. I remember watching Malala on The Daily Show
with Jon Stewart. To say that this girl (now a woman) is an inspiration does not even begin to express it.

The book goes into details about Malala's life and her activism for girls and her fight against the Taliban. It doesn't hold back and even tells of her being shot 3 times.

I enjoyed this book. It is not for younger children as it is information heavy and some may find parts too upsetting. But this is perfect for older children. It is a great introduction to Malala's life.

The illustrations in this are incredible. Like stare at each page for several minutes incredible. I also love that at the end of the book the author included real photographs of Malala. I loved the ones showing her with her family as the love is obvious in her family. This is one that I will read again.

4 out of 5 stars.


* I recieved a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Bookish Devil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Calling Malala as a 'Braveheart' would be a mere understatement, for she is the most boldest girl the world has ever seen.
This particular book is best suited for young kids who wants to learn or get to know about who Malala is and also about the hardships,pain that she underwent. The illustrations would surely pique a kid's interest to read more about her story. It gives a clear, crisp account of the events and happenings that took place in Malala's life and how it shaped her character and attitude towards the world around her, in a simple language.
It's a book that i would definitely encourage young readers of today to read. :)

[Tina]

This review was originally posted on As Told By TinaBefore reading this, I had a basic idea of who Malala is and I would say that this book is definitely a good introduction to her.

The story gives a good platform into who Malala is and what she has done for girls’ education and why she began her activism. This would be the perfect book to read in a classroom because it would teach about activism and also help expand the children’s classroom.

This story was not written for adults and is explained in a way that kids could understand everything Malala has achieved. At the end of the story it also includes a time, a website and videos so you can learn more about Malala. Like I said this would be the perfect book to have in a classroom and center a lesson around.

The illustrations weren’t that great because I read the eARC on my iPad but I would definitely recommend buying the hardcover because the illustrations looked before and I’m sure in person they would be amazing.

My littles are ages 5, 3, and 2 so they did not fully appreciate this story as much as I did. I would say that this should be geared towards an audience who is a bit older.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this to anyone who would love to learn more about Malala.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

From page 42 " Malala was named after Malalai, the greatest Afghan heroine." Malala truly lived up to her name. This is a beautiful and inspiring story of a girl who stood up for what she believed in. There is a lot of information here and some beautiful folk art inspired illustrations. I enjoyed learning about Malala, and look forward to reading the book that inspired this story for children.

This book does not sugar coat the events that occurred. It tells us about Malalas family, religious practices of Islam, war and violence, and simple details of the attempted assassination of Malala Yousafzai. It is appropriate for older children, and would be an excellent choice for a book report. The book includes a timeline,map, actual photos of events and award ceremonies Malala attended, and links to websites and other references to learn more about this topic.

I chose NOT to read this story to my daughters, ages 5 and 7, because I felt that they would be too sensitive to the way the information is presented. There are a lot of scary words here: assassination, shot in the head, bombings of her village, just too many themes that I want to shelter my girls from for a little while longer. Fortunately for them, I can. As this book shows, little girls in other countries don't have that luxury.

I received an ARC form Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a most excellent picture book about a topic that most kids might not know they want to know about, that of the Taliban and education for girls. The book explains, in very simple language about Malala's life, and what lead up to her assassination attempt by the Taliban, for wanting education for girls. I knew the basic story, but didn't know about her online blog, which made her famous before she was shot.

Beautifully illustrated, with bright colors, sure to appeal to children. There is even more information at the back of the book that gives more details about her life up to and including the Nobel Peach Prize.


Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a perfect book for children to learn who Malala is and the amazing things that she has accomplished at such a young age. The message is uplifting and beautiful, with gorgeous and bright illustrations to match.

Highly recommended for everyone.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Raphaële Frier and illustrator Aurélia Fronty join forces in this inspiring picture-book biography of education activist Malala Yousafzai, first published in France. The narrative follows Malala's story from birth, and chronicles how, as a result of her unusual upbringing - her father Ziauddin was an educator, and unlike many in his Pashtun culture, believed that schooling should be extended to girls - she became a vocal advocate for the right of young girls in Pakistan to get an education. Despite growing threats from the Taliban, Malala continues her advocacy, eventually surviving an assassination attempt. Even this did not stop her, and she continued her education and activism in the UK, going on to found the Malala Fund to advocate for girls' education worldwide, and winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. The book concludes with an extensive afterword giving more information about Malala, her people and country, and her struggle for education rights...

Originally published in France as Malala pour le droit des filles à l'éducation, this informative and beautifully-illustrated volume is the fourth picture-book I have read about Malala Yousafzai, following upon her own Malala's Magic Pencil , Lina Maslo's Free as a Bird: The Story of Malala , and Jeanette Winter's Malala, a Brave Girl from Pakistan/Iqbal, a Brave Boy from Pakistan: Two Stories of Bravery . I initially sought it out because I enjoyed illustrator Aurélia Fronty's work on another French picture-book biography, Franck Prévot's Wangari Maathai: The Woman Who Planted Millions of Trees . I'm very glad that I did track it down, as I found it (not unexpectedly) absolutely gorgeous, from an aesthetic perspective, and quite well-told and informative, from a textual standpoint. I appreciated the fact that Frier delved into the factors which caused the rise of the Taliban in the Swat Valley - namely, the exploitation of a terribly destructive earthquake by a fundamentalist Imam, as a means of convincing people that Allah was angry with them - and that she highlighted the role of Malala's father, in encouraging both her education and her activism. These are elements of the story also ably explored in Maslo's book. The artwork is, as mentioned, just beautiful, and make me wish I could track down more of Fronty's work. All in all, a very worthwhile title, one I would recommend to picture-book readers interested in biography, or in inspirational stories of young people standing up for their rights, and making a difference in the world.

[Melissa Kahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Translated from French to English and published in China, the 2017 Batchelder award winning book, “Malala: Activist for Girls’ Education” is an empowering picture biography book about a young Pakistan woman named Malala who stood up for the rights for girl’s education. When the Taliban people took over the city of Mingora in Pakistan, they forced people to stop listening to music and movies. Men were required to wear beards. Women covered their faces and bodies with burqas. This book does a wonderful job exploring mature themes that students in fifth grade and up can discuss: activism, racism, and violence. With the support from her father, Malala becomes a voice for all women in promoting education for all girls in her village. In fact, “Malala doesn’t get discouraged” even after being shot in the head by a member of the Taliban group (Frier, 2017, p. 27). Therefore, this book encourages children to stand up for what they believe in and shows us readers to use our voice for change.

I appreciate the cultural authenticity and the cultural accuracy that the author integrates throughout the novel, giving readers who are unknowledgeable about some of the customs in Pakistan information about them. For example, the author defines what a burqas is to help readers who are not part of this culture understand what it is (Frier, 2017, p. 17). The author also shows Malala wearing one so we can visualize this cultural piece. The illustrations accurately show burqas. I also appreciate the author integrating cultural terms, such as the Qur’an and cardamom tea to again illustrate this cultural group appropriately. The book tells readers towards the end of the book the cultural practices they practice, “many people believe that women should stay at home to watch the younger children… Girls are often required to marry at a very young age. Many families believe that only boys should have jobs” (Frier, 2017, p. 29). I appreciate the author including this in the book as a way to further support Malala’s argument for change. Lastly, I appreciate the many features at the end of the book, such as the timeline, map of where Pakistan is located in the Middle East, and additional information about Malala's country. What stuck out to me the most were the real photographs of Malala spreading awareness to other countries because this accurately represents who she is.

The end of the book gives readers background information about other noble people who stood up for their rights, such as Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr., Gul Makai, and Malalai. I would have students compare and contrast Malala to another noble figure as a way for students to make connections with how others stood up for freedom. Teachers may want to give supplemental resources for students to further explore this topic.

I found this book on the Batchelder award winning list and it was recommended to me by my local librarian. This book can be accessed as a digital copy on Youtube, but I thought the audio was fuzzy and can be distracting for readers. However, I do appreciate the close ups of the illustrations.

[Carolina Ipjian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Malala
Malala: Activist for Girls’ Education is a picture book biography that was initially written in French. It was a Batchelder Honor Book in 2018. Inspired by the life events and activism of Nobel Peace Prize Malala Yousafzai- known for her advocacy and work to ensure the education of all children around the world; this picture text biography tells the life events of young Malala and portraits the social injustices in her home country Pakistan. Beginning with her birth, the story details her early family life and how it contributed to her becoming a global advocate for social justice. The author Raphaële Frier used descriptive language and illustrations enriched with colors and details will definitely captivate the interest of young readers. I love this format of picture book biography because it presents inspiring events of a young Palestinian girl in a student-friendly language in which I think students can relate easily. Although, I recommend it for upper elementary to middle school because the book describes tough circumstances and concepts that younger readers may not understand yet. For older readers, though I think the book is full of many teaching opportunities about social justice, courage, Islam and its interpretations, the importance of role models, women’s rights, activism, change, family, Pakistan, Taliban ideology, religion, faith, and freedom. Some of the uses for the classroom could be biography structure, social studies- Pakistan language, culture, traditions, and research-based projects. Book format available in Epic https://www.getepic.com/app/read/48913

[Sarahi]

This book was recommended to me after a friend read it on Epic. The title of the book immediately caught my attention as I recognized the name. The book is a Batchelder Honor Award winner in 2018. It is a biography book written about an young female Pakistanian activist. The story tells the accurate and short story of Malala’s experiences against the Taliban in her country and the fight she goes through to voice her opinion on the reason why all children including women deserve a right to an education and their own thoughts. This book was originally published in French but the English does a great job in my opinion capturing the essence of Malala and her experiences. I would use this text with 3rd grade or older students. It would align perfectly with an biography book study.

[Heidi Burkhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written and wonderfully illustrated picture book about a young woman who has made an impact all over the world in her struggles for women's rights. She doesn't stop there, but also addresses rights for all humans.

Every child should hear this story.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Altamente recomendado, tiene una texto adecuado y una imagenes además de complementos a la lectura. Me alegro que ahora haya estos libros para ampliar conocimientos a un público más joven que deben conocer estás historias

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apparently we're entering a new trend where books about Malala just make me cry. But I'll go with it.

[Honore · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustrations and story are both wonderful. I'll admit that Malala's story is near to my heart because of my background in early ed. I appreciated that the end of the book offers some photographs and a deeper dive into her work and accomplishments.

[Kendall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a nice little book that introduces children to Malala, who she is, what she stands for and what her life is about. Malala is very brave and her story empowers young girls to stand up for their rights and what they believe in even when it is not easy.

Very nicely illustrated, written in simple terms that will appeal to children and help teach them about things that are not easy to talk about. This book is also a reminder to our children that the things they may take for granted are not available to other children in the world. It can open up discussions on many levels about many world issues.

Highly recommended for all children, especially little girls.

**Received free from Netgalley for an honest review**

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this title because it was on the honor list for the Batchelder Award in 2018. Malala: Activist for Girls' Education was written by Raphaële Frier in French and translated to English by Julie Cormier. I found this book on Epic!, which is an app I use often with my students. Epic! does not read aloud this book, so I was unable to have that as an option.

This book is an excellent biography on Malala's life. It begins with her as a baby and gives details of her family. As she grows older, she becomes more aware of the Taliban's violence and control on her country and its people. In 2009, the Taliban bans girls from school and Malala uses her voice to stand up for this injustice. She begins by writing blogs and soon enough she is invited to speak at events to aid in the campaign for girls to have equal access to education. The Taliban threatened Malala and even shot her multiple times, yet she does not get discouraged. She continues to fight for girl's education all around the world. Malala is the youngest person to ever win the Nobel Peace Prize, which she received at the age of 17. Malala's strength and dedication to this cause is very obvious in this book and is very inspirational for all readers.

This book is written in third person, as the narrator is informing the readers about Malala's life. The author's voice is very prominent in this book. He understands the challenges Malala has in her life growing up, and is very impressed with Malala's actions. I think the illustrator did an excellent job with adding details to the story. For example, when Malala is getting shot by the Taliban on the bus, Malala is the only girl with her headscarf off and has a large yellow bubble around her. This emphasizes the author's text on this page. On the last page, the illustrator draws girls from different countries all connected by a rope. I love this image because it shows the main theme of how we need to come together in order to accomplish a common goal, which in this case is to have equal education all around the world.

I chose this book because when I saw it on the list, I instantly thought of how my fourth grade class completes biographies and Malala is always an option for students to choose from. We only have one book about Malala at school, so I would love to have another option for my students who complete a biography on her. I will definitely use this book during the biography unit this year! My one concern is the level, though. I feel this book would be best for students in junior high due to the vocabulary and context. With this in mind though, I will use the teaching point suggested in Chapter 5 of "Children's Books in Children's Hands: A Brief Introduction to Their Literature". I will first have the student who is studying Malala read the book that we have at school for the third/fourth grade level. This will allow them to have more background on her life, so they will better understand when they read this higher level text.

Another caution I have for anyone that uses this book with their students is to preview the Pakistani culture and explain the Taliban. This will allow students to have a better understanding of the book. For example, in the beginning it is explained that her father "is not sorry that his child is a girl" (Frier, 2018, p.6). Most students will not understand this and may get the impression that she is from a "mean" family for even thinking this. Reviewing some instances such as this will help students best understand and enjoy the book!

[James C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found Malala: Activist for Girls' Education while looking at Dora Guzman’s international bookshelf on Good Reads (Dora is another instructor at NLU who also teaches a section of RLR-520). Although it has not won any awards, it was nominated for the Mildred L. Batchelder Award in 2018.

The story begins with Malala’s birth in 1997. We get to know a bit about her father, specifically that he founded the Khushal school - a detail that will be important to the story later. The book then depicts Malala’s early life as a child, contrasting her world, which is filled with a sense of freedom, with the reality of life in Pakistan, in which women and girls are treated as second class citizens. We then learn of Malala’s struggles, from being an activist for female education in Pakistan to her attempted assassination carried out by the Taliban. The book also depicts her accomplishments, most notably that she is the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. The final line of the book ends on the message that access to a quality education is something that all children across the globe should be freely granted.

This is not only a great picturebook, but a wonderful way to introduce young readers to an important political figure like Malala Yousafzai. The story is simple and straightforward, only highlighting a handful of momentous events in Malala’s life. There is a lot of text on each page, but the short sentences help make the text comprehensible for younger readers. The images are bold and colorful, and they have a childlike quality about them that I think would help draw in readers of any age. I also think the whimsical art style is at its best when it is placed in contrast with some of the more harrowing moments of the book, such as Malala’s village being burned down and the attempt on her life. I think using such brightly colored images helps demonstrate the importance of a figure like Malala, but also highlights the theme of hope that is found throughout the narrative. I think it also helps make these moments seem a little less frightening overall, which might be beneficial for younger readers.

Malala: Activist for Girls' Education would be a useful picturebook to use in almost any grade level. As mentioned above, it would be a great way to introduce students of any age to Malala Yousafzai, the concept of what it means to be an activist, and ideas about gender and equality. This picturebook might also serve as a great way to introduce biographies (and autobiographies) to younger readers. I think this book would appeal to our female students as it depicts the life of a strong, contemporary female activist, something that could be very empowering for girls. Malala: Activist for Girls' Education can also serve as a window into certain aspects of Pakistani culture by “[opening] the eyes of readers in the United States to circumstances in countries about which they have very limited knowledge” (Children’s Books in Children’s Hands, p. 120) and revealing the misogyny and fundamentalist terrorism of a group like the Taliban. This is all to say that Malala: Activist for Girls' Education could be used in the classroom for a variety of educational reasons, and would also be a useful tool creating an inclusive and social justice oriented classroom.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Malala Yousafzai is a remarkable young lady, whose story has touched the hearts of many. As a result there are a number of books available about her, which is great, the world needs to know about people like Malala, who risk so much to fight for what they believe in. This picture book biography gives a brief introduction to this young Noble Peace Prize winner. The text works well for younger children (1st and 2nd grade) but also has enough information to intrigue older children as well. The illustrator clearly thought through what to put in her illustrations that is truthful and yet child appropriate and I believe she succeeded. Even the scene where Malala gets shot isn't too graphic, but it is a part of the story. I appreciated how clearly and succinctly the text explains Malala's experiences and beliefs. I absolutely loved the back matter which is full of photographs, quotes, a map of Pakistan, a timeline, and information about the work that Malala continues to dedicate herself to. This is a fabulous picture book biography about a brave young woman and her cause. One quote that I particularly loved was as follows: "With guns you can kill terrorists; with education you can kill terrorism." What profoundly powerful words! Would that the world would listen to this!

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Malala Yousafzai is a remarkable young lady, whose story has touched the hearts of many. As a result there are a number of books available about her, which is great, the world needs to know about people like Malala, who risk so much to fight for what they believe in. This picture book biography gives a brief introduction to this young Noble Peace Prize winner. The text works well for younger children (1st and 2nd grade) but also has enough information to intrigue older children as well. The illustrator clearly thought through what to put in her illustrations that is truthful and yet child appropriate and I believe she succeeded. Even the scene where Malala gets shot isn't too graphic, but it is a part of the story. I appreciated how clearly and succinctly the text explains Malala's experiences and beliefs. I absolutely loved the back matter which is full of photographs, quotes, a map of Pakistan, a timeline, and information about the work that Malala continues to dedicate herself to. This is a fabulous picture book biography about a brave young woman and her cause. One quote that I particularly loved was as follows: "With guns you can kill terrorists; with education you can kill terrorism." What profoundly powerful words! Would that the world would listen to this!

[Karen Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book represents the strength and ability that all possess and few use. Malala: Activist for Girl's Education is a biography of Malala, her contributions and fight for the right to an education. Living in America where many take advantage of the basic right to an education, Raphaele Frier tells of Malala's unending fight. The illustrations by Aurelia Fronty accent the Middle Eastern setting. The illustrations are vibrant, strong, and tell a story on their own. Included in the book are pictures of Malala, a map of Pakistan, and short biographies of men whom have inspired her; Gandhi, Mandela, and Martin Luther King Jr. Also included are resources for further learning such as the speech by Malala to the United Nations, Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, and more. Although a picture book, the information, vocabulary and content are for older readers.

[Alana Young]

This book outlines Malala's life from childhood up until early adulthood. It explains the culture in which Malala grew up in, the adversity she faced, and how she overcame and fought for what she believed in. The illustrations were beautiful and the text told the story truthfully and accessibily for young learners. This book would be great for middle to late elementary schoolers. Because Malala is a current activist fighting for education and women's rights, this book could be a great tool for discussion of current world events and equality efforts.

[Amanda Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a biography of Malala Yousafzai. Her story is fascinating and the author does a great job of helping a child that does not live in a country where educating girls/women is scorned understand what Malala and millions like her have to endure. The illustrations are well done and go perfectly with the story and its setting. There is additional information at the end to help explain the story and website urls for more information.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book today with my son. I had never heard of this amazing young woman. There is some really tough parts in the book about how she and her family are mistreated by the Taliban. So even though it is a children's book I would suggest you preview it before reading it to your children. I would love to read more about this young woman. Recommend!

[Aliza Werner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extraordinary end notes containing photographs, speech excepts, a timeline, and highlights those who inspired her. I really appreciate how the focus is on her activism and work for equality and education instead of on the incident that nearly took her life.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Covers the basics of what happened to Malala when the Taliban shot her, while remaining relatively kid-friendly. It addresses what happened, managing the delicate balance of being honest without being too scary. Colorful illustrations and poetic text.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gorgeously illustrated picture book biography about Malala and the causes she fights for, translated from French.