Planting Peace: The Story of Wangari Maathai

by Gwendolyn Hooks, Margaux Carpentier (Illustrator)

A picture book biography of Wangari Maathai, women's rights activist and one of the first environmental warriors.

Wangari began the Green Belt Movement in Kenya in the 1960s, which focused on planting trees, environmental conservation, and women's rights. She inspired thousands across Africa to plant 30 million trees in 30 years and was the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

Genres: Picture Books, Biography, Nonfiction, Childrens, Science, History, Nature

64 pages, Hardcover

Published June 6, 2021

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Gwendolyn Hooks was born in Savannah, Georgia, and lived in Texas, Washington, and Italy thanks to her Air Force dad. She earned a degree in secondary math education from the University of Missouri in St. Louis. After teaching middle school math, Gwendolyn decided to follow her new passion, writing for children. She loves visiting schools and libraries sharing her writing life with students. For inspiration, she turns to her husband, three kids and a cat.

Reviews

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Talks about how lucky she felt as a girl to go to school and then to go away to school. Also specifically mentions the kikuyu tribe and says it was favored by the president and that caused some of the clashes. Besides planting trees, she taught and she was an activist. She campaigned to save an urban park. She and some other women went on a hunger strike to get some boys freed from jail.

For other books about Mama Miti (Wangari Maathai) see Seeds of Change: Wangari's Gift to the World, Wangari Maathai: The Woman Who Planted Millions of Trees, and Wangari's Trees of Peace: A True Story from Africa.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The remarkable story of biologist and environmentalist Wangari Maathai. While I love this amazing woman and her story, this was not the most engaging book. The reading level of the actual book is intended more for younger elementary but the book is also very text tense with over 60 pages. I also didn't think the writing was very well-done (very bland and basic) but I did love learning more about Wangari and her work.

[Thomasin Propson · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Some asked, what does planting trees have to do with peace? (…) A trip to the rural areas to watch women, men, and children from various communities working side by side was the answer.”

A biography and picture book about Wangari Maathai, winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize. Writing best for ages 8-adult. Illustrations could be admired by younger children as well. Quality printing (thick, heavy paper).

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful and beautiful book. Wangari Maathai's life story is explained carefully and clearly. It is so important that young children know about the difference that women make in the world. It is sad at the moment that people are not familiar with the work of great women but books like this will help. It is also a important that people know about the role trees play in our world. This book explains how trees mean to people and sometimes we lose sight of this. Love this book.

[Anna-Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great elementary and up picture book biography of Wangari Maathai who started a movement to plant more trees.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

a very inspirational woman i loved learning more about her

[wildct2003 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous story about an amazing woman and her belief that people of different cultures could work together to bring peace. She won the Nobel Peace Prize.