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20th out of 78 books
—
131 voters
Mama Miti: Wangari Maathai and the Trees of Kenya
by
Donna Jo Napoli (Goodreads Author),
Kadir Nelson
Through artful prose and beautiful illustrations, Donna Jo Napoli and Kadir Nelson tell the true story of Wangari Muta Maathai, known as “Mama Miti,” who in 1977 founded the Green Belt Movement, an African grassroots organization that has empowered many people to mobilize and combat deforestation, soil erosion, and environmental degradation. Today more than 30 million tree...more
Hardcover, 40 pages
Published
January 5th 2010
by Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
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Mama Miti by Donna Jo Napoli
This entry was posted on March 5, 2013, in Africa, Earth Day, Education, Picture Books, Teaching and tagged bookreview #kidlit, earthday, kidlit, picture books, YA. Bookmark the permalink. Leave a comment (Edit)
I came across this gem during a search for books illustrated by Kadir Nelson. I was planning a study of his work as my Black History Month theme this year. As usual, Nelson’s illustrations are absolutely amazing. But the story of “Mama Miti” is also a wonderf...more
This entry was posted on March 5, 2013, in Africa, Earth Day, Education, Picture Books, Teaching and tagged bookreview #kidlit, earthday, kidlit, picture books, YA. Bookmark the permalink. Leave a comment (Edit)
I came across this gem during a search for books illustrated by Kadir Nelson. I was planning a study of his work as my Black History Month theme this year. As usual, Nelson’s illustrations are absolutely amazing. But the story of “Mama Miti” is also a wonderf...more
Mama Miti tells the story of Wangari Muta Maathai, who just died on September 25, 2011. She was a Nobel Peace Laureate - the first African women to win the Nobel peace prize. In awarding Maathai the Nobel peace prize in 2004, the Nobel committee said that her "unique forms of action have contributed to drawing attention to political oppression – nationally and internationally."
Maathai was the first woman in east and central Africa to obtain a PhD. She was also the first woman professor the Univ...more
Maathai was the first woman in east and central Africa to obtain a PhD. She was also the first woman professor the Univ...more
A beautiful story describing the Green Belt Movement started in Kenya by Wangari Muta Maathai who was the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize (2004) for working to revitalize a deforested Kenya.
While the movement was a grassroots movement organized by this woman politician, this picture book tells the story as if Wangari is a town elder who gives advice to women who travel from all over the country for her help. It captures the spirit of the African culture--specifically the Kenyan...more
While the movement was a grassroots movement organized by this woman politician, this picture book tells the story as if Wangari is a town elder who gives advice to women who travel from all over the country for her help. It captures the spirit of the African culture--specifically the Kenyan...more
Mama Miti is a children's book that explains how one woman changed a nation by restoring ecosystems and how that helped everyday people. Wangari Maathai, the Kenyan activist who became the first woman to will the Nobel Peace Prize for her work with the Green Belt Movement, makes an excellent subject. The oil paintings and collage illustrations by Kadir Nelson are beautiful and striking, they seem to make a faraway world more real to readers, integrating African textiles and motifs.
In addition to...more
In addition to...more
I love this book in theory. The story of one woman empowering other women and revitalizing the native environment of her country- what's not to love? But I also have to judge this on the reception it got from the little critic. Which wasn't so overwhelmingly positive. In fairness, she's three and a half, and perhaps not ready yet. The subject matter and the language may have been a bit "dry" for one as young as her, but I can't ignore that it wasn't hitting the spot for the intended audience. Th...more
An amazing story of Wangari Maathai, the first African American woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004. Wangari had a love for nature and peace. This is how she transformed Kenya, tree by tree. Each time a village woman came to Wangari seeking help, she gave them a seed and told them to plant the mukinduri trees. Each time, these seeds proved to be the things these women needed most...food for their children, wood for fire, medicine for sick cattle, timber for buildings. After a time, the tr...more
Really I would give the illustrations a five and the text a three. Since I can't do that, I went with the average.
The text ... seemed a little dry for a picture book. Which is kind of sad, because as it turns out it is quite an important story. I had never heard of her before but after reading some of the "afterword" she seems like a really interesting person who has done amazing things.
Kadir Nelson's artwork is very different in this one compared to some of his others but I still LOVED it. The...more
The text ... seemed a little dry for a picture book. Which is kind of sad, because as it turns out it is quite an important story. I had never heard of her before but after reading some of the "afterword" she seems like a really interesting person who has done amazing things.
Kadir Nelson's artwork is very different in this one compared to some of his others but I still LOVED it. The...more
This is an amazing story, filled with practical common sense, a lyrical narrative and gorgeous illustrations. The story is a simple one, with repetitive elements and a short enough length that will keep the attention of younger listeners. It has a flowing and enchanting chant embedded within the tale that is soothing and helps reinforce the feeling that this is an oral history being passed down. And the illustrations are simply wonderful, extensively using fabric remnants to create simple, yet b...more
Dec 29, 2010
Sarah
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
preschool and up
Recommended to Sarah by:
mock caldecott
Shelves:
picture-book,
nonfiction
I [sort of] see how this book is important, but...
Many people visit the lady who comes to be known as Mama Miti; they visit her for help and advice. However, her advice is always the same: to grow Maathai trees. Well, taken literally, the starving family is still going to starve if they plant a Maathai tree--won't it take years to grow and bear fruit? And the family who needs shelter will still need shelter if they plant a Maathai tree--won't it take years to grow enough to take branches from to...more
Many people visit the lady who comes to be known as Mama Miti; they visit her for help and advice. However, her advice is always the same: to grow Maathai trees. Well, taken literally, the starving family is still going to starve if they plant a Maathai tree--won't it take years to grow and bear fruit? And the family who needs shelter will still need shelter if they plant a Maathai tree--won't it take years to grow enough to take branches from to...more
May 26, 2010
Krista the Krazy Kataloguer
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
read-childrens-books,
read-goodreads-authors
I didn't like Kadir Nelson's illustrations in this book as much as I've liked his illustrations for other books. However, the text was beautiful.
Napoli worked in all the functions that trees have for humans as solutions to problems that women brought to her. Well done! The picture of Wangari as a child with the tadpoles is taken right out of her autobiography, Unbowed. Napoli also linked planting the trees with peace, although the message toward the end that Kenya was at peace wasn't true for a...more
Napoli worked in all the functions that trees have for humans as solutions to problems that women brought to her. Well done! The picture of Wangari as a child with the tadpoles is taken right out of her autobiography, Unbowed. Napoli also linked planting the trees with peace, although the message toward the end that Kenya was at peace wasn't true for a...more
Aug 10, 2012
Nicole Cingiser
added it
Mama Miti tells the story of Kenyan activist Wangari Maathai's grassroots initiative to plant trees across Kenya. Maathai, who founded the Green Belt Movement (which focused on environmental conservation and and democratic rights), was an advocate for the women of her country, and encouraged all that she met to plant seedlings in order to reforest the land and help the women's lives to become more sustainable. With informative, lyrical prose and stunning illustrations, this book tells the true s...more
Donna Jo Napoli has told the inspiring contemporary story of Wangari Maathai tree by tree, in the compelling, flawless rhythm of an old tale . Kadir Nelson's fabric collage illustrations deepen the glory of the text. Adult readers will be led to wonder at a true story of social and environmental renewal emerging from an area commonly thought to herald the next worst things in the future of the planet. Child readers will be strengthened in their inclination to believe that very small efforts can...more
Got this for my 4YO's "school," but he picks it to read as a bedtime story as well -- surprising because there are neither knights nor dinosaurs in the story. Great messages of tree-hugging, the practical application of knowledge, the impact one person can make, and Kenyan culture. Beautiful illustrations, with pictures composed almost entirely of a patchwork of prints to resemble the brightly colored combinations of African dress. The Kenyan tree names are a mouthful to try to say, and my son t...more
Genre: Multicultural/Biography
Copyright: 2010
This book tells the story of Wangari, a wise woman who helps to save people and her land by bringing back the trees. What I really loved about this book where the illustrations. The pictures were created by Caldecott winner Kadir Nelson. The pictures were done in oil paints and printed fabrics on gessoed board. Nelson chose this because African cultures are rich with textiles and color. I think that Nelson really helped share the culture of Africa thr...more
Copyright: 2010
This book tells the story of Wangari, a wise woman who helps to save people and her land by bringing back the trees. What I really loved about this book where the illustrations. The pictures were created by Caldecott winner Kadir Nelson. The pictures were done in oil paints and printed fabrics on gessoed board. Nelson chose this because African cultures are rich with textiles and color. I think that Nelson really helped share the culture of Africa thr...more
Mama Miti is a fast read which intermingles folk and tribal atmosphere with values which can relate to many such as self-reliance and strength. The illustrations look as though they were scrapbook together which gives it a unique feel. The language is rich but purposeful and the moral of the story resounds for children and adults alike. Though the plot falls a bit flat with the same advice being given time and again children also learn countless uses for various trees and impresses the importanc...more
Wow. Kadir Nelson can do no wrong. These illustrations are deep and many of them I wish I had as prints for my house. The story itself grew on me as I read it, and my favorite part was when there was a different tree suggested for each need. That trees can answer so many needs is a cool thing, as is the idea that you could learn each one. I wish, however, that if each tree was not to be illustrated in the story, that there had at least been simpler drawings of them in the glossary at the back (a...more
Mama Miti: Wangari Maathai and the Trees of Kenya by Donna Jo Napoli, illustrated by Kadir Nelson
One woman. One seed. One hope for the future.
Thayu nyumba -- Peace, my people.
Wangari grew up in the shadow of Mount Kenya listening to the stories about the people and land around her. Though the trees towered over her, she had loved them for as long as she could remember. Wangari planted trees one by one to refresh her spirit. When the women came to her for help with their families, she told them...more
One woman. One seed. One hope for the future.
Thayu nyumba -- Peace, my people.
Wangari grew up in the shadow of Mount Kenya listening to the stories about the people and land around her. Though the trees towered over her, she had loved them for as long as she could remember. Wangari planted trees one by one to refresh her spirit. When the women came to her for help with their families, she told them...more
Well, this is the fourth or fifth picture book I’ve read about Wangari Maathai. I still haven’t read her autobiography or her book about the Green Belt Movement.
Each picture book has its strengths and weaknesses.
This was not my favorite of the books. Its main weakness (for me) was that in the main part of the story, women come to Maathai with problems and each time she tells them to plant trees and explains how the trees will solve their problems. Each time she ends with saying “Thayu numba _ P...more
Each picture book has its strengths and weaknesses.
This was not my favorite of the books. Its main weakness (for me) was that in the main part of the story, women come to Maathai with problems and each time she tells them to plant trees and explains how the trees will solve their problems. Each time she ends with saying “Thayu numba _ P...more
This is a story of tradition, respect, love, family and poverty. The characters are not well developed and the reptition of the giving of the trees and the line, "Thaya Nyumba" which Mama Miti states means "peace my people". She takes such a simple idea of planting trees to help the village flourish. Each person has a different skill and with the trees they plant the skills come to life and then everyone is able to benefit from each other in the end and of course they are at peace when they hav...more
This was a woman I'd never heard of, though I was vaguely aware of her Greenbelt Movement. This was a great biography though, and I wish there were more like since there are a number of Nobel Peace Prize winners among us whose example could maybe inspire a child or two to reach higher themselves. This was poetic and beautiful and a good introduction to a life not enough people are aware of.
biography of 2004 Nobel Peace prize winner Wangari Muta Maathai. Gorgeous illustrations by Kadir Nelson. Terrific afterward that provides even more details about her amazing life. The book doesn't reveal the full complexity of her life or work, but it is a good introduction and is visually stunning. Author's note at end describes research process & provides links to gain additional knowledge. (I went back and forth between 3 & 4 stars, and the illustrations are what was the deciding fact...more
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I absolutely love this book. It is a beautiful story of a strong African woman. It has big, beautiful pictures that students would enjoy. It also includes many words and phrases in Swahili, as well as a glossary in the back. A great way to introduce Kenyan culture into your classroom and to link to students from Kenya to help them feel validated.
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The art in this story was comprised of cloth pieces. Many different pieces were put together to create the pictures. It was really cool looking and unique. The story has many Kenyan words and though the are odd to pronounce it brings a diverse use of language to the story. The plot of the story is also very uplifting and fun. I like this book!
The vibrant textile illustrations make this book about conservation and community support very engaging. I loved that Napoli decided to write a book about a African woman who has achieved so much all by focusing on giving back to her country. This simple biography is a timely selection for any child's biographical report for school.
Artist Kadir Nelson uses authentic African fabrics and realistic painted portraits to tell Donna Jo Napoli's story of Wangari Maathai. Napoli's Mama Miti focuses not just on the Green Belt movement she founed to reforest Kenya, but how she empowered women to plant particular trees to solve particular problems and thus improve lives.
I love the illustrations but then I am a big Kadir Nelson fan. I enjoyed the story about Mama Miti and how she helps her community by encouraging them to plant trees (reconnect with nature), but something was a little off...if people are in real need at the moment how does planting a tree help that immediate need. Okay, so it is me...
While this is the third picture book biography of Wangari Maathi, this is my favorite. The story focuses on Maathai helping the women of Kenya plant the trees and why they needed to do so. Napoli's words are powerful and graceful. Nelson's gorgeous collage illustrations provide lush colors and textures. A stunning work.
This is a well researched book with beautifully written prose focusing on the later part of Wangari's life. The illustrations are absolutely stunning and are reason enough to include this book in a collection. The combination of printed fabrics and oil paints give each picture such incredible texture and life.
This cumulative true tale of the power of a message of peace and strength is beautiful on many levels. Kadir Nelson's art is as emotional and rich as the story of a woman who transformed her people using native tree seedlings to feed, warm, shelter, clothe, and in every way empower and strengthen her neighbors.
Kadir Nelson showed some diversity in his artwork with this book. That was nice to see. I liked the story and the introduction to a strong figure who has made a real difference for her people. It would have been nice to see a more detailed description of specific accomplishments from her life.
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From her website:
Donna Jo Napoli is both a linguist and a writer of children's and YA fiction.
Donna Jo has five children. She dreams of moving to the woods and becoming a naturalist. She loves to garden and bake bread.
At various times her house and yard have been filled with dogs, cats, birds, and rabbits. For thirteen years she had a cat named Taxi, and liked to go outside and call, "Taxi!" to...more
More about Donna Jo Napoli...
Donna Jo Napoli is both a linguist and a writer of children's and YA fiction.
Donna Jo has five children. She dreams of moving to the woods and becoming a naturalist. She loves to garden and bake bread.
At various times her house and yard have been filled with dogs, cats, birds, and rabbits. For thirteen years she had a cat named Taxi, and liked to go outside and call, "Taxi!" to...more
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May 29, 2010 08:55am