She Persisted: Wangari Maathai

She Persisted

by Eucabeth Odhiambo, Chelsea Clinton, Alexandra Boiger (Illustrator)

Inspired by the #1 New York Times bestseller She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton and Alexandra Boiger, a chapter book series about women who spoke up and rose up against the odds--including Wangari Maathai!

In this chapter book biography by critically acclaimed author Eucabeth Odhiambo, readers learn about the amazing life of Wangari Maathai--and how she persisted . 
 
When Wangari Maathai learned about how many trees had been cut down in Kenya, where she was from, she was horrified. So she founded the Green Belt Movement and got friends, family, and even strangers to help her plant trees and respect the environment--and she received a Nobel Peace Prize for her work.

Complete with an introduction from Chelsea Clinton, black-and-white illustrations throughout, and a list of ways that readers can follow in Wangari Maathai's footsteps and make a difference! A perfect choice for kids who love learning and teachers who want to bring inspiring women into their curriculum.
 
And don’t miss out on the rest of the books in the She Persisted series, featuring so many more women who persisted, including Malala Yousafzai, Oprah Winfrey, and more!

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Africa, History, Biography Memoir, Childrens

80 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2022

Reviews

[Barbara Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this inspiring story!

[Hilmg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kenya, effects of British colonialism, civil disobedience, trees & local ecosystems, forests, Green Belt movement, Nobel Peace Prize in 2004, community organizing

[McKenzie Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

For more bookish thoughts, see my blog: Craft-Cycle

Another fantastic She Persisted book. This one recounts the life and work of Wangari Maathai, an environmentalist and activist who founded the Green Belt Movement. The book describes Maathai's life growing up in Kenya, her inspirations and influences, her continuing education, her work helping her community, and her resistance against discriminatory systems.

As with the other books in the series, this one is told in short chapters using easy-to-understand descriptions and explanations. There are black-and-white illustrations throughout to help break up the text. At the back is a section on how to persist like Maathai including ways to help the environment and a list of reference.

Maathai's story is a great example of fighting for the rights of yourself and others while promoting peace and equality. It emphasizes how she persisted throughout her life in order to achieve equal treatment, help those around her, and aid in the care of the environment.

A fantastic read. Odhiambo did a fantastic job telling this story.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I vaguely remember learning about Wangari Maathai when she won the Nobel Peace Prize. After reading this, I realize that coverage for her accomplishments weren't adequately lauded. Due to racism, colonialism, and sexism, media portrayed her in a way as if to dismiss and exoticize, "How quaint. A Black Mother Earth tree hugger avatar." Planting trees seems like such a simple solution, and in some ways it is, but in part, only because it is obvious now due to Maathai's work. The totality of Maathai's experiences, including education not only from universities and Catholic schools (with questionable practices both in terms of attempting to eradicate students' culture and corporal punishment), but also from family, community, and nature, and persistence, allowed her to envision and enact a solution (planting trees) that substantively benefitted people and nature. Maathai's story also shows us that environmentalism and the rights and wellness of the marginalized, especially women and children, are intimately entertwined, and at odds with capitalism and patriarchy.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is my first time reading this "She Persisted" series nonfiction that highlights persistent women and I might have to read some more of them. Using the style of who is/what was HQ series, it's tells a succinct and brief story, while trying to include all the pertinent details of a persons life interspersed with some pictures for context.

In this case Maathai was an African woman who fought back against patriarchy as well as limitations and developed agricultural know-how to help her country and thus changed more than just her small piece of the world, she affected others and received a Nobel Prize, having forests planted in her name/honor.

I didn't know really anything about her so this was a perfect place to start.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group through NetGalley.
Part of the She Persisted biography series. Odhiambo brings readers into Maathai's life from birth through her challenges to make a difference to her death, and the way her life's work still echoes today. Readers see her strength and commitment to caring for the environment in her home country, Kenya, and beyond. The author's writing style lets readers feel they are planting, protesting and dreaming beside Wangari. A definite addition to elementary libraries.

[Jennybeast · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another star in the She Persisted series, and again for exceptionally great writing. I learned so much about Wangari Maathai, and I really appreciated doing it while reading such a compelling narrative. Odhiambo keeps the rhythm of storytelling throughout the book -- she's lyrical at painting the setting in such a way that you know why Mama Miti fought so hard to restore the land. She doesn't mince words about challenges, fear, and persecution, but she manages a balance with hope and achievement and persistence.

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

The She Persisted mini chapter book biography series are perfect for elementary and intermediate age students interested in learning about the featured person for an assignment or just for an informative read about important women in history. This edition about Wangari Maathai is well done and will excite young children to learn even more about her and the Green Belt Movement. A must have series for any elementary school or classroom.

[Candance Doerr-Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an informative telling of Wangari Mathi’s life and work for conservation. There are many beautiful picture books detailing visually and poetically Mama Miti’s life and work. This goes a bit deeper into the tree planting and ctivist work including protests and hunger strikes

Used: audio MPL

[Rubi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of an environmentalist

I've heard of environmentalists and activists and I never really pictured them going together, but Wangari was both and more!
Smart & brave lady that didn't let anyone stop her from trying to make life better for her people and for the environment 👏👏

[Erin *BookDragon_Library* · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good bridge series from the She Persisted picture books to The Who Was chapter books. It is like an Easy Reader version of Who Was. This is someone I had never heard of so I found it interesting. A good story of environmental advocacy in Kenya/Africa.

[Gretchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing woman I am now interested to read more about and sharing with many other girls and women. For more of my impressions and uses of this great biography series, see the Maria Tallchief entry.

[Marné Hawkes Skelton Yates · Rating 3 out of 5]

About a half-hour read, it was a sweet, true story about a courageous woman.

[Kimberly Whitaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally enjoyed this book. Until I discovered this in my public library I had never heard of this heroic, intelligent woman. A totally refreshing and informative book.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus or Netgalley

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the only book my library had about Maathai, but it was interesting. I wanted to know more.

[Rosa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, but basic, biography. Good for book reports for up to 4th grade. The “She Persisted” series just isn’t as good as the Who was/is series.

[Earl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read picture books about Wangari Maathai in the past before and it was great and inspiring to read about her life and contributions as part of the She Persisted chapter book series.

[Ellon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars (I really liked it)

One of the stronger books in the series. I enjoyed learning about this amazing woman, whom I didn't know about previously.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never heard the name Wangari Maathai before, so I was very interested to learn more about this woman from Kenya and her impressive contributions to planting trees and her efforts in preventing natural preservations from being destroyed. She even won a Nobel Peace prize for her work and was the first woman to earn a PhD! As a founder of the Green Belt Movement, which is a non-profit grassroots organization that encourages conservation and the planting of trees, she had a major impact on our environment. Overall a great read, although I think the writing could have been simplified a little more for the young target audience.

[Rene Del Bosque Moncayo]

Ella fundó el cinto v en de geen belt

[Emily Sharpe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great kid's version of Wangari Maathai's life. Looking forward to using it with my students alongside our module texts.

[Vonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I randomly picked this up as I am organizing my themed books in my classroom library. I've never heard of Wangari Maathai before so I am really glad I picked this up. She was very inspirational and did a lot to help the environment, as well as women's rights. I'm glad I have this book available for my students.