Wangari Maathai: The Woman Who Planted Millions of Trees

AUTHOR: KRISTEN OBARSKY

This children’s picture book, Wangari Maathai: The Woman Who Planted Millions of Trees written by Franck Prévot and illustrated by Aurelia Fronty, captivated me with its beautiful message of legacy, ecology, sustainability, and freedom. 

The story starts with Wangari as a child in British Kenya, where the colonial farming methods have harmed the land, the trees, and the people’s livelihood. Despite the challenges in Colonial Kenya, she is able to pursue her education. When she returns from studying abroad, the British are gone, and so are all the trees. The soil and rivers are degraded, the biodiversity of animal life has dropped, and farming is more for selling cash crops to rich people than for the locals to feed themselves. To help uplift her people and restore the balance of the land, she encourages them to plant thousands of trees. The tree represents “more than wood”; it represents life and hope. 

When she faces opposition from government leaders, she defiantly advocates for democracy. She builds up trust and unity between tribes by offering trees as a sign of peace.

She eventually becomes a member of parliament and, from there, changes her country one tree at a time. 

The illustrations are creative and compelling, and the message is uplifting and inspiring. Please be sure to pick up your copy at Rabata Cultural Center and Bookshop.