One Plastic Bag by Miranda Paul and Elizabeth Zunon– ESSENTIAL

One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling women of the Gambia by Miranda Paul, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon. PICTURE BOOK/NON-FICTION. Millbrook Press (Lerner), 2015. $20 

EL (K-3), EL  – ESSENTIAL

In country of Gambia, plastic bags are a novelty. They seem to work even better than the woven basket bags, which break so easily. Turns out the plastic bags break too. But unlike the woven bags, which once left to garbage, become a healthy part of the earth –the discarded plastic bags never break down and are instead become a danger to the community. Isatou Ceesay was a woman with an idea –that plastic could be cut and woven together into reusable goods that people would want to buy and clean up the community at the same time.

This is a fantastic story of how one person can make a difference, reuse and recycle, and use their creativity to help their own life and their community at the same time. The illustrations are stunning collages that capture the vibrancy of the country and the mess of the plastic bags. This would be an excellent edition to a school library collection.

 Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.

Wangari Maathai: The woman who planted millions of trees by Franck Prevot - ADVISABLE

 Wangari Maathai: The woman who planted millions of trees by Franck Prevot. Charlesbridge, 2015. $17.95 PICTURE BOOK/NON-FICTION

EL, MS  –ADVISABLE 

The biography of Wangari Matthai, Nobel Peace Prize winner of 2004. A resident of Kenya, she was born in a period of time where women's rights and the rights of the native Kenyans were nearly non-existent. She persevered and gained her education, gaining a passion for protecting the environment of Kenya and eventually for political activism. Through her efforts over 30 million of trees were planted in thirty years. Features bright yet vague illustrations.  

This book is fantastic. I was incredibly inspired, wow what a life! The passion, determination and intelligence of this amazing women shines through in the text of this biography. Its appropriate and understandable for 3 grade plus and would be a stellar edition to your collection of strong groundbreaking women. The illustrations are terrible though, failing miserably to show off the beauty of the woman and the vivid country she fought for. Includes photographs, a map, and a timeline in the back.  

Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.