Rebel Girl books are so empowering and interesting. They highlight various women who may (or likely were) overlooked in your every day history books. Please keep publishing these innovative and interesting stories.

Dr. Maathai's story is one that deserves to be known by many people. For sheer courage and strength of character alone, if not for the incredible things that she accomplished. These illustrations in this Rebel Girl's edition suit the story well.

What a beautiful story, I loved the way we get to see the powerful life of Dr. Wangari Maathais life. The way she gives her all for the greater good is amazing. I was drawn into the story. I found myself completely enthralled and wanting to be a better human. This is what a book should be. A story, a lesson and a praise for life well lived and good deeds done.

I'd like to start this review by saying I can't believe this woman isn't as widely known as she should be, and I hope this amazing book contributes to introducing her to a new generation and the adults in their lives.

This is my favorite among the Chapter Book Series of the ones I've read so far, maybe because it comprehends many facets of a role model: fighting for what you believe in, not giving up regardless of any punches life —or should I say people— throws at you, seeking education through effort and merit, believing in yourself, caring about the environment, your country and your people. I could keep on listing many more reason why this book should be read by children all over the world. It's a perfect book for the little ones, in my opinion.

What an interesting read, mostly during these times where racism is a hot topic. To think that Dr Maathai got discriminated by the american and her own people is shocking. But to learn from her spirit, is the most important thing.


I just reviewed Dr. Wangari Maathai Plants a Forest by Rebel Girls. #RebelGirlsSeries #NetGalley

This is the story of Dr. Wangari Maathai, a Nobel Peach Prize winner, environmentalist and first Kenyan woman to receive her PhD. The biography chronicles Dr. Maathai's childhood in the fertile land of rural Kenya, it covered her time in America pursuing a higher education, and her return to Africa where she noticed the overworked soil and deforestation that was wreaking havoc on the land.

Dr. Maathai started the Green Belt Movement so she could educate the people in the community about conservation and meanwhile, planting many trees. She was able to empower the women in Kenya by creating sustainable communities and a means of generating income.

This inspirational biography targets the middle grade but can be appreciated by an audience of all ages.

My Thoughts
I first read about Wangari Maathai in a book titled Peace and Me and later again in Rad Women Worldwide. So I knew a little bit about her and had planned to learn more about her. This book definitely helped with that goal. It takes us on a journey through her life from the time she was a little girl to later in life. We join her as she won her Nobel Prize and as she led her efforts to protect the environment.

She was definitely a power into herself, and her passion to work for what she believed in is inspirational indeed. I also learned a lot about Kenya and the ecological issues that led to her life-long commitment to the environment. I loved that the story talks about both her successes and her struggles to get there.

Wangari Maathai’s story reminds us that the journey to success begins with a single step, and that every little bit helps. We can all do our part in taking care of our natural resources in simple ways thus making our world a better one.

The story is told beautifully and sincerely, and the brilliantly vibrant and detailed illustrations add to the story without being disruptive while shining on their own as well. There are also additional resources/exercises included at the end that will encourage young readers to explore more on their own.

In Summary
This is another timely yet timeless gem of a book from the Rebel Girls series – one that needs a place in your library – no matter what your age!

An inspiration for generations.

Completely offside observation: Both the syllables of her last name – maa and thai mean mother in two(more) different Indian languages!

<a href="https://www.ladyinreadwrites.com/">Check my blog - LadyInReadWrites - for more reviews</a>
Disclaimer: Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the digital ARC of the book; these are my honest opinions after reading the book.

*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was an amazing introduction to a woman that I had never heard about before! Coming from Kenya, it was not only unheard of for girls to finish high school but Wangari also went to university and a doctorate. Starting the Green Belt Movement and fighting for the environment, she is a figure worth celebrating.

4 out of 5 stars!

It is important to include books about diverse and inspirational people in school libraries and classrooms. This is one of those book.

Dr. Wangari Maathai Plants A Forest, tells the story of Nobel Peace Prize winning Dr. Wangari Maathai, the activist/environmentalist and first Kenyan woman to receive her PhD.

Readers will learn about Maathai's childhood in rural Kenya, her time in America pursuing a higher education, and her return to Africa where she eventually started the Green Belt Movement by planting trees in an effort to develop and educate the community while conserving the environment.

Thank you Rebel Girls and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

This is my first stand-alone book in the Rebel Girls series, but I loved it. I confess that I was ignorant of Dr. Maathai's work until she won the Nobel Prize in 2004, but I am extremely glad books like this one will keep her legacy alive outside of the areas where the Green-Belt movement was active.

Thanks to NetGalley and Rebel Girls for an advanced look into this book.

An aspiring account of the life of a Nobel Prize winner and an amazing world citizen. This book shares educational insights and instructions for planting and caring for plants and trees.

Dr. Wangari Maathai paved the way for the citizens of Kenya to take care of their part of our world with boldness and perseverance.

This is the second book in this series that I reviewed and I love the way that it brings light to women who I was previously unaware of who made important contributions in their countries. This book told the engaging story of Dr. Wangari, a Kenyan activist who won the Nobel Peace Price for her work in her country. The book covers her childhood, the unusualness of her ability to attend school, and the way that her interest in trees was built.

The illustrations were fun and added to the story, which covers her childhood to her winning the Nobel Peace Price. A really fun read for children looking for biographies.

This book is a middle grade biographical narrative. I was expecting it to read as a list of facts and dates, but it was a story, like a book version of a biopic. Very informative. I only knew Dr. Maathai as an environmentalist, but I learned about what led to the ecological destruction she was trying to combat, more details about her life and schooling, and generalities about politics in 1950s-1960s Kenya.

This book was lyrical and had beautiful illustrations. The only change I would make would be to add pronunciations for children who are learning about this figure for the first time. Children are most likely not familiar with these names and places.

I did not know what I was getting when I asked for this book from Net Galley. It turned out to be informational, educational, and interesting.

Dr. Maathai was a young girl when the book started, She wanted to go to school like her older brother, but girls did not go to school in Africa unless your family was rich. Young girls were expected to stay at home with their mothers and younger siblings to keep the home fires burning.

But Wangari was lucky, her Uncle and Grandfather stepped up to get the money together and she was able to go to school and even to higher education because she was so smart and studied so hard. She even got to go to America to study at a very important University in the states, She became a doctor and when she went back to Africa she realized what needed to be done.

She noticed that all the trees when cut down and she started planting trees in her village and it took off and others started doing the same.

It was the start of an environmental agency that she was elected to lead.

The book was short, but had great pictures and kept my interest right to the end.

A great overview of Dr. Wangati Maathi's life. I loved how it also gave a clear picture of life in rural Kenya and offered some projects/extra material for readers to connect with Wangari's work themselves.

It is a book that tells the story of a woman who made history in her country, Kenya, at a time so difficult for women. It was a good read, I recommend!

efore this book, I knew very little of Kenya and didn’t even know who Dr. Wangari Maathai was. So reading it felt like I was eight again, and in the most wonderful ways. The illustration of a woman planting a seedling on its cover transported me back to my school days when we were taken out to tree-planting activities, and it made me nostalgic yet excited to jump into the story.

Dr. Wangari was an environmentalist, activist, and feminist all in one pot. What she and the Green Belt Movement had done for Kenya sends a powerful message to reader of any age. How her story is written is genuine and sincere, and the language flows beautifully, letting the important messages shine the most. Her story reminded me about what it means to see possibilities in little things, and how to take care of the natural resources that give us life in the most simple, sustainable way.

I thought it was also clever how the story highlights her triumphs—earning her degrees as a Kenyan woman, becoming a lawmaker, empowering her community—by also pushing forward her struggles—lack of project funds, problematic marriage life, political headbutts.

Top it all of, the illustrations by Eugenia Mello were lovely and eye-catching. They were placed in ways that give them their own ~moment, not at all disruptive to the flow of the story. Well done.

I had never heard of Dr. Wangari Maathai before, and this was a short, inspirational read. I loved learning more about this strong woman's life, how she grew up in Africa, and how she fought for her belief's and countries strength. The story of the hummingbird specifically is going to stick with me for a long time. This was a great read, and I only wish there was more of it.

“We need people in government who want to lead. Not just rule.”

Thanks to Rebel Girls for the ARC!

This book is written for children, but I recommend it to everyone. I'm a huge fan of the Rebel Girls books, because they always bring inspiring stories of strong women, from all parts of the world.

This one tells us about Dr. Wangari Maathai, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning activist and environmentalist from Kenya. Her life wasn't easy, but she fought against all the odds to save nature, plant more trees and make a better future to all of us.