International School of Luxembourg Libraries: ISL Libraries Book Blog

Dr. Wangari Maathai Plants a Forest by Rebel Girls; Eugenia Mello (Illustrator)A historical novel based on the life of Dr. Wangari Maathai, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning activist and environmentalist from Kenya. Wangari lives in the lush, green, land of rural Kenya where the soil is perfect for planting, the trees tower into the sky, and the streams are full of mysterious creatures. All day, she plays beneath her favourite fig tree, and at night she gathers around the fire with her family to listen to her mother's stories. Then Wangari grows up and goes away to school, and things start changing at home. Farmers chop down the trees. Landslides bury the stream. The soil becomes overworked and dry, and nothing will grow. People go hungry. After all her studies, Dr. Wangari Maathai realizes there is a simple solution to these problems: plant a forest full of trees.

 

 

Unspeakable by Carole Boston Weatherford; Floyd Cooper (Illustrator)

Longlisted for the National Book Award.  Celebrated author Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrator Floyd Cooper provide a powerful look at the Tulsa Race Massacre, one of the worst incidents of racial violence in US history. The book traces the history of African Americans in Tulsa's Greenwood district and chronicles the devastation that occurred in 1921 when a white mob attacked the Black community. News of what happened was largely suppressed, and no official investigation occurred for seventy-five years. This picture book sensitively introduces young readers to this tragedy and concludes with a call for a better future.

 

 

 

Class Act by Jerry Craft (Illustrator)

New York Times bestselling author Jerry Craft returns with a companion book to New Kid. This time, it's Jordan's friend Drew who takes centre stage in another important story about being one of the few kids of colour in a prestigious private school. Eighth grader Drew Ellis is no stranger to the saying "You have to work twice as hard to be just as good." His grandmother has reminded him his entire life. But what if he works ten times as hard and still isn't afforded the same opportunities that his privileged classmates at the Riverdale Academy Day School take for granted?

 

 

 

 

 

I Am Enough by Grace Byers; Keturah A. Bobo (Illustrator)

New York Times bestseller and Goodreads Choice Awards picture book winner. This gorgeous, lyrical ode to loving who you are, respecting others, and being kind to one another comes from Empire actor and activist Grace Byers and talented newcomer artist Keturah A. Bobo. We are all here for a purpose. We are more than enough. We just need to believe it.