Planting Peace: The Story of Wangari Maathai

 This picture book tells the inspiring story of Wangari Maathai, women’s rights activist and one of the first environmental warriors. Wangari began the Green Belt Movement in Kenya in the 1960s, which focused on planting trees, environmental conservation, and women’s rights. She inspired thousands across Africa to plant 30 million trees in 30 years and was the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

• Explores environmental and political issues in an inspirational way

• Vibrant illustrations from print-maker Margaux Carpentier, one of the featured artists in Taschen’s The Illustrator: 100 Best from Around the World

• Narrative non-fiction text by Gwendolyn Hooks, winner of the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work for Children

Gwendolyn Hooks, winner of the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work for Children, was born in Savannah, Georgia. She taught seventh-grade math until one day she realized she wanted to write for children. Now, she is the author of 20 books for children. She writes both fiction and nonfiction to encourage children to explore their world.

Margaux Carpentier is a painter and illustrator based in London. She works on all kinds of projects, ranging from illustrated books to large scale painting and murals, and sometimes even sculptures. She has illustrated two other children’s books for Crocodile Books: Planting Peace: The Story of Wangari Maathai and Darwin’s Tree of Life.