Mama Miti: Wangari Maathai and the Trees of Kenya by Donna Jo Napoli

Mama Miti: Wangari Maathai and the Trees of Kenya Reviews

• 
  J-Lynn Van Pelt

  A beautiful story describing the Green Belt Movement started in Kenya by Wangari Muta Maathai who was the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize (2004) for working to revitalize a deforested Kenya.
  
  While the movement was a grassroots movement organized by this woman politician, this picture book tells the story as if Wangari is a town elder who gives advice to women who travel from all over the country for her help. It captures the spirit of the African culture--specifically the Kenyan notion of harambee (swahili) which means pulling together for the common good--as this one woman encourages her people to reengage with the land and respect the symbiotic nature of trees. She becomes known as "Mama Miti" or "mother of the trees."
  
  In the back of the book, there is an afterowrd, extensive note from the author, glossary, and a note from the illustrator which discuss the true life of Wangari and the creation of this book.
  
  The illustrations are by Kadir Nelson but are his first exploration into mixed collage. He paints the faces and some of the background with oil paints, layering the clothing and panorama with printed fabrics all on gessoed board. He said he wanted "to use these materials because African culture is rich with textiles and color, and I felt it essential that the artwork reflect an aesthetic of both East Africa and my own work." He succeeds. The pictures capture the epic beauty of Africa and the rich colors of the Kenyan people. I hope he gets rewarded for these bold illustrations come awards season.
• 
  Lisa Vegan

  Well, this is the fourth or fifth picture book I’ve read about Wangari Maathai. I still haven’t read her autobiography or her book about the Green Belt Movement.
  Each picture book has its strengths and weaknesses.
  
  This was not my favorite of the books. Its main weakness (for me) was that in the main part of the story, women come to Maathai with problems and each time she tells them to plant trees and explains how the trees will solve their problems. Each time she ends with saying “Thayu numba _ Peace, my people” but that’s it. The refrain makes for a good story time read aloud book, but it’s not until the notes at the end of the book (Afterword, Kikuyu Glossary, A Note from the Author, A Note from the Illustrator) that the reader learns anything significant about this important woman. If I hadn’t read any of the other books about her, I might have enjoyed this book more than I did. At least the last page of the story did reveal how she changed the country tree by tree and the green belt movement is sort of mentioned. The notes at the end do give information about her education and what she accomplished.
  
  While I also didn’t like the illustrations as much as in a couple of the other books, I appreciated that the illustrator used printed fabrics as one of the materials to create them. I love the brightly colored prints of so many African fabrics and they were captured well within this book.
  
  For all that, I did enjoy the book quite a bit. Ideally, all picture books about Maathai would be available to be viewed and read at about the same time because they all offer something a bit different, and readers will get a more complete picture of this woman, the Green Belt Movement, and history if all are read.
  
  3 ½ stars
• 
  Hannah

  I feel like to say anything about the illustrations is almost a waste of time, because Kadir Nelson did them, so OF COURSE they are spectacular. I was a bit surprised to find they were his because I don't recall any other work of his that I've read that used mixed media. I really love that this book focused on Maathai's Kenyan life and work in Kenya, not her time in the US. I'm reading five picturebooks about Maathai, and this is the first one that actually has enough text AND enough back matter that I am legitimately excited and interested to know more about the subject.
• 
  Abigail

  Author Donna Jo Napoli and illustrator Kadir Nelson join forces in this picture-book examination of the activism of Wangari Maathai, founder of Kenya's tree-planting Green Belt Movement, and winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize. Having grown up with a great respect for the mugumo, or spreading fig tree, Maathai eventually became a veterinary doctor, a university professor, and a woman who encouraged other women to plant trees, thereby combatting the deforestation of her country, and all the ills it brought. Eventually she gained the title 'Mama Miti,' or mother of trees...
  
  Mama Miti: Wangari Maathai and the Trees of Kenya is the fourth picture-book biography I have read of Maathai, following upon Claire A. Nivola's
  Planting the Trees of Kenya: The Story of Wangari Maathai, Jeanette Winter's
  Wangari's Trees of Peace: A True Story from Africa and Jen Cullerton Johnson and Sonia Lynn Sadler's
  Seeds of Change: Wangari's Gift to the World. I read these other books some years ago, in 2010 and 2011, when all of these titles were first being publishers, but somehow I never got to this one. I'm glad I've rectified that omission, as I think it is an inspiring and beautiful book. The narrative here is less of a biography proper, and more of a description of various women seeking Maathai's aid for various problems - sick goats, a lack of firewood, and so on - and her advice to each seeker, to plant trees. Fuller biographical details are given in the after matter. Kadir Nelson's artwork, done in oil paint and fabric, is boldly colorful and immensely striking - well worth seeking out, for its own sake. I don't know that this is a favorite, of the books I have read on this subject - I tend to prefer the Nivola, or the Johnson/Sadler - but it has undeniable worth. Recommended to young tree lovers and environmental activists, and to picture-book readers in the market for inspiring true stories.
• 
  Lisa Lathrop

  1) This inspiring non-fiction picture book is about Wangari Maathai, the Kenyan political activist who founded the Green Belt Movement in 1977. She in empowered rural women who had started reporting their streams were drying up, their food supply was diminishing and the animals were dying. Maathai's movement revived the country and brought it back to life. Wangari was an educated woman whose efforts pulled together Kenya for the common good and her efforts for peace and change won her the Novel Peace Prize in 2004. This poses a perfect Text to World situation as Mama Miti has done for Africa what Earth Day has done for American and our world. A possible Text to Text selection for Mama Miti could be "Fancy Nancy: Every Day Is Earth Day (I Can Read Book 1) by Nancy O'Connor. When Nancy learns that her teachers's motto is "Every day is Earth Day," Nancy tries to convert her parents to do everything the "green way." Little Nancy's theory is that when we all do our part to reduce, reuse and recycle, we can all help protect our planet for many years to come. The first Earth Day was founded in 1970 just seven years prior to Wangari Maathai winning the Nobel Peace Prize for teaching the people of Africa the ancient wisdom of peace with nature.
  
  2) Through this book, Mama Miti exposes children to the land of Kenya and the way of life during troubled times. Young Wangari was told stories of how Kenya was lush and beautiful prior to the sun shining brightly and the drought that resulted. Children who read this book, learn how one woman's idea can change a whole country. Remembering stories of the sacred fig tree and how it brought peace between the angry men, Wangari grew older, remember these beginnings, planted, and gave plants away for families do the same. Her efforts created a movement in Africa and that allowed the country to thrive and become at peace again. The message to young girls and boys everywhere is that even ONE person can affect change.
  
  3) Bloom's Taxonomy Questions:
  1 - Creating: What do you think would have happened if Wangari did not give trees away to women and their children?
  2 - Analyzing: Compare how trees became a sign of peace?
  3- Understanding: Explain why you think Wangari gave trees to others to plant?
  4 - Evaluate: what influence does Wangari Maathai (the mother of trees) have on us?
  5 - Remembering: - Why did Wangari learn to love and respect trees?
  6: - Applying - Do you know of any other instances where one person's actions inspire others to do the same thing and a movement grows?
• 
  Celeste

  Kadir Nelson's illustrations are gorgeous and it is worth flipping through this book just to drool over his paintings. The text, unfortunately, leaves much to be desired. While Donna Jo Napoli's prose is poetic, Mama Miiti reads more like a hagiography than a biography. Napoli reduces Wangari Maathai's highly political story to a heart-warming tale of one wise woman helping the poor village women who come to her beseeching aid.
  
  Mama Miti does not mention Wangari Maathai's university education, her conflicts with the police, or her arrests. The highly organized Greet Belt movement is reduced to the rather poetic but meaningless "A green belt of peace started with one good woman offering something we can all do: 'Plant a tree.'" Reading this book, you would have no idea that Wangari Maatahi organized women to plant trees in order to combat deforestation, empower Kenyan women, and work for sustainable development.
• 
  Krista the Krazy Kataloguer

  I didn't like Kadir Nelson's illustrations in this book as much as I've liked his illustrations for other books. However, the text was beautiful.
  Napoli worked in all the functions that trees have for humans as solutions to problems that women brought to her. Well done! The picture of Wangari as a child with the tadpoles is taken right out of her autobiography, Unbowed. Napoli also linked planting the trees with peace, although the message toward the end that Kenya was at peace wasn't true for a LONG time, despite Wangari's best efforts. Great book for kids, and adults should read her autobiography. Recommended!
• 
  R Waterfall

  Wangari Maathai is so inspiring and I love this picture book. Trees can have such a flourishing impact on the earth and this helped me remember the beautiful world we live in. The illustrations were unique and I loved the bright colors and earthy tones. Definitely recommend!
• 
  Sue Cowing

  Donna Jo Napoli has told the inspiring contemporary story of Wangari Maathai tree by tree, in the compelling, flawless rhythm of an old tale . Kadir Nelson's fabric collage illustrations deepen the glory of the text. Adult readers will be led to wonder at a true story of social and environmental renewal emerging from an area commonly thought to herald the next worst things in the future of the planet. Child readers will be strengthened in their inclination to believe that very small efforts can lead to big changes, even to peace, and will begin to think about what they can do. A beautiful book in every sense.
• 
  Sarah

  This isn't my favorite Kadir Nelson illustrated book, but I really liked the story and the illustrations together. Though one of the disappointments of this book and others like it is that it diminishes the achievements of the figure being biographied in order to make a point. Wangari seems like a figure who just knows from wisdom she has to plant trees for specific purposes. But in reality she went to school and had advanced degrees that helped her to spread her knowledge and to be listened to and respected as a knowledgeable figure.
• 
  Wendy Gardiner

  biography of 2004 Nobel Peace prize winner Wangari Muta Maathai. Gorgeous illustrations by Kadir Nelson. Terrific afterward that provides even more details about her amazing life. The book doesn't reveal the full complexity of her life or work, but it is a good introduction and is visually stunning. Author's note at end describes research process & provides links to gain additional knowledge. (I went back and forth between 3 & 4 stars, and the illustrations are what was the deciding factor).
• 
  Emily

  This is a well researched book with beautifully written prose focusing on the later part of Wangari's life. The illustrations are absolutely stunning and are reason enough to include this book in a collection. The combination of printed fabrics and oil paints give each picture such incredible texture and life.
• 
  Robyn Davis

  I absolutely love this book. It is a beautiful story of a strong African woman. It has big, beautiful pictures that students would enjoy. It also includes many words and phrases in Swahili, as well as a glossary in the back. A great way to introduce Kenyan culture into your classroom and to link to students from Kenya to help them feel validated.
• 
  John

  I've read three books about Wangari Maathai and each took a different angle. I like this one better than Seeds of Change and Wangari's Trees of Peace.
• 
  Molly Cluff (Library!)

  How have I never heard of this amazing environmentalist before?? I was gathering up books for Earth Day and found half a dozen on Wangari Maathai. This was very inspirational and brimming with care for community/country and hope for a thriving future as Wangari shares her knowledge of trees with people who come seeking her help. The illustration style was SO visually interesting. Excited to learn more about this amazing leader!
• 
  Moonkiszt

  Featured in a grandma reads session.
  
  Mama Miti has a mission, and that is to cover this world with trees. . .wherever she is, whoever she's with, she is planting trees. If a question is asked, the answer is to plant trees. Better air, better land, better for people, better for animals, better for all.
  
  We all will be planting trees in the coming year. . . .How 'bout you?
• 
  Jill

  Mama Miti tells the story of Wangari Muta Maathai, who just died on September 25, 2011. She was a Nobel Peace Laureate - the first African women to win the Nobel peace prize. In awarding Maathai the Nobel peace prize in 2004, the Nobel committee said that her "unique forms of action have contributed to drawing attention to political oppression – nationally and internationally."
  
  Maathai was the first woman in east and central Africa to obtain a PhD. She was also the first woman professor the University of Nairobi, where she taught veterinary medicine and eventually became head of the faculty.
  
  While serving on the National Council of Women of Kenya, she became dedicated to helping with the struggles of women in rural Kenya. Noticing how the rapid environmental degradation was affecting women's lives, she encouraged them to plant trees to ensure future supplies of firewood and to protect water sources and crops. To that end, she founded the Green Belt Movement in 1977, which led to the planting of more than thirty million trees.
  
  Maathai's agenda widened as she joined efforts to stop powerful politicians grabbing land, especially forests. This brought her into conflict with the authorities, and she was beaten and arrested numerous times. Her bravery and defiance made her a hero in Kenya.
  
  Napoli’s book was written in 2010, before Maathai’s passing. It focuses on the way “Wangari changed a country, tree by tree. She taught her people the ancient wisdom of peace with nature….She is known these days as Mama Miti – the mother of trees.”
  
  Napoli’s prose is spare but beautiful, and conveys the struggles of women to survive in a harsh environment. But it is the amazing oil and fabric collage illustrations of Kadir Nelson that make this book exceptional. Bright and beautiful, each one could grace anyone’s wall at home.
  
  An Afterword gives the facts of Maathai’s life, a list of further resources, and a glossary of African words and phrases used in the text.
  
  Evaluation: This is a book that will inspire all ages. Highly recommended.
  
  Rating: 4.5/5
  
• 
  Pamela

  Mama Miti by Donna Jo Napoli
  This entry was posted on March 5, 2013, in Africa, Earth Day, Education, Picture Books, Teaching and tagged bookreview #kidlit, earthday, kidlit, picture books, YA. Bookmark the permalink. Leave a comment (Edit)
  
  
  I came across this gem during a search for books illustrated by Kadir Nelson. I was planning a study of his work as my Black History Month theme this year. As usual, Nelson’s illustrations are absolutely amazing. But the story of “Mama Miti” is also a wonderful tale of the work of Wangari Muta Maathai.
  
  Wangari Maathai was the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Maathai received parts of her education in the US and Germany. As the book states, “she never forgot her roots.” She is Kenyan and started the “Green Belt Movement,” a national grassroots organization fighting the deforestation of Kenya in 1976. Her work calling for a peaceful co-existence between Kenyans and nature landed her in prison in 1991. She was elected to Kenyan’s parliament in 2002 and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004.
  
  “Mama Miti” means the mother of trees. The story Napoli weaves in this beautiful tale is a lovely tale of peace and prosperity through the simple act of planting trees. The story also includes some Kikuyu words and phrases, which are fun to teach to elementary and middle school students. Although I found this book during Black History Month, it fits in well with Women’s History AND Earth Day activities. The lessons of “thayu nyumba” (peace, my people) and “harambee” ( pulling together for the common good) are appropriate any day, and everyday
  
• 
  Judy Desetti

  This title was okay but only as a backup of additional info to last year's WAW title Planting the trees of Kenya : the story of Wangari Maathai
  Planting the Trees of Kenya: The Story of Wangari Maathai I thought Planting the Trees of Kenya was better information and had more depth to the story.
  
  Second reading:
  I liked this story and it would be great to pair with
  
  Planting the Trees of Kenya: The Story of Wangari Maathai
  Planting the Trees of Kenya: The Story of Wangari Maathai
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 
  Amy Jewell

  1.) Text-to-world connection: A text to world connection I found when reading this book is that something as easy as planting a tree or a plant can provide so much-food/drink/shelter. It is wonderful that the woman in this book, Mama Miti, was able to promote gardening and planting throughout her country.
  
  2.) I feel that this is a culturally specific children's book. The story is a true story about woman, Wangari Maathai (Mama Miti) that lives in Kenya. All of the individuals portrayed in the story are people of color. The people are wearing clothing customarily warn in Kenya. In addition there are many words used in throughout the book in Kikuyu (Mama Miti's language she speaks in Kenya) and there is a glossary found at the end of the book, detailing what each of the words mean.
  
  3.) Remembering: What are two things that Mama Miti said a tree could provide?
  Understanding: Can you summarize the story?
  Applying: How is Kenya similar to America?
  Analyzing: What motive is there for planting trees?
  Evaluating: What is your opinion of the story of Mama Miti and why do you feel that way?
  Creating: What do you predict will happen to all of the new trees planted in Kenya?
  
• 
  Whole And

  More stars please! An astounding telling of part of Wangari Muta Maathai's life works, her contribution to individuals within her country, her country as a whole and to all the rest of the world. Planting trees specific to the needs of each individual seeking her wisdom not only helped the poor but re-greened Kenya, brought back the water cycle and is repairing the home we all share, our precious planet. Although other brilliant books have been written about Wangari, here you will find a real intimacy created for the reader.
  
  Beautifully illustrated, the images will make you feel you are right there, with Mama Miti (mother of trees) and the people who sought her advice. You will feel the global impact as well, the risks Wangari took (being jailed several times) to do what was right and you be nourished by her unstoppable spirit.
  
  This juicy yet rich telling can be the foundation for deep discussions with little people and uncover a genuine gratitude for what we have in 'richer' nations and for the undeniably important work of Mama Miti. It might even spark a bit of investigating as to which trees do what.
  
  An important book about an important person.
  Well. Done.
• 
  kate and lexi

  Mama Miti is a children's book that explains how one woman changed a nation by restoring ecosystems and how that helped everyday people. Wangari Maathai, the Kenyan activist who became the first woman to will the Nobel Peace Prize for her work with the Green Belt Movement, makes an excellent subject. The oil paintings and collage illustrations by Kadir Nelson are beautiful and striking, they seem to make a faraway world more real to readers, integrating African textiles and motifs.
  
  In addition to the illustrations, the cadence and language also bring the Kenyan culture to life. Kenya is one of the African countries my children feel most connected to, and they were so excited to have a book set there, but I think any child would enjoy it. With so much environmental rhetoric seeming to come from one type of person, this book is a good way to show the way the people of the world needs to work together to protect the earth for future generations. This book would be a great read to share for Earth Day or Arbor Day, or when studying Africa.
• 
  Angie

  Really I would give the illustrations a five and the text a three. Since I can't do that, I went with the average.
  
  The text ... seemed a little dry for a picture book. Which is kind of sad, because as it turns out it is quite an important story. I had never heard of her before but after reading some of the "afterword" she seems like a really interesting person who has done amazing things.
  
  Kadir Nelson's artwork is very different in this one compared to some of his others but I still LOVED it. The different textures just really made different parts of the pictures stand out.
  
  Tried to get teachers to help me plan an illustrator study for February. Didn't get much response so I'm having to go at it a different route with some short sound/video bites on the morning announcements. This one will definitely get some mention. Don't know what, yet, but some mention!
• 
  Desiree

  Mama Miti is a gorgeous picture book that tells the story of Wangari Maathai the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Wangari developed a love of trees at an early age. As a woman she was respected for her knack for growing things. Village women would come to her for advice and help. Wangari’s advice always lead to the planting of more trees. Kadir Nelson is the illustrator for this book. The illustrations are a wonderful mixed media collage of printed fabric and oil paintings. The color choices are so vibrant that they draw the eye sometimes away from the text. One possible extension activity would be planting a Dixie cup garden. Students could pick a plant and research what is needed for the plant to survive. Another possible extension activity would be having students research conservations in regards to the timber industry.
• 
  Dolly

  This is an amazing story, filled with practical common sense, a lyrical narrative and gorgeous illustrations. The story is a simple one, with repetitive elements and a short enough length that will keep the attention of younger listeners. It has a flowing and enchanting chant embedded within the tale that is soothing and helps reinforce the feeling that this is an oral history being passed down. And the illustrations are simply wonderful, extensively using fabric remnants to create simple, yet beautiful images. And the best part is that this story is about a real person, a true inspiration and role model for young people, especially young women, everywhere. I highly recommend this book!
• 
  Whirl Girl

  Out of all the Wangari Maathai picture books that I read, this was my favorite. Many of the others were more biographical, but this one focused on the individual difference that Maathai made in the lives of Kenyan women. It was also the one that The Whirl Girl best understood. I was amazed to see how well she grasped the concept of women not having enough money or food or housing, and how Maathai helped them. The refrain of "plant a tree" stuck with her also. When we made a donation to Maathai's organization, it was this book that served as inspiration. The illustrations are stunning, using an amazing combination of African fabric and oil paintings.