Seeds of Change

Uplifting, Titillating, Harmonious, Enchanting, Efficacious

Seeds of Change by Jen Cullerton Johnson

Illustrated by Sonia Lynn Sadler Copyright 2010

Published by Lee & Low Books Inc. 

Coretta Scott King John Steptoe Award for New Talent 2011 &&
 The Newton Marasco Foundation's 2011 Green Earth Honor Book Award

"It's the little things citizens do. That's what will make the difference. My little thing is planting trees." Wangari Maathai

 As a young child, Wangari was taught to respect and love nature. Wangari wanted to learn even more about the world, and unlike most Kenyan girls, she was able to go to school.  After elementary school, she wanted to do more. So Wangari packed her bags, said goodbye to the mugumo trees, her village and her family. In the United States, she excelled in science, wanting to become a biologist. While discovering the differences between America and Kenya, her dream of becoming a biologist came true. Wangari graduated from college and went to Pennsylvania to continue her education. After, Wangari returned home and continued to educate women and fight for their rights. The new government was destroying the Kenya land and earth that she loved. Wangari gathered her family and friends and started planting trees. Though Wangari struggled through this, in 2004, she won the Nobel Peace Prize. She was the first environmentalist and African women to be awarded with such a prize. 

Reading Level: Grades 4/5 Lexile 820L
Suggested Delivery: This book could be used as a read aloud to facilitate a discussion about the environment, or could be used small group read for more advanced readers.
Extras: On the back of the jacket there is information about the author and illustrator, and the end pages include information about Wangari Maathai and the true story of her Nobel Peace Prize.  


Teachers, here are some resources that might help you teach Seeds of Change...
Key Vocabulary: Here are some vocabulary words that might need to be taught before reading the book: mugumo, ancestors, millet, arrowroot, nourishment, skyscrapers, photosynthesis, acacia, maize, sneered, petri dishes, cells, government, foreign, abundant, saplings, plantations, ambassadors, democracy, parliament, minister, prestigious, environmentalist, persistence 

Electronic Resources: 

• NobelPeacePrizeBibliography: On this site you can read about Wangari Maathai and her journey throughout her lifetime. There is information about her Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 and all the campaigns and interesting things she has accomplished. This website is great for post reading.
•  JenCullertonJohnson: After reading, on the authors website you can read a summary of Seeds of Change, information about Jen, information about schools and visits, as well as many reviews from different publishers and companies. 
•  Lee&LowBooks: After reading, on the publishers website you can read an interview with the two authors as they answer questions about Seeds of Change.  

Activities for Students:

• Before Reading: Tell children to look at the cover and make predictions about what they think the book will be about. Why do you think its called "Seeds of Change"? What do you think that means? Has anyone ever planted seeds before? What kind of things grow from seeds?
• During Reading: Ask children about other cultures and how other places do things different from the United States. Does every place in the world do the same exact things? What are some different things that each culture does? Discuss different cultures within the room and different things each family does that may not be like other families. Invite the children to fill out a Venn Diagram of similarities and differences from Kenya and the United States as they read. 
• Post Reading: Direct children to try to uncover the message behind the book. So what do you think this book was trying to tell us? What was Wangari trying to do in the book? How come the government men in the book were trying to stop her? How does this relate to us and our world today? On a piece of paper, write a couple paragraphs answering these questions. 

"We might not change the big world but we can change the landscape of the forest." --Wangari

Johnson, J. C., & Sadler, S. L. (2010). Seeds of change: planting a path to peace. New York: Lee & Low Books.