Elizabeth Insignares East Carolina University READ 3302-650 Literature Circle Text Set September 8, 2012

Seeds of Change Text Set

This text set was compiled to complement Jen Cullerton Johnsons Seeds of Change. This is the story about Wangari Maathai, a young girl of the Kikuyu Tribe of Kenya who, against all odds, grew up to become a biologist, humanitarian, and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for her work towards improving quality of life in third world countries by planting trees and encouraging others to do the same. After reading the story several times to gain a greater perspective I first looked in my own personal resource library where I found The Great Kapoke Tree and The Giving Tree both fictional stories about the relationship between trees and other creatures (including humans). Then I moved on to my local library The Hocutt-Ellington Library of Clayton. There I focused on finding non-fiction/informational texts on Kenya: Welcome to Kenya is a book filled with many candid and panoramic photographs which gives a holistic look at life in Kenya including urban and rural areas (such as those depicted in The Seeds of Change), government and economy, a detailed map, and quick facts. A Primary Source Guide to Kenya is also adorned with many photographs. This books focus is on the Kenyan culture: the land, arts, and the kinship among its people a reflection of the kinship shared between Wangari and her people. Highlights Top Secret Adventures: Guide to Kenya is a geographic guide to Kenya and all of its regions this book gives a greater understanding of the different regions mentioned in Seeds of Change. In addition I also chose the Kenya ABCs which is an alphabet book about the people and places of Kenya. Although it is an ABC book, it is filled with fun facts about Kenya both geographically and culturally.

Elizabeth Insignares East Carolina University READ 3302-650 Literature Circle Text Set September 8, 2012

In addition to the Kenya-focused books I also chose several books on trees, since that was Wangaris initial source of inspiration (the mugumo tree). Although I would have like to find a book about that particular tree, I did not. Instead, I found a book about the African Baobab Tree called Tree of Life. This beautifully illustrated informational text tells all about the African Baobab and about the many creatures that depend on it for food and shelter, as well as its cultural influence among the locals. I also chose for this set the Cycle of Life book Trees which illustrates the life cycle of trees in general as well as their impact on the environment (why it was so important to plant trees in Seeds of Change in order to improve the quality of life so significantly altered by logging), and While a Tree was Growing which connects the longevity of trees to the many events that occurred throughout the trees existence. The Text Set Books: Bash, B. (2000). Tree of life. Houghton Mifflin: Boston, MA This book is about the African Baobab tree and about the many creatures that depend on it for food, shelter, as well as its cultural influence among the locals. 4th reading level Informational text appropriate for mid-upper elementary. Bosveld, J. (1997). American Museum of Natural History: While a tree was growing Workman Publishing Company: New York, NY This is the story of a Giant Sequoia tree sprouted over three thousand years ago. The book tells about all of the historical and natural events that took place throughout its lifetime.

Elizabeth Insignares East Carolina University READ 3302-650 Literature Circle Text Set September 8, 2012

5th reading level Non-fiction/historical text appropriate for mid-upper elementary. Cherry, L. (1990). The great kapoke tree. Scholastic Inc. New York, NY This is fictional story of how the many creatures that depend on a Great Kapoke tree in the Amazon rain forest rally together to convince a logger not to cut the tree down. It is beautifully illustrated, and while at first the creatures are camouflaged within the tapestry of the illustrations, they come out of hiding as the story progresses, until at the end of the story you can clearly see how many creatures live in and around the tree. 3rd reading level Fictional text appropriate for 2nd/3rd grade readers, as well as earlier grades. Derr, V., Ngcheong-Lum, R. (2000). Welcome to Kenya. Gareth Stevens Publishing; Milwaukee, WI Welcome to Kenya is filled with vibrant photographs and a detailed look at Kenya, including its history, the people and their culture, as well as many interesting quick facts about Kenya. 5th reading level Informational text appropriate for mid-upper elementary. Heiman, S. (2003). Kenya ABCs. Picture Window Books: Minneapolis, MN For each letter of the alphabet readers can find a different reference to Kenya. From Swahili words, to animals, trees, and culinary fare this book is a collection of random Kenyan fun-facts in alphabetical order.

Elizabeth Insignares East Carolina University READ 3302-650 Literature Circle Text Set September 8, 2012

3th reading level Informational text appropriate for 2nd/3rd grade elementary. Johnson, J. C. (2010). Seeds of change. Lee & Low Books Inc.: New York, NY This is the story of Wangasi Maathai. It starts with her childhood inspiration and admiration of the mugumo tree and the very land she grew up on, following her story from early educational experiences to her unprecedented appointment as the first female professor at the University of Nairobi. From there it tells how distraught she was over the effects of big business on the landscape and quality of life of her beloved homeland, which inspired her to found the Green Belt organization, in which she and others like her planted trees throughout Kenya and encouraged others to do the same. 4th reading level non-fiction/biography appropriate for mid-upper elementary. Levy, J. (2003). A primary source guide to Kenya. The Rosen Publishing Group: New York, NY This source guide to Kenya offers an in-depth, yet easy-to-follow, look at Kenyas land and it culture. It is beautifully accentuated with photographs of both historical events and modern-day geographic attributes. 4th reading level Informational text appropriate for mid-upper elementary. Marshall, D. (1996). Top secret guide to Kenya. Highlights for Children; Colombus, OH This guide to Kenya offers a comprehensive look at Kenya, including the geographic attributes specific to each region, its culture, and the local flora and

Elizabeth Insignares East Carolina University READ 3302-650 Literature Circle Text Set September 8, 2012

fauna. 5th reading level Informational text appropriate for upper elementary and/or middle school. Ruiz, A. L. (1996). Trees. Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.: New York, NY Trees follows a trees life cycle from seedling to full-grown tree. It is elaborately illustrated and offers connections to a trees impact on its natural environment. 6th reading level Informational text appropriate for upper elementary and/or middle school. Silverstein, S. (1964). The giving tree. HarperCollins Childrens Books: New York, NY This is a story of unconditional love. It is about a tree whose sole purpose in life is to provide for a boy, but the boy takes all that he receives for granted. 2nd reading level Fiction appropriate for early grades.