by Rosemary McCarney with Plan International
Second Story Press, 2014
ISBN 978-1-927583-31-9
$18.95, 32 pp, ages 8+
secondstorypress.ca
“Dear Malala, … We are raising our hands with you as you represent all of us.”
Photos from around the world (Peru, Niger, Kenya, India, Myanmar, Liberia, Brazil, Germany and more) accent this heartfelt open letter to Malala in which girls express their support for the cause of barrier-free education for all children. Beginning with a brief note about Malala and explaining that these girls haven’t met her, but still see her as a leader and a friend, the letter then outlines ways girls are prevented from receiving an education in various countries, and concludes with a cry for solidarity. The brief preface and postscript, combined with detailed jacket liner notes, complete this text, making it a strong stand-alone resource or a complement to studies about Malala, global gender-inequalities, or education as a quality of life indicator.
Classroom Connections: This picture book is perfect for a whole class read-aloud or shared reading. Every page and photo is an opportunity for teacher and students to ask questions to help children go deeper into the unwritten message in each image. Using the clues in the words and photo layouts, children will be able to infer important messages, particularly the similarities and differences between their own lives and the lives of Malala and the other girls pictured. The ultimate goal of this book is to help teach children about unjust structures in the world and encourage them to think about the value of education and the richness of their own daily lives. There are many ways that students can transform their thinking and their global involvement after reading this book. Reading Comprehension Strategies: asking questions, inferring, transforming.
Review by Amanda Forbes.
This review is from Canadian Teacher Magazine’s Sept/Oct 2015 issue.