Malala: Activist for Girls' Education

This is an uplifting retelling of the trials and triumphs of Malala's life so far. Beautiful illustrations accompany a flowing text that gives an accurate retelling of the events that led to Malala's career in social justice, her assassination attempt, and her Nobel prize. Following a storybook-style part one is a brief nonfiction section offering more detail on her life and the lives of influential figures who helped shape her worldview. Highly recommended for individuals and libraries.

A children's picture book about the life of Malala Yousafzai.

When the Taliban took over Malala's community and closed her school, she did not stay silent. She used her voice to advocate for the right of all children to receive an education. Because of her activism, a Taliban operative attempted to assassinate her when she was only 15 years old. It was a hard battle, but Malala recovered and remained steadfast in her convictions. Malala continues to speak out for the rights of children everywhere. At seventeen, she became the youngest-ever recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.

I've read Malala's autobiography, so I was already familiar with her story. This children's picture book is a very good summation of the events. The illustrations are painterly and the colors are vibrant. At the end are a few pages of in-depth information, including a timeline, regional history, short biographies about people who inspired Malala, and some of her quotes.

Malala: Activist for Girls' Education is an inspiring book that teaches children the importance of education for everyone and standing up for what you believe in. If you would like a more detailed account of Malala's life, you might like I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World. There is also a Young Reader's Edition.

This book is gorgeous. The colorful artwork is beautiful, and Malala's inspiring story is told in language that older children will understand. After the story there are photographs and some background information. This book would be perfect for classrooms or family reading.

This handsomely designed, informative picture book biography of Malala provides much for young readers to think about: freedom of ideas, the right of all children to an education, freedom from fear and oppression and more. The unique, expressive illustrations add information, dignity, and beauty to this superior retelllng of Malala's story. Extensive back matter extends the reader's understanding still further.

This book HAS to win awards. It just has to. It’s perfect, from the writing to illustrations to the information in the back.

This is a most excellent picture book about a topic that most kids might not know they want to know about, that of the Taliban and education for girls. The book explains, in very simple language about Malala's life, and what lead up to her assassination attempt by the Taliban, for wanting education for girls. I knew the basic story, but didn't know about her online blog, which made her famous before she was shot.

Beautifully illustrated, with bright colors, sure to appeal to children. There is even more information at the back of the book that gives more details about her life up to and including the Nobel Peach Prize.


Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

I thought this was a great book about Malala Yousafazi. It had lots of great information about her life and her work. I thought the art work was lovely. I really liked the notes at the end that gave short pieces of information about notable figures that influenced Malala as well as information about the work she's doing now. I think my students will love this one.

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Most people are familiar with Malala and his story. Raphaële Frier brings her story to young readers in Malala: Activist for Girls’ Education, beautifully illustrated by Aurèlia Fronty. I always like to come across biographies for children written in a picture book format. Not only do I think this makes biographies available to children not quite ready for chapter books, but I believe it helps them to better understand places and times that are different from their own. Children are familiar with picture books, and this familiarity encourages them to read biographies.
Malala: Activist for Girls’ Education is well written and deals with some heavy subjects. Explaining the Taliban and why they wanted to kill a child just because she encouraged girls to go to school is not an easy thing to do. Frier does a good job though, and always keeps his audience’s age in mind. Aurèlia Fronty’s illustrations are beautiful, and are the perfect addition to a beautiful story. I can’t wait to see them in person.
At the end of Malala: Activist for Girls’ Education is more of Malala’s story, pictures, quotes, and resources for more information. This set up makes the book a perfect resource for students working on a report.

This is a gorgeously illustrated book about Malala Yousafzai, the girl who was shot by the Taliban for speaking up about girls' rights to education. As a plus, there is some nice historical context at the end including a map of Pakistan. I think this would be good for kids around 4th grade or so, though most would probably have to have an adult explain some of the ideas presented as I doubt many elementary aged children keep up with issues in the Middle East.

"With guns you can kill terrorist; with education you can kill terrorism."

"We can fight against war through dialogue, peace and education."

I would like to thank netgalley and Charlesbridge for the opportunity to read this book.
This is a beautifully illustrated children's book that concerns the life of Malala. I learned so much I never knew about her while reading this and would recommend it to everybody be they child or adult.

(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

Malala Yousafzai stood up to the Taliban and fought for the right for all girls to receive an education. When she was just fifteen-years old, the Taliban attempted to kill Malala, but even this did not stop her activism. At age eighteen Malala became the youngest person to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her work to ensure the education of all children around the world.
Malala's courage and conviction will inspire young readers in this beautifully illustrated biography.


What an impressively put-together book. The first 2/3 of this beautifully illustrated book is a biography of Malala, written with young children in mind. It doesn't shy away from the terrible actions of groups within Pakistan, nor does it hide behind "nice" words for abhorrent actions. It is a very precise biography - basically giving an overview of where she lived, the assassination attempt and the work this brave young woman has been doing ever since.

But the best part, for me, was what followed. Knowing that this is aimed at younger children, it has a few additional "chapters" at the end: Malala's country and people; the situation of education for girls in Pakistan (or should I say "lack of education"); her religion; and her inspirations. These sections add some real depth to understanding the situation and the young woman herself.

Added to all that is the gorgeous illustrations. Weaving together the story as it plays out, any young ready couldn't help but be drawn into the lives of these people and the terrible situations that are happening there...but in the end, the brightness and energy that comes through is a reflection of Malala herself.

Fantastic work - hugely impressive!


Paul
ARH

This was a nice little book that introduces children to Malala, who she is, what she stands for and what her life is about. Malala is very brave and her story empowers young girls to stand up for their rights and what they believe in even when it is not easy.

Very nicely illustrated, written in simple terms that will appeal to children and help teach them about things that are not easy to talk about. This book is also a reminder to our children that the things they may take for granted are not available to other children in the world. It can open up discussions on many levels about many world issues.

Highly recommended for all children, especially little girls.

Malala: Activist for Girls' Education is the second children's book I have read about Malala Yousafzai. It is, for the most part, beautifully illustrated. The artist has a great eye for colors and patterns that draw the eye and help hold young children's (and flighty adults) attention to the page. They are clear enough that even if a child cannot read well, the pictures may be able to help them understand what is going on.

The story of Malala is one that most people know at this point. A brave young girl and her father dared to take a stand against the restrictions imposed by traditions and religion. As a result, Malala ends up getting shot in the head. Luckily, she survived, and her ordeal not only drew worldwide attention, but helped to propel her and her activism even further into the public eye. Malala is a gorgeous young woman who is driven to help disadvantaged young girls and women across the world. She knows what is important, and she’s doing everything that she can to change it. She’s also a gifted speaker that can put things very clearly into terms that anyone can understand.

The author did a solid job of telling the story of Malala, too. He clearly lays out her brief history, highlighting all the important points without going into too much detail. At the back of the book, after all the illustrations and the story is over, he has included more information about the young activist in a way that will appeal to older readers. This is perhaps a perfect addendum for adults who have read the simple story to their children and want to know more. This includes a timeline, information about Pakistan, the Pashtun People, etc. He educates readers about the status of girls and their ability to go to school, Malala’s take on religion, her influences, and ends with some of her best known quotes.

Overall, this is a good book that clearly communicates the information about Malala Yousafzai for both younger and older readers. The combination of illustrations in the beginning and the mostly black and white photos in the back provide a range of visual stimulation. It is well-written, enjoyable, and educational.

" Calling Malala as a 'Braveheart' would be a mere understatement, for she is the most boldest girl the world has ever seen. "
This particular book is best suited for young kids who wants to learn or get to know about who Malala is and also about the hardships,pain that she underwent. The illustrations would surely pique a kid's interest to read more about her story. It gives a clear, crisp account of the events and happenings that took place in Malala's life and how it shaped her character and attitude towards the world around her, in a simple language.
It's a book that i would definitely encourage young readers of today to read. :)

Malala: Activist for Girls' Education is first and foremost a biography of Malala to her 18th birthday. A familiar, gently moving, picture-book presents Malala's experiences. Particularly striking are the pages that illustrate the attempt on her life - presented in a way that is appropriate for grade schoolers and yet very true to the reality of Malala's situation - and her recovery. The colors are vibrant and the textures add a life to the imagery. After the narrative are photographs and more detailed information about Malala, the people who inspire her, and the incredible movement she has inspired herself. A map, timeline, and many photographs supplement the information. Malala: Activist for Girls' Education focuses on the positive but doesn't shy away from the reality of women's education; it presents the information in a way that is understandable for younger children but mature enough for later grade schoolers. The book should have broad appeal for public and school libraries, as well as for families looking to expand their own horizons.

I have read various books about Malala Yousafzai and I liked this version of the story. Raphaële Frier has written this story to appeal to young readers and it is beautifully illustrated by Aurèlia Fronty. Malala: Activist for Girls’ Education must deal with some heavy and dark situations but manages to do so without being too dark or violent.Explaining the Taliban and why they wanted to kill a child just because she encouraged girls to go to school is not an easy thing to do. The highlights of her life are dealt with in some detail with more information at the end of the book. It is well written for a young audience. The illustrations are wonderful. The colours are vivid and bright and depict a happy life before the evil of the Taliban. The photographs at the end of the book showing Malala and others at various events gives a more realistic view for those who want to follow up with more research and resources.

This is a great biography for children presented as a picture book. It is wonderful to see books like this to introduce young children to non-fiction books and this topic should appeal to many of them. Learning that a free education is rare and not available in many countries might surprise them, learning that a child almost lost her life to get an education is shocking. This is a book that should be in every public and school library.

Gorgeous illustrations and well-written, evocative text make for a winning combination in this picture book about Malala's life and work, which also includes informational material at the back. Highly recommended!

This is an advance review copy for which I thank the publisher.

On National Wonder Woman Day I'm not going to get into the dire gender politics and hypocrisy of a UN which proclaims a woman's day whilst rejecting a bunch of female candidates for secretary general, but it seems only right we should celebrate the spirit of this day by looking at a real-life wonder woman. Back in August of 2015 I positively reviewed I am Malala, and this version of her story, aimed at a much younger audience, is a worthy read, too. It zeroes in on the facts of her life, what she did, what happened to her, and how she survived, without going into exhausting detail. The images are colorful and enticing, and bring the reader into the story, which is an important one, and a potentially tragic one which fortunately had a happy ending.

This book even looked good on a smart phone, with the images large and the text legible. It tells of Malala's early childhood, and the conditions in which she lived, which deteriorated dramatically after an earthquake that idiotic religious flakes decided was some god's wrath! You’d have to be a complete and utter moron to worship a god which is as capricious and childish as that, and you would have to be criminally fraudulent to try to argue that this god generates cruel earthquakes, but this is the kind of extremists these people are, and this is what they were promoting. They take power not because they are right, or respected, or admired, or favored by the majority, but because they can get guns and threaten people. These are no disciples of any god of love.

Malala was lucky in having a family which supported educating girls, but the Taliban fears women, and detests equality. They're not the only whack-jobs who do so. There are many nations where women are treated in this same way, although 'treated' is a bad choice of word to describe it. Not all of these nations are condemned as they should be. Some are close allies of the USA. These people have no concept of fun and relaxation, and none of equality or parity. They are control freaks and bullies who fear women garnering any sort of power for themselves, and they started bullying everyone, not just women, but women in particular. People like this are so disempowered that they can only be 'men' when they have 'their women' as the phrase goes: barefoot, pregnant, and in the kitchen - and uneducated in order to keep them that way. This is something my wife joked about some years ago when she was actually barefoot, pregnant, and in the kitchen! It’s no joke when it’s real life though.

Malala started a blog to speak out about the problems they faced, and she soon became a local spokeswoman and representative. The Tailiban were pushed back but not far enough, and when they resurged, they cracked down just as hard, and they decided that this little girl was emasculating them. They proved this to be actually true when the only response they could engender was to shoot her three times, but she proved stronger than they, and she resurged herself to become a more effective opponent of their bruitality and cluelessness than ever she had been before. This is an important story which needs to be heard, and children are never too young to start hearing about female heroes. This little book is a great start. I recommend it.

"Malala grows up with the smell of notebooks in the air"
Every child should know who and what Malala has done, and continues to do: being a symbol of peace and of the right to learn. I admire her deeply and I highly recommend this book for children to get acquainted with a true role model.

A beautifully illustrated biography telling the story of Malala Yousafzai, who stood up to the Taliban and fought for the right for all girls to receive an education.

Malala: Activist for Girls' Education is a beautifully illustrated biography for young readers. The courage and conviction of this young woman will inspire young readers - girls and boys - to find their voice and boldly speak up for others. This account of Malala's life does not shy away from the horrible actions taken against her or her people. It is a bold and precise account. By telling Malala's story, it calls attention to the inhumane actions that were (and still are) taking place, as well as encourages us all that we can do something.

An added bonus to this book are a couple of "chapters" at the end. These include information about Malala's country; the situation of education for girls in Pakistan; her religion; and her inspirations. Not only do these sections of the book offer more information, they provide a certain depthness of understanding to the cultural context of this brave, young woman.

In short, this is an incredible book, available February 2017, worthy of any library or classroom.

An incredible book that tells about the life of Malala in detail. In addition to the wonderful text, the illustrations were gorgeous.This book also had a great addition in the back of more information on Malala which makes it a great biography to use with older kids.

Excellent biography of a powerful woman who blossomed from a very brave girl. A great way to get the conversation going, and inspire others to speak out. I recommend this for older children and young adults. The story not only speaks of Malala's life, but her dreams, her inspirations, and all that she has and wishes to accomplish.

As soon as I was presented with this book I saw a visual festival of colour through the delightful illustrations by the talented Aurelia Fronty. The colours and style of the illustrations told a story within a story, giving the reader an understanding of the joy in Malala's life despite the dark times and was an important addition to the authors words.

Frier sensitively presented Malala's story to a young audience and captured the bravery, strength and determination of one young girls belief in basic human rights. As I read the information I found that the book was respectful to Malala's beliefs and culture and gave an accurate portrayal of her life. The book was the right length for a young audience and the addition of more factual and time line information at the conclusion of the book was the perfect addition for the reader that wants more information.

I highly recommend this book.

An inspiration to all who read this, especially young girls.

Stunning illustrations punctuate one of the most inspiring stories of a brave young woman whose eloquent words have given voice to millions of girls around the world who demand and deserve an education.

This was a beautiful and powerful story. It almost made me cry. It is a story about Malala, a girl in Afghanistan, and she enjoys her ability to go to school. The Taliban take over the area, and she is not able to go to school anymore. She still fights for her right for education though with her blog and by speaking about it publicly in conferences. When she is given the National Malala Peace Prize, the Taliban target her, and attempt to assassinate her. She survives, and moves to England where she is safe. She is able to continue her education and speak for the right to a fair education on behalf of girls and boys worldwide. Her main focus is girls though. She receives the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts and what she does. Malala is not able to go back to Afghanistan because of her fight for education for girls.
This book is accompanied by beautiful illustrations to go with the story, and photographs of Malala later in the book. It has a biography of Malala so that the children can learn about the history of all that she has done, her inspirations, and her impact.
I would highly recommend this book to school libraries and classrooms.

The youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize earned this award and world-wide acclaim through her activism in support of girls’ rights to education. Starting at age eleven, she began a courageous public battle against the Taliban and their destruction of girls’ schools in Pakistan. Malala: Activist for Girls’ Education, depicts Malala’s background and family support, her bravery in the face of Taliban violence, and her continuing efforts to bring light on rights’ issues for girls and women in particular, but including all downtrodden people.

The artwork is an essential part of this book, providing colorful symbolic images. At the end of the book there is a helpful timeline of events in Malala’s life as well as photographs of her. There is an added useful feature for parents and teachers who want to extend the study with information on Pakistan, education in Pakistan and the world, and Malala’s religion and inspiration. There are also brief discussions of other peacemakers: Gandhi, Mandela, and King. This section includes quotes from Malala as well as a listing of other sources of information about Malala including links to various important speeches she has made.

Teachers will find Malala: Activist for Girls’ Education a valuable teaching resource. It empowers both children and women to stand up for what is right and summarizes the religious and historical context in a way that is understandable and appropriate for children. This book could be used as an integral tool in many curricular units as well as to provoke thoughtful discussion by itself.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Charlesbridge Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Younger Readers, Biography

Notes: recommended for ages 6-9
10 inches X 10 inches
48 pages
originally published in French

Publication: Charlesbridge Publishing--February 7, 2017

Memorable Lines:

One child, one teacher, one pen, and one book can change the world.

“Dear sisters and brothers, we realize the importance of light when we see darkness. We realize the importance of our voice when we are silenced. In the same way, when we were in Swat, the north of Pakistan, we realized the importance of pens and books when we saw the guns.”--Malala

“The extremists are afraid of books and pens. With guns you can kill terrorists; with education you can kill terrorism.”--Malala

This is a great book for all ages. From all I can find, it is classified for grades 1-4 and ages 6-9. Let me clarify that I gave this a PG rating due to the violence against Malala Yousafzai and others. Not all kids are emotionally ready to read this on their own so it’s always a good idea for a parent or teacher to read these types of books before handing them over to the kids.

What a wonderful book for a teacher to read to a class. There are many words and circumstances younger children will not understand that present perfect teaching opportunities. From what I could see (unfortunately I read this on a Kindle paperwhite so I did not get to view the whole scope of the illustrations and photographs) it is a beautiful book. The first half has Malala’s story and wonderful illustrations to help draw the kids in. The last half is more facts on Malala (who is her inspiration, awards she’s won, etc.) with photos of her and her family.

This is a book that could help younger kids start to understand that it’s okay to stand up for what they believe in even if it’s not the norm. It’s a wonderful book for older kids to spark their interest in Malala’s story. Listed at the end are other books, videos, and websites where they can continue to learn more about Malala and what she stands for.

I will definitely be recommending this to my teacher friends and my younger nieces. It seems especially relevant right now. I would strongly recommend going with the hardcover book instead of the Kindle edition to greater appreciate all this book has to offer.

If you select only one book about Malala for young readers, make it this one. This is a clear, straightforward presentation of facts. It is not so harsh as to become disturbing (no grim details) but does not soften reality (the narration states very plainly that Malala was shot, with bullets striking her head and neck). Young readers will learn a lot from the main text and much more from the afterward which has loads of cultural and historical information as well as resources for learning even more. With eye-catching illustrations as well, it's an all around win.

I honestly can't think of a single flaw in this book. It's perfect. From the incredibly inspiring story, to the incredible art. I really hope a lot of kids will pick up this book, and fall in love with it like I did.

From page 42 " Malala was named after Malalai, the greatest Afghan heroine." Malala truly lived up to her name. This is a beautiful and inspiring story of a girl who stood up for what she believed in. There is a lot of information here and some beautiful folk art inspired illustrations. I enjoyed learning about Malala, and look forward to reading the book that inspired this story for children.

This book does not sugar coat the events that occurred. It tells us about Malalas family, religious practices of Islam, war and violence, and simple details of the attempted assassination of Malala Yousafzai. It is appropriate for older children, and would be an excellent choice for a book report. The book includes a timeline,map, actual photos of events and award ceremonies Malala attended, and links to websites and other references to learn more about this topic.

I chose NOT to read this story to my daughters, ages 5 and 7, because I felt that they would be too sensitive to the way the information is presented. There are a lot of scary words here: assassination, shot in the head, bombings of her village, just too many themes that I want to shelter my girls from for a little while longer. Fortunately for them, I can. As this book shows, little girls in other countries don't have that luxury.

This story is so inspiring! I highly recommend it for girls and young women, but I also think it's an excellent story for boys to hear and read. Even adults will be inspired by this young woman's courage! Highly recommend!