Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Summary: Malala Yousafzai describes how she used to watch a TV show about a boy who had a magic pencil that could create whatever he drew. She wished she could have one so she could draw a lock on her bedroom door, new dresses for her mother, and a soccer ball for her brothers. As she grew older, her dreams grew too, and soon she wished she could use her magic pencil to erase the poverty she saw around her. She worked hard at school, and when “powerful and dangerous men” took over her country, she started speaking out about the importance of letting girls attend school. With white letters on a black page, Malala states, “My voice became so powerful that the dangerous men tried to silence me. But they failed.” The accompanying illustration shows her looking out a hospital window. The last few pages show her continuing her work today, writing, demonstrating, and speaking at the United Nations. Back matter includes a letter from Malala, a page of biographical information, and three photos of her at different stages of her life. 48 pages; ages 5-8.
Pros: A moving introduction to Malala Yousafzai’s courageous story, beautifully illustrated with ink and watercolor drawings. Kids looking for more information can move on to the young reader’s edition of I Am Malala.
Cons: You didn’t really think I was going to write something negative about a book by Malala on Thanksgiving Day, did you?
