Published by Kids Can Press (Released October 6)

Summary:  Growing up in India, Sundar Paliwal watched his mother as she spent hours fetching water, cried over her hungry children, and ultimately died of a snakebite when he was still a child.  As an adult, he worked in a marble factory and witnessed the environmental devastation this work caused.  When his oldest daughter died, he planted trees in her memory.  This gave him the idea to plant 111 trees to honor any girl born in his village.  There were celebrations whenever a boy was born, and Sundar believed that girls should be celebrated as well.  After winning an election to be head of the village, Sundar put his many ideas into practice, and today, there is plenty of food and water, and girls go to school with boys until they are 18.  He continues to plant 111 trees any time a girl is born.  Includes five pages of back matter with additional information, photos, and ways kids can help Sundar’s work.  36 pages; grades K-5.

Pros:  I’m a huge fan of the CitizenKid books and review them whenever I can (look for another one coming soon).  Like others in the series, this one profiles a real person who has made a difference in a part of the world American kids may not know much about.  It also empowers kids to see how an ordinary person can do extraordinary things in their community, and gives them ways that kids can contribute.

Cons:  I’d like to see a world map in all the CitizenKid books showing where the story takes place.

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