Malala: Activist for Girls' Education

Gr 1–3—Most recent biographies of Malala Yousafzai are for early readers. This French import stands out for its vivid, naive illustrations, its present-tense narration, and the pages that stress Yousafzai's ongoing, post-Nobel efforts to bring education to girls in other nations. The paintings and folk designs are bright and positive, and the shooting scene is depicted sensitively. Translator Cormier's clear text uses mostly simple sentences and vocabulary. Five spreads (with photos and a map) at the end provide excerpts from Yousafzai's speeches and writing, her inspirations, a time line, a short reading list, and additional information about girls' education in Pakistan and elsewhere. Initially, the Taliban is called "a violent group." Only in the back matter is Islam briefly mentioned, along with Yousafzai's rejection of fundamentalism. The book does not present her as a victim and emphasizes her family's support and the help she received from others: she isn't fighting cultural traditions alone.