Stand as Tall as the Trees: How an Amazonian Community Protected the Rain Forest

In this heartfelt and personal picture book, Gualinga, with Resau, relates via animated free verse how her Kichwa village in the Amazon battled corporate destruction. “Deep in the rain forest of Ecuador” is Sarayaku, “alive with trees towering, vines winding, and frogs singing.” Young Paty, daughter of “a shaman with one foot in this world and one in the spirit world,” is told to be brave and show respect, “and the forest will give you strength.” After she leaves for a city and earns a diploma, she receives word from Sarayaku: men with “helicopters and guns, shouts and uniforms” have come to drill for oil, claiming that the Ecuadorian government sold them the land. Aligning the book’s protagonist with natural imagery, Jaramillo’s watercolors depict the verdant Amazon, the urgency of the demonstrations, and the battle to save the forest. Extensive back matter concludes this picture book with a significant message: “We have the right to protect our home.” Ages 6–9. (July)