On a two-page spread, layers of yellow and orange paper illustrate a sun shining down upon dry, barren land made of textured paper. One illustration shows a deep purple sky in the background while William's family sits around a lantern sharing a meal. Rich, earth tones are used to illustrate the land and sky. Oil paint and cut-paper collage illustrations work perfectly with the text to convey William's story. Magesti a mphero- electric wind- can feed my country, William thought. 'Well done.'īut another windmill could soak the ground, The authors use dialogue and incorporate words from the Chichewa language to create an engaging story that will inspire young readers. He knew this was just the beginning his goal was to use windmills to pump water up from the ground to irrigate the fields.What a great example for kids about the power of books and reading. Using a tractor fan, pipe, bolts and other parts he found in a junk yard, William built a windmill that generated enough electricity to run a light bulb. When William came across a photo of a windmill and learned that it could be used create electricity and pump water, he saw a solution to his family's problems. William, a curious and inventive young man, spent his free time at the local library reading books about science. There was no money to pay fees for William to attend school. When a drought hit the country, the family had to cut back to one meal per day. William's family grew maize and tobacco in central Malawi they relied on these crops for food and income. William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer collaborated to tell the amazing story of how William brought electricity and irrigation to his drought-stricken village in Malawi. If you need evidence, look no further than the picture book biography, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. You've heard the saying, 'One person can make a difference.' It sounds cliche, but it's true. The reviewer received a copy of the book from the Moving Windmills Project.

William kamkwamba book