Meena HarrisCritiques

Author’s note at the back of the book. The author is the niece of Vice-President Kamala Harris.

Author’s note at the back of the book. She is the niece of Vice-President Kamala Harris. Photos of the real Kamala and Meena are included.

Sadly, I know some people will not pick this book up because it is inspired by the family of Kamala Harris. If they don't, I think they are missing out on a book that has an incredible message. A message of working together, of perseverance, or not everyone doing everything but everyone CAN do something. It truly is a story of persistence and hard work. Who doesn't love that?!

This book is about two little girls who would like a playground area in their community. However, they are told by their landlord that it is not feasible. So, they begin to ask others for help and end up building the playground with the help of the community. This story shows children that anyone can make a difference if they just try hard enough, no matter who they are.

girl empowerment!!

Meena Harris is the niece of Vice President Kamala Harris, and a twitter personality in her own right. She states in an Afterword that she loved hearing stories while she was growing up about her mom and her aunt, and about their “fierce determination.” To illustrate, she tells the story, based on true events, of how, as children, they set out to get a playground built in the unused courtyard in their apartment building.

They got other kids in the building to help, and went around to all the neighbors for contributions of materials and work. They found that “No one could do everything. But everyone could contribute something.”

In the end, they had an area with a sandbox, slide, and a teeter totter, and Maya said to Kamala, “What’s next?”

Meena writes, “I hope this book inspires a new generation of activists to know that they can be effective agents of change if they think creatively, engage their communities, and never, ever, give up.”

It’s not only a great message, but kids can see the results for themselves: Kamala is the now the first female Vice President of the United States, and Maya is an American lawyer, public policy advocate, and writer. She has been a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and a Visiting Scholar at Harvard Law School, and helped draft the 2016 Democratic platform for the presidential campaign.

Colorful illustrations by Ana Ramirez Gonzalez are perfect for the intended audience of ages 3-8. There are also some actual photos of the girls at the back of the book.