STAND AS TALL AS THE TREES:
How an Amazonian Community Protected the Rain Forest
Co-authored with Kichwa leader Patricia Gualinga, this inspiring picture book shows how her Pueblo of Sarayaku defended their sacred forest home from an invading oil company . . . and won! The gorgeous water color illustrations were painted by the Ecuadorian artist Vanessa Jaramillo. Available in English and Spanish versions in July of 2023 with Charlesbridge Publishing.
Coescrito con la líder kichwa Patricia Gualinga, este libro ilustrado para niños muestra como su pueblo de Sarayaku defendió su selva sagrada de una compañía de petróleo . . . y ganaron! Las hermosas ilustraciones hechas con acuarelas en papel fueron pintadas por la artista ecuatoriana Vanessa Jaramillo. El libro fue publicado en español y en inglés en julio 2023 con Charlesbridge Publishing.
Escucha una entrevista (audio) sobre nuestro libro en español con Paty y Forbes Ecuador aqui!
Patricia Gualinga, Co-Author and Kichwa Leader in the Amazon. Photo credit: Zoe Tryon, artist and activist.
“For me, this book is like a spark of inspiration that we share with other communities around the world.”
Please scroll down for more about the book, honors and praise, author and illustrator bios, an in-depth activity guide, interviews (text, audio, and video), updates, and more.
About the book
An inspiring true story about how an activist in the Amazon worked with other Indigenous communities to protect and preserve their sacred lands and forests.
Patricia (Paty) Gualinga grew up in her Kichwa village in the Amazon of Ecuador where mystical beings called Amazanga help protect the forest. Paty traveled away from home for school until she was called back—companies that said the government sold them property were destroying her people’s lands to look for oil. The Kichwa community worked with other Indigenous groups to bring the Ecuadorian government to the Court of Human Rights.
Lyrically told and beautifully illustrated, this moving story will remind readers of the importance of nature conservation, perseverance, and standing up for your community. Ages 5-10.
Praise
Children in a Kichwa community in the Ecuadorian Amazon reading the Spanish version, Con la cabeza en alto.
* A CBC Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year in Spanish, 2024, STARRED*
*Uno de los Mejores Libros Infantiles en Español del Año 2024, CBC Bank Street College of Education
*A Junior Library Guild Selection*
* A Top Ten Sustainability-Themed Children’s Book from the American Library Association’s Sustainability Roundtable
*A Best Book for Kids in Spanish from New York Public Library (full list here)*
*Los Mejores 10 Libros Para Pequeños en Español 2023, NYPL (lista completa aqui)*
* NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Book*
*Blueberry Award Honor Book (inspiring love of nature and action for planet Earth—full list here)
* “A moving account of those who spoke truth to power and triumphed.” — Kirkus, STARRED (full review here)
“Heartfelt and personal.” — Publishers Weekly (full review here)
“Gentle watercolor illustrations capture the beauty of the Amazon forest and the quiet strength of the Indigenous people who defend not only the Amazon, but the whole Earth.” —Children’s Literature
“Heartfelt writing and luminous illustrations make this a memorable biography (autobiography) that shows how one person can make a difference in the world!” —Imagination Soup
“Lyrical and beautifully illustrated.” — Book Riot Kids
“Paty’s inspiring true story is a brave example of how activism can keep the rain forest alive.” — Pragmatic Mom
Featured in A Mighty Girl — “Women Saving the Planet: 25 Kids’ Books about Female Environmentalists.” Full article here.
Featured on a list of Rain Forest Books for Kids by Pragmatic Mom. Full list with reviews here.
Featured on a list of new children’s books for Earth Day 2023
Featured in Imagination Soup’s fantastic list of wonderful new non-fiction children’s books! Full article here.
Featured on a list of children’s book biographies of inspiring Latino/a/x luminaries. Full article here.
Recommended in a list of awesome books for fourth-graders from We Are Teachers. Full article here.
Featured as a Best Non-Fiction Book of 2023 from Imagination Soup. Full article here.
Resources
Here you can find an in-depth educational guide and activity kit for the book. It includes lots of activities, an interview with Laura, a timeline of Patricia’s life, bios of the authors and illustrator, and more!
Here you can watch a 4-minute video that includes an introduction to the book by Laura, clips of Vanessa doing watercolor illustrations, clips of children playing in Patricia’s community, and a clip of an interview with Patricia. This video is a mix of English and Spanish.
Escucha una entrevista (audio) sobre nuestro libro en español con Paty y Forbes Ecuador aqui. (18 minutos)
Here on the Pachamama Alliance website, you can read an article and interview with Paty in English about the book.
Here you can read an interview with Laura about the book.
If you feel inspired to support Indigenous people in protecting the Amazon rain forest, you can connect with non-profits like Pachamama Alliance and Amazon Watch. Paty works closely with both of these wonderful organizations.
Here you can watch the show It’s a Woman’s World, hosted by a wonderful educator— this 30-minute episode features a conversation with Laura about the rain forest and Stand as Tall as the Trees.
Here is an article written by Laura about her favorite picture books set in South America.
If you’re interested in having Laura visit your school, you can learn about her presentation for this book (in English or Spanish) here. You can learn details about her school visits in general here.
About the Authors and Illustrator
Patricia Gualinga is a human rights and Indigenous rights defender of the Pueblo Kichwa de Sarayaku, an Indigenous community in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Paty was awarded the Olof Palme human rights award in 2022 for her extensive work and courageous leadership to improve Indigenous peoples lives.
Patricia Gualinga es defensora de los derechos indígenas y humanos del Pueblo Kichwa de Sarayaku, una comunidad indígena en la Amazonia ecuatoriana. Paty ganó el premio de derechos humanos Olof Palme en 2022 por su extensivo trabajo y valiente liderazgo para mejorar las vidas de la gente indígena.
Laura Resau is the award-winning author of several highly acclaimed young adult and children’s books, including The Lightning Queen, Tree of Dreams, What the Moon Saw, Red Glass, and Star in the Forest. Laura draws inspiration from her time abroad as an anthropologist and ESL teacher. She lives with her family in Colorado and donates a portion of her royalties to Indigenous rights organizations in Latin America.
Laura Resau es la autora galardonada de varias aclamadas novelas para niños y adultos jóvenes, incluyendo The Lightning Queen, Tree of Dreams, What the Moon Saw, Red Glass y Estrella en el bosque. A Laura le han inspirado sus experiencias en el extranjero como antropóloga y maestra de inglés. Ella vive con su familia en Colorado y dona una porción de sus regalías a las organizaciones de derechos indígenas en Latinoamérica.
Vanessa Jaramillo is an Ecuadorian artist who studied graphic design, and her passion for drawing and painting led her to illustration. She focuses on intercultural bilingual education projects in Indigenous communities and has been a consultant for UNICEF and the Ministry of Education.
Vanessa Jaramillo es una artista ecuatoriana que estudió diseño gráfico, y su pasión por el dibujo y la pintura la llevó al camino de la ilustración. Se ha enfocado en proyectos de educación intercultural bilingüe en comunidades indígenas y ha sido consultora para UNICEF y el Ministerio de Educación.
Updates on Indigenous Land Rights Issues
November 2023—After years of hard work, the Siekopai Nation of Ecuador has recovered ownership of their ancestral land in the Amazon rain forest. The court verdict was in favor of the Siekopai people, which means that 104,000 acres of forests will be returned to them. This is a huge victory for Indigenous people of the Ecuadorian Amazon rain forest and beyond! You can learn more here.
August 2023—GREAT news for Ecuador’s last Indigenous peoples living in voluntary isolation in Block 43 of Yasuni National Park! There was a referendum in August in which Ecuadorian voters had the opportunity to protect this area of the Amazon Rain Forest and the Indigenous communities within it by voting on whether the government should keep oil permanently in the ground. And they approved the referendum! This will stop the expansion of new oil operations and prohibit new oil wells and contracts in Block 43. All wells in the area will need to be closed and the infrastructure will need to be removed. Thank you, Ecuador! You can learn more here.
