Books with author Ziporah Hildebrandt

This first-ever biography of the courageous leader of Amazonia brings young readers into the life of an inspiring woman role model.Born in the Amazon rainforest of Acre, Brazil, Marina Silva spent the days of her childhood walking through the forest collecting the sap from rubber trees to earn a meager living. For indigenous people, education was unattainable, health care nonexistent, and equality unimaginable. Even worse, the rainforest, so essential to their livelihood and culture, was being destroyed to make way for cattle ranches. Marina traveled to the city to get an education, where she learned that the rainforest did more than support the rubber tappers; it is a precious ecosystem necessary to the survival of the world. Marina soon joined the party of Chico Mendes, the legendary environmental, labor, and land reform leader, and later campaigned and was elected to Brazil's senate, where she fought for environmental protection and sustainable development.Marina's work generated worldwide recognition, including the Goldman Environmental Prize and Ms. magazine's 1998 Woman of the Year award.

Since her girlhood as a poor rubber-tapper's daughter in Amazonia, Marina Silva has understood that bulldozing the rainforest for development hurts not only the indigenous peoples living there, but destroys natural resources needed by Brazil and the whole world.Overcoming extreme prejudice, Marina attended university. She joined the reform party of Chico Mendes and demonstrated against deforestation. Elected to Brazil's Senate, the "miracle of Acre" successfully legislated rainforest preservation, defending her people against poverty and protecting their way of life.Marina's work has generated worldwide recognition, including the Goldman Environmental Prize. This first-ever biography of the courageous leader introduces children to another inspiring woman role model.Marina Silva: Defending Rainforest Communities in Brazil won a 2002 Skipping Stones Honor Award for Best Ecology and Nature Books.Ziporah Hildebrant is author of numerous books for children.