Rise Up and Write It: With Real Mail, Posters, and More!

by Nandini Ahuja, Anoosha Syed (Illustrator)

Overview

Rise Up and Write It combines a celebration of civic engagement with the hands-on fun of real pull-out examples of activism tools and is sure to encourage young readers to want to get up and get involved.

The book comes complete with a pull-out letter to the mayor, a ready-to-sign petition, a community meeting poster, a protest sign—and more!

When Farah Patel realizes that the butterflies have disappeared from her neighborhood, she discovers that it’s likely because there aren’t enough flowers to attract them. She can’t help but think, “This isn’t right.”

Luckily enough, Grove Hills is looking for ideas on what to do with the empty lot next door. And Farah has the perfect one—make it into a community garden to bring back a little green to their block! But when Farah finds out that she isn’t the only one with a plan for the future of Grove Hills, she’ll have to turn to her community for help.

Open the six envelopes inside to follow along with the story Farah as she rises up and brings her neighborhood together.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063029590
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	01/05/2021
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	73,830
Product dimensions:	7.80(w) x 10.20(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Nandini Ahuja is a social worker in New York City. She spends much of her time searching for the perfect doughnut and thinking about magic. Nandini lives with her husband in a cozy apartment, where they drink lots of coffee. 

Anoosha Syed is a Pakistani Canadian character designer and the illustrator of over twenty books, including I Am Perfectly Designed by Karamo Brown, APALA honor book Bilal Cooks Daal by Aisha Saeed, and her author/illustrator debut, That’s Not My Name! Some of her past clients include Netflix, Disney, Target, and Google. In her free time, Anoosha hosts a YouTube channel dedicated to free and accessible art and business education for aspiring illustrators. She lives in Toronto with her husband and cat.

Editorial Reviews

"This interactive guide to activism and its endearing protagonist both burst with energy." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"A general purchase recommendation for both library and classroom, [Rise Up and Write It] showcases a strong young female character who actively pursues positive change by developing her own strengths." — School Library Journal

"An important book that teaches about civic action. Readers will learn the different steps to make a difference." — Toronto Star

From the Publisher

"An important book that teaches about civic action. Readers will learn the different steps to make a difference."

Toronto Star

11/06/2020

GR 1–3-A changing community and its activist members effect change for good. Young Farah Patel wonders why she sees no butterflies in her neighborhood. The answer is simple—there is nothing green, no flowers, and therefore no nectar for butterflies nearby. Her search for a solution prompts a letter to Mayor Rabia Khan about the use of a vacant lot for a community garden. In what amounts to a primer on how to wage a writing campaign, Farah gathers friends to share ideas and help start petitions. Digitally created images in a bright palette feature simply drawn cartoon faces with detailed settings, and include facsimile envelopes so readers can see exactly how to create snail mail. Every time Farah writes, the envelope address of the recipient indicates a step in the young girl's activist participation; interested readers also learn how to use petitions and signs effectively. Farah organizes a community meeting at the public library with neighborhood friends to discuss ideas and make signs for a public forum with the city council where she bravely states their case: "Gardens not Gravel!" She also creates a club for those who want to "make things better." The book highlights Farah's neighborhood with characters varying in race, ethnicity, gender, and age. VERDICT A general purchase recommendation for both library and classroom, this title showcases a strong young female character who actively pursues positive change by developing her own strengths.—Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano I.S.D., TX

School Library Journal

★ 2021-01-27
Farah Patel is full of questions.

One day, she notices that her urban neighborhood is missing butterflies. When she asks why, Farah’s mother tells her that it’s because their community lacks greenery. When Farah and her mother pass an empty lot with a sign in front of it asking citizens to contact Mayor Khan with their ideas for it, Farah lands on the perfect plan: She and her neighbors could turn it into a community garden! Not only would this attract butterflies, it would also provide families with a local source of fresh fruits and vegetables. Farah writes to the mayor, but the mayor writes back saying that the plan is to turn the space into a parking lot. Determined to change this, Farah organizes her friends and neighbors to work together to advocate for a garden. This cheerfully illustrated picture book is the perfect beginner text for young activists, providing examples of kid-friendly actions, including writing letters to politicians, testifying at public meetings, and organizing rallies. The book contains cleverly designed pages shaped like envelopes that contain removable samples of letters, petitions, and protest signs that kids can use as templates for their own community-based action. The book’s language is both clear and empowering—never preachy—and the plot moves quickly. Farah is South Asian, and in Syed’s art, her neighborhood reflects the ideal of American diversity.

This interactive guide to activism and its endearing protagonist both burst with energy. (Picture book/novelty. 3-8)

Kirkus Reviews