Description:
A young Bangladeshi girl who helps support her family by working in a brickyard finds a way to make her dream of going to school and learning to read a reality.
Brief description:
Ann Malaspina is the author of more than fifteen nonfiction books for young people. Her interest in equal rights and social change often leads her to write about people struggling on the margins of society to improve their quality of life. She was inspired to write Yasmin's Hammer after traveling in South Asia and reading news reports about young workers in Bangladesh. Malaspina lives with her family in northern New Jersey. Her website is annmalaspina.com.
Review Quotes:
"A bleak situation becomes a powerful tale of hope..." -- School Library Journal
"This is an inspirational story of a young girl who is determined to go to school and learn to read.... Colorful illustrations and rich descriptions bring Dhaka, the Bangladeshi capital, and the sisters' story to life." -- Skipping Stones Magazine
"Illustrated with Doug Chaka's signature impressionistic style, this new book offers young learners a revealing look at the working and living conditions of the most vulnerable of the poor. The optimistic tone and child's point of view help to make Yasmin's Hammer accessible to young readers who may otherwise not identify with the topic. Teachers and parents will find the book a useful resource for talking about child labor and the value of an education." -- Rutgers University Project on Economics and Children
Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature Winner - Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA)
Best Children's Books of the Year - Bank Street College of Education
Horace Mann Upstanders Children's Literature Award Honor - Antioch University