Review - I Am Farmer

I Am Farmer
by Baptiste Paul & Miranda Paul
illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon
Date: 2019
Publisher: Millbrook Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Discover the true story of how environmentalist Farmer Tantoh is transforming the landscape in his home country of Cameroon.

When Tantoh Nforba was a child, his fellow students mocked him for his interest in gardening. Today he's an environmental hero, bringing clean water and bountiful gardens to the central African nation of Cameroon. Authors Miranda Paul and Baptiste Paul share Farmer Tantoh's inspiring story.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a lovely biography of a man named Farmer Tantoh and his passion for helping both people and the environment. It addresses the problem of access to clean water that plagues many parts of Africa, while also telling the story of Tantoh and his passion for gardening that started when he was a small child.

Tantoh always loved the soil, and he started out by stealing some onions from his grandmother and trying to get them to grow. In school, the other kids teased him and looked down on him for his interest in horticulture, calling him "Farmer"... a nickname that stuck, especially after he started to own it and use it with pride. His brother thought he should get an office job, but that's not what Tantoh wanted to do... so he made the gusty decision to sabotage his own exam results, freeing him to do what he really loved!

The illustrations are interesting, collages done with a mixture of illustration and photography. They're very colourful and help bring to life Tantoh's gardening work.

This book is probably suitable for older children, and it would make a great addition to a classroom library. I would definitely recommend this one.

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4 out of 5