Written by Peggy Thomas
Illustrated by Sam Kalda
Published by Feeding Minds Press, September 1, 2022
Review
Hero for the Hungry is the eminently readable biography of a man who ranks up theree with Mother Teresa and Nelson Mandela on the world stage. Given that only a handful of people worldwide have won the humanitarian awards he has (does Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s name sound familiar?), it is stunning that Norman Borlaug is relatively unknown. This engaging and accessible biography remedies that and introduces the "Father of the Green Revolution" to a new generation - and their parents.
Through short chapters with high-interest vignettes (young Norm almost died in a snowstorm and adult Norm had to sleep in a research center where rats crawled on him!), readers become deeply enmeshed in Norm's life. From his childhood on a farm through his tenure as a student and through his developing research and ultimate botanical and agricultural expertise, Norm's life is rendered not just interesting, but relevant and relatable to children. The chapters are broken into smaller subsections, making this biography digestible to you readers, while the writing style and accompanying illustrations weave a story that sweeps the reader into the past. Readers will come away with a better understanding of the Great Depression, famine, cross pollination, agriculture, and how Norm's research into varieties of wheat has saved millions of lives. Sidebars explaining agricultural jargon aide understanding and back matter includes a timeline and glossary. Educational resources are available from the publisher.
I read this first to myself, and am eager to reread it with T, who is flying through Who Was bios right now. It is a privilege to review books like Hero for the Hungry, which I can wholeheartedly recommend.
Note: A review copy was provided upon request for the purpose of this honest review. All thoughts are my own.
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