One Girl

As a young girl sits forlornly on her front porch, a bright light shoots through the night sky, depositing a book at her feet. This precious gift unlocks a whole new world for the child. The book fizzes with magic, imagination and knowledge, leading her on an incredible journey to the classroom and beyond. As she reads more books, she is able to use her newfound knowledge to inspire others.

Sparse, rhyming text accompanies the luminous illustrations, which incorporate numerous books and pencils as part of the landscape. A variety of women are depicted throughout the book, including artists, astronomers and teachers, suggesting that education empowers people to realise their potential and achieve great things.

This gentle picture book about the joy of reading carries a deeper message about the fundamental importance of girls’ education. An author’s note at the end reiterates this point, explaining that more than 130 million girls around the world are denied an education, due to factors such as politics, violence and poverty. An imaginative and thought-provoking story.