Stand as Tall as the Trees: How an Amazonian Community Protected the Rain Forest

by Patricia Gualinga and Laura Resau with illustrations by Vanessa Jaramillo, 2023. Hardcover, 40 pages. Ages 6-9 years. An inspiring true story about how an activist in the Amazon worked with other Indigenous communities to protect and preserve their sacred lands and forests.Patricia (Paty) Gualinga grew up in her Kichwa village in the Amazon of Ecuador where mystical beings called Amazanga help protect the forest. Paty traveled away from home for school until she was called back—companies that said the government sold them property were destroying her people’s lands to look for oil. The Kichwa community worked with other Indigenous groups to bring the Ecuadorian government to the Court of Human Rights.Lyrically told and beautifully illustrated, this moving story will remind readers of the importance of nature conservation, perseverance, and standing up for your community. About the Authors Patricia Gualinga is a human rights and Indigenous rights defender of the Pueblo Kichwa de Sara