It is clearly shown and also totally celebrated by Kathleen Krull how civil courage and a refusal to embrace violence often has a much more positive and long-lasting impact than violent confrontations or aggressively dangerous reactions. However, for me personally, the most important message of Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez is the book's depiction and promotion of non-violent confrontation and protest. And I am actually (and remain) in total and utter awe that a non-fiction picture book such as this, such as Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez, could have such an engaging, enthralling and at the same time also massively educationally informative narrative, combined with Yuyi Morales illustrations, which indeed aesthetically shine both luminously and evocatively.Īnd yes, Kathleen Krull’s presented text, it is most certainly a treasure and features not only a moving story, but also a most valuable teaching tool, since it shows not only the life, struggles and contributions of Cesar Chavez, but also the living/working conditions of migrant farm workers in general (themes to be discussed and debated and by total necessity). This might of course be primarily because I am a resident of Canada, but when one considers the fact that so much of the produce in Canadian grocery stores is in fact not grown in Canada, but in the United States and other areas, the living and working conditions of farm labourers everywhere should naturally be of prime importance, should be of global significance.

And albeit that I had of course heard of Cesar Chavez prior to reading this book, I actually kind of knew next to nothing about either Chavez’ life or La Causa. Truly, Kathleen Krull’s Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez is indeed one of the most informative and moving non-fiction picture book biographies I have read to date.

Harvesting hope by kathleen krull