We always learn something new or leave with a different perspective after watching TED Talks. (TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design.) Check out these talks about the stories behind two of our favorite books.
William Kamkwamba
At age 14, in poverty and famine, a Malawian boy built a windmill to power his family's home. Now at 22, William Kamkwamba, who speaks at TED, here, for the second time, shares in his own words the moving tale of invention that changed his life.
To learn more about William Kamkwamba, read the book The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind.
Linda Sue Park
Can books help make readers better human beings? Linda Sue Park talks about how books provide practice at responding to the unfairness in life, and how empathy for a book's characters can lead to engagement in ways that have significant impact in the real world.
Linda Sue Park's beautiful novel, A Long Walk to Water, is based on the story of Salva Dut--who as a boy survived war in the Sudan, relocated to the United States, learned English, attended college, and started a foundation that brings clean water to his country by building deep-water wells in remote Sudanese villages.
Visit the Water for South Sudan website to see the remarkable work done by Salva’s foundation.
Now I have to read A Long Walk To Water!
Thank you! Those were so inspiring and I loved them!