“The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind“

Written by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer | Illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon

When a devastating drought stripped his family’s farm in Malawi of its crops, fourteen-year-old William Kamkwamba did something unexpected — he went to the library. What he found there, tucked inside science books, was the beginning of an idea that would change his village forever. Using science books as his guide, he taught himself to build a windmill from scrap metal and salvaged bicycle parts — one that brought electricity and water back to his village.

At the center of the story is William, a boy who faced the challenges in his village with curiosity and ingenuity. When school was no longer an option, he turned to books — and proved that learning has no boundaries. Young readers will connect with the idea that a single book, read at the right moment, can spark something extraordinary.

Kamkwamba and Mealer tell this story with honesty and purpose, never losing sight of both the hardship William faced and the joy of his invention. Zunon’s illustrations — rich oil paintings layered with cut-paper collage — bring the landscapes of Malawi and the ingenuity of William’s work to life with warmth and texture.

It’s a natural fit for expanding students’ knowledge of global communities, renewable energy, and what creative problem solving looks like in the real world. “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind” is an excellent choice for Grades 3–5.