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The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

Picture Book Edition
By William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer
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Brief Description
Now in paperback and based on the New York Times Bestseller, this STEM biography is the true story of a boy whose great idea and perseverance lit up his home and inspired the world. The picture book retelling of the New York Times bestseller. Now a... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2100
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Now in paperback and based on the New York Times Bestseller, this STEM biography is the true story of a boy whose great idea and perseverance lit up his home and inspired the world.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Now in paperback and based on the New York Times Bestseller, this STEM biography is the true story of a boy whose great idea and perseverance lit up his home and inspired the world.

The picture book retelling of the New York Times bestseller. Now a Netflix film starring and directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor! A lyrical and gloriously illustrated true story of one boy's determination to help his community that shows how—even in the worst of times—a great idea and hard work can rock the world.

When a terrible drought struck William Kamkwamba's tiny village in Malawi, his family lost all of the season's crops, leaving them with nothing to eat and nothing to sell. William began to explore science books in his village library, looking for a solution. There, he came up with the idea that would change his family's life forever—he could build a windmill. Made out of scrap metal and old bicycle parts, William's windmill brought electricity to his home and helped his family pump the water they needed to farm the land.

Retold for a younger audience, this exciting memoir shows how, even in a desperate situation, one boy's brilliant idea can light up the world. Complete with photographs, illustrations, and an epilogue that will bring readers up to date on William's story, this is the perfect edition to read and share with the whole family.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9798217111121

Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 06 January 2026

Country: United States

Imprint: Rocky Pond Books

Illustration: FULL COLOR ILLUSTRATIONS

Contributors:

  • Illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 4.0mm

Width: 230.0mm

Height: 278.0mm

Weight: 170g

Pages: 32

Collections

Bryan Mealer Children's Books Children’s & Teenage Non-Fiction Children’s, Teenage and Educational Education & Reference Science & Nature William Kamkwamba

About the Author

William Kamkwamba grew up in a small village in Malawi. At the age of 14, he devised a windmill that brought electricity to his home during a catastrophic drought. His New York Times Bestselling autobiography has been translated into nearly twenty languages worldwide as well as a feature film, and William has appeared on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and Good Morning America. After graduating from Dartmouth College in Environmental Studies, William began work as a Global Fellow for the design firm IDEO.org. Now an entrepreneur and TED Fellow, he divides his time between the U.S. and Malawi and is currently working full-time with the Moving Windmills Project, a nonprofit he launched that's dedicated to ethical, hands-on development in Malawi. Bryan Mealer is the author of Muck City and the New York Times bestseller The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, which he wrote with William Kamkwamba. Since publication, the book has received many honors and has been translated into over a dozen languages. Mealer is also the author of All Things Must Fight to Live, which chronicled his years covering the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo for Harper's and the Associated Press. His book The Kings of Big Spring, is a multi-generational saga about his family in West Texas. He and his family live in Austin. Elizabeth Zunon grew up in Ivory Coast, West Africa, and now lives in Albany, New York.

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  • The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
    The inspiring true story of a Malawi teenager who brought electricity to his struggling village—now in the ideal classroom-ready edition. Now a Netflix film starring and directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor, this is a gripping memoir of survival and perseverance about the heroic young inventor who brought electricity to his Malawian village. When a terrible drought struck William Kamkwamba's tiny village...
    By William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer
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  • The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (Movie Tie-in Edition)
    Now a Netflix original film, this is the inspiring true story of a heroic young inventor who brought electricity to his Malawian village. Now a Netflix film starring and directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor, this is a gripping memoir of survival and perseverance about the heroic young inventor who brought electricity to his Malawian village. When a terrible drought struck William...
    By William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer
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  • The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
    When fourteen-year-old William Kamkwamba's Malawi village was hit by a drought, everyone's crops began to fail. Without enough money for food, let alone school, William spent his days in the library and figured out how to bring electricity to his village. Persevering against the odds, William built a functioning windmill out of junkyard scraps and thus became the local hero...
    By William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer
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    Elsewhere:
    $3700
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    Ships in 4-6 weeks

Also by William Kamkwamba

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  • The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
    The inspiring true story of a Malawi teenager who brought electricity to his struggling village—now in the ideal classroom-ready edition. Now a Netflix film starring and directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor, this is a gripping memoir of survival and perseverance about the heroic young inventor who brought electricity to his Malawian village. When a terrible drought struck William Kamkwamba's tiny village...
    By William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer
    Paperback
    $2100
    Elsewhere:
    $2400
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (Movie Tie-in Edition)
    Now a Netflix original film, this is the inspiring true story of a heroic young inventor who brought electricity to his Malawian village. Now a Netflix film starring and directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor, this is a gripping memoir of survival and perseverance about the heroic young inventor who brought electricity to his Malawian village. When a terrible drought struck William...
    By William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer
    Paperback
    $3800
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
    When fourteen-year-old William Kamkwamba's Malawi village was hit by a drought, everyone's crops began to fail. Without enough money for food, let alone school, William spent his days in the library and figured out how to bring electricity to his village. Persevering against the odds, William built a functioning windmill out of junkyard scraps and thus became the local hero...
    By William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer
    Hardback
    $3400
    Elsewhere:
    $3700
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

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