My Little Marie Curie: Saving the Magic Forest

Plot
Marie is a 12-year-old girl who loves science and feels a strong connection to the mysterious Magic Forest near her village. She is appalled to learn that the corrupt mayor of her village, Mr. Meloncio, plans to destroy it. She uses science to stop the powerful mayor from getting his way. Through her fight, Marie will get to learn about the creatures that inhabit the Magic Forest and the special connection they had with her late father.

Who is the book intended for?
This book is ideal for children 8 to 12 years old with an interest in science and nature. Children can learn about how the sciences (ranging from chemistry, electronics, ecology, medicine and psychology) are applied, the current biodiversity crisis and the importance of respecting and valuing nature. The book is set in Spain depicting life in a remote rural village and introducing children to Spanish culture, language and food.

Reading accessibility
The book has been designed with a special font and extra line spacing to make it comfortable to read for children with reading difficulties.

Why this book?
We live in a biodiversity crisis. A million plant and animal species are threatened with extinction. This is the result of human greed and, often, corruption. A glimmer of hope is offered by those individuals who work tirelessly to protect the biodiversity of the world like Marie, the main character, named by her father after Marie Curie. This book is in homage to the biodiversity defenders and conservation practitioners of the world.

One of the main sources of hope to make this a world where humans and all the other species can co-exist in peace is science. Science allows us to make better decisions and solve problems that appear insurmountable. Unfortunately, very few girls eventually make it to leadership positions in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). This is a great loss because the world is missing out on the next Marie. The book attempts to create awareness of this problem and raise awareness to overcome it.

Book excerpts
“All the living creatures in the forest form a web of life. These creatures deserve to live as they were meant to. From small bacteria in the soil to plants and insects . . . , to wolves and bears. The community is so incredible that it is magical.”
Antonio, Marie’s father

“The most important thing in life is . . . money. Piles and piles and piles of it. Store it, treasure it, hoard it. Is that clear?”
Meloncio, Villagorrina’s mayor

“It was señora Eulalia, who was ninety-five years old and lost two legs in the war. She lost them to termites. They were the legs of her favourite chair. She learnt to do her knitting while balancing on the two-legged chair. That was not easy.”