• Age: 9 to 13
• Grade: 4 to 8
• Reading age: 9 to 12

Rosemary McCarney, President and CEO of Plan International Canada, has followed up the her popular picture book Every Day is Malala Day with a book for middle grade readers, also inspired by her international development work. Working with Plan, Rosemary helped craft its Because I am a Girl global initiative to end gender inequality, promote girls' rights, and lift millions of girls out of poverty, and helped lead the charge for the United Nations to declare October 11th the "International Day of the Girl" - a day each year to recognize and advocate for girls' rights globally. This new book illustrates the Because I am a Girl call to change by telling the stories of individual girls throughout the world. They tell us: "Because I am a girl, I eat if there is food left over when everyone is done" and "I am the poorest of the poor." The later stories are about hope, with chapters like "Because I am a girl, I will share what I know" and " I am the heart of my community" and "I can change the world." Accompanying each story are amazing photographs of girls and their communities around the world. And each story ends with a "Did You Know" section, with facts and interesting information about the lives of girls throughout the world.

Rosemary McCarney est la présidente et la directrice générale de Plan Canada, l'une des organisations internationales de développement les plus importantes au Canada. Après avoir travaillé pour la Banque mondiale, l'Agence canadienne de développement international, l'ONU et Street Kids International, Rosemary a entamé son rôle à Plan Canada où elle a mené les campagnes pour la Journée internationale de la fille et Parce que je suis une fille. Elle habite à Toronto avec sa famille.

Rosemary McCarney is president and CEO of Toronto-based Plan Canada, one of the largest international development agencies in Canada. After working with organizations like the World Bank, Canadian International Development Agency, the UN, and Street Kids International, she moved to Plan Canada, where she led the initiative for the International Day of the Girl and spearheads the Because I am a Girl campaign. Rosemary lives in Toronto with her family.

Rosemary McCarney's profile page

Plan International is one of the world's oldest and largest international charities, working in partnership with millions of people around the world to end global poverty. Not for profit, independent and inclusive of all faiths and cultures, Plan has only one agenda: to improve the lives of children. www.plancanada.ca

Plan International Canada's profile page

Because I Am a Girl: I Can Change the World