Because I am a Girl

September 2014, Toronto - Rosemary McCarney, President and CEO of Plan International Canada, has followed up her popular picture book Every Day is Malala Day with a new 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 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 sections 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. Each story ends with a "Did You Know" section, with facts and interesting information about the lives of girls around the world.