9.02.2013

Nelson Mandela




This post joins other
Nonfiction Monday blogs
hosted today by A Mom's Spare Time
and joins It's Monday!
What are you reading?

Katherine Tegen Books (Harper Collins)
(pub. 1.2.2013) 40 pages 

A True Tale with A Cherry On Top

A uthor and Illustrator: Kadir Nelson
    
haracter: Nelson Mandela

O verview from the jacket flap: 

      "One day when Nelson Mandela was nine years old, his father died and he was sent from his village to a school far away from home, to another part of South Africa. In Johannesburg, the country's capital, Mandela saw fellow Africans who were poor and powerless. He decided then that he would work to protect them. When the government began to keep people apart based on the color of their skin, Mandela spoke out against the law and vowed to fight hard in order to make his country a place that belonged to all South Africans.
        Kadir Nelson tells the story of Mandela, a global icon, in poignant verse and glorious illustrations. It is the story of a young boy's determination to change South Africa and of the struggles of a man who eventually became the president of his country by believing in equality for people of all colors. Readers will be inspired by Mandela's triumph and his lifelong quest to create a more just world."

T antalizing taste: 

"Speaking out was against the law
and Nelson was arrested and jailed
for a fortnight with a hundred men.
They danced and sang,
calling the ancestors
to join the fight for freedom

Amandla!
Ngawethu!

... On a small island off the coast
of the southern tip of Africa,
Nelson sat in a tiny cell.
Every day
the world passed him by.
Cold mealies, thin blankets, hard labor.
Nelson hammered rocks into dust, and
read, studied, and educated fellow prisoners.
Days turned into weeks, months, and years.

and something more: I learned from Kadir Nelson's note at the back of the book that Nelson Mandela "was born with the name Rolihlahla, which translates as 'troublemaker.' However, his birth name was changed to Nelson on his first day of school." 
        During his presidential inauguration address to South Africa, "Nelson spoke proudly: 'We understand it still that there is no easy road to freedom. We know it well that none of us acting alone can achieve success... Let there be justice for all. Let there be peace for all. Let there be work, bread, water, and salt for all. Let each know that for each the body, the mind, and the soul have been freed to fulfill themselves... Let freedom reign.'"  Powerful words!

12 comments:

Kerry Aradhya said...

Hi, Jeanne.

I read this book with my girls over the summer on Nelson Mandela's birthday. It's a beautiful book!

Jeanne Walker Harvey said...

Hi Kerry,
What a great book to share with them on his birthday! Bravo!

Roberta said...

Isn't this a lovely, moving book?

It is sad to hear that Nelson Mandela is so sick right now.

Tara @ A Teaching Life said...

What a man...and what a fitting book to celebrate him. Thank you for sharing this!

Jeanne Walker Harvey said...

Hi Roberta, Yes, it is sad he's sick. He endured so many years in prison and tough conditions. What a truly amazing person!

Thanks for stopping by!

Jeanne Walker Harvey said...

HI Tara,
Thanks for stopping by! Yes, I agree. It' a fitting book for an amazing person.

Perogyo said...

Kadir Nelson always has such beautiful illustrations.

I wonder why a parent would name a baby Troublemaker. I would think they would be more likely to do it the other way around!

GatheringBooks said...

Hi there Jeanne. I am a huge fan of Kadir Nelson - you had me at that. The book cover alone is already enough to gush about. I would recommend this book to a friend of mine who works as a teacher at the Nelson Mandela School in Berlin. We had a chance to visit their beautiful school and library when we were there. I am sure that she would enjoy this one. :)

GatheringBooks said...

Hi there Jeanne. I am a huge fan of Kadir Nelson - you had me at that. The book cover alone is already enough to gush about. I would recommend this book to a friend of mine who works as a teacher at the Nelson Mandela School in Berlin. We had a chance to visit their beautiful school and library when we were there. I am sure that she would enjoy this one. :)

Lindsey McDivitt said...

Hi Jeanne, I enjoyed your post on a man I admire immensely. I'm actually heading to South Africa soon and hope to visit Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned. Thank you again--LOVE children's non-fiction!

Jeanne Walker Harvey said...

Lindsey, Thanks for stopping by! I hope you have a good trip. That's amazing that you will be visiting Robben Island. So glad you like kidlit nonfiction!

Jeanne Walker Harvey said...

Hi Myra, Sorry for the slow reply. I was away. That's so interesting that there is a Nelson Mandela School in Berlin -- I didn't knpw that. And, yes, isn't that an amazing book cover! thanks for stopping by!