Emmanuel's Dream

The True Story of
Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah

Schwartz & Wade Books
(published 1.6.2015)  40 pages

A True Tale
with A Cherry On Top

A uthor: Laurie Ann Thompson
      and Illustrator: Sean Qualls

C haracter: Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah

O verview from the jacket flap:

    "Here is the inspiring true story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, who cycled an incredible four hundred miles across Ghana - with only one strong leg - to spread his powerful message: disability doesn't mean inability."

T antalizing taste:

"In Ghana, West Africa, a baby boy was born:
Two bright eyes blinked in the light,
two healthy lungs let out a powerful cry,
two tiny fists opened and closed,
but only one strong leg kicked.

Most people thought he would be useless, or worse -
a curse.
His father left, never to return.
But his mother had faith...
Her name is Comfort,
and she named her first child Emmanuel,
meaning 'God is with us.'

As Emmanuel grew,
Mama Comfort told him he could have anything,
but he would have to get it for himself. 

He learned to crawl and hop,
to fetch water and climb
coconut trees.
He even shined shoes to earn money."

and something more: The Author's Note explains that in "2006, thanks in large part to Emmanuel's bike ride [in 2001 at the age of 24] and his continued political activism, the Ghanaian Parliament passed the Persons with Disability Act, which states that people with physical disabilities are entitled to all of the same rights as the rest of the country' citizens." His latest project focuses on building a school for children with and without disabilities.

A lovely quote by Emmanuel: "In this world, we are not perfect. We can only do our best."