Monday, July 9, 2018

Grandad Mandela - a bookwrap











A book from the family to celebrate Nelson Mandela's 100th birthday!  

"Ubuntu... means I am because we all are. " 



Unwrapping






"Grandad Mandela"

Authored by Ambassador Zindzi Mandela 
(Zazi Mandela and Ziwelene Mandela)

Illustrated by Sean Qualls

* Age Range: 6-12
* Grade Level: 1-3
* Publisher: Lincoln Children's books; lll edition
* Pub. Date: June 21, 2018
* Language: English



Editorial Reviews



“…beautiful and inspiring… A gorgeous and personal tribute to Mandela’s legacy.” –Kirkus Reviews
- Kirkus Reviews

"...profoundly moving..." -Publishers Weekly

- Publishers Weekly



Unwrapping some wonderful illustrations for you




'Did they make your lives sad too?' asked Ziwelene.
'Yes,' Grandma Zindzi replied. 'Every time Big Mummy sent us to school, the apartheid police would come and throw us out. Even if we changed our names and pretended we were someone else, they would still find us.  











'Where did Grandad Mandela grow up?' asked Zazi.

'Well,' said Zindzi, 'he was born in Mvezo, but he grew up in Qunu.' 'I’ve been there!' said Zazi. 'I know you have,' said Grandma Zindzi. 'When he grew up, Grandad lived in a traditional home made out of clay with a thatched roof. He had to get water from the river and cook in pots on the fire.











'Do you miss Grandad Mandela?' asked Ziwelene.

'Of course!' said Grandma Zindzi. 'But I know a good way to remember him. Do you know what volunteering is?' 'Yes,' said Zazi. 'We volunteer to say we care about everyone, to make them feel happy and not make them feel like they don’t belong anywhere.' 'That’s right, Zazi!' said Grandma Zindzi. 'Do you know what that means?' 'What?' said Ziwelene.





About the book




This book is a lovely history lesson of a living legend known worldwide for his message of peace and forgiveness.  Nelson Mandela is that man and his life is retold by a question and answer session between his two great-grandchildren and their grandmother, Mandela's youngest daughter.  

They learn that their great-grandad was held in prison for 27 years and the reason that he was placed there.  He fought for justice and equality for his race in South Africa.  The book highlights the struggle and brute determination he exhibited. He never gives up fighting the good fight to eradicate apartheid in his country. 

The children learn from their grandmother the pride and joy of seeing her father release from prison and being made President of South Africa. He also receives the Nobel Piece Prize.  She encourages them to follow in their great-grandfather's footsteps by volunteering so they too can change the injustices found in the world. This story is told through the eyes of  his beloved grand children.  His loving family wants to keep the legacy of such an inspirational and honourable man alive.  "Grandad Mandela" is told to celebrate Nelson's Mandela's 100th birthday.  He was born July 18, 1918 and died December 5, 2013. 

"Do you now what Ubuntu means?" she asked.
"I think I used to..."said Zazi.  "It means,  'I am because we all are.' This is what we believe as African people: we believe in treating people the way we want to be treated.  This is what inspired Grandad to fight for his people, and what helped him to forgive his enemies too."  

A perfect summation to a wonderful, exhalting book.  I highly recommend it with its beautiful paper-collage illustrations that are simple, yet very powerful to the story.   




Storywraps Rating - 5 +++ HUGS!!!!!







About the author






Ambassador Zindzi Mandela is a South African freedom fighter, diplomat, writer, speaker, cultural advocate and favorite Grandma. She is the last born child of Mrs Winnie Madikizela- Mandela and President Nelson Mandela, and was only 18 months old when her father went to prison. In 1985, when she was 25 years old, she read Nelson Mandela's famous refusal to accept the offer of conditional release from President P. W. Botha to a packed football stadium in Soweto, saying his words, 'I cannot and will not give any undertaking at a time when I and you, the people, are not free.' The Ambassador lives in Copenhagen where she serves as South Africa's ambassador to Denmark.







The supporting cast of characters




Zazi Mandela (8) and Ziwelene Mandela (6) are the great-grandchildren of Mrs. Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and President Nelson Mandela. Zazi is a storyteller and an aspiring performer. Ziwelene is a storyteller and a maverick. 


Sean Qualls is an award winning, Brooklyn-based, children’s book illustrator, artist and author. He has illustrated a number of highly acclaimed books for children, including Giant Steps to Change The World by Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis-Lee, Little Cloud and Lady Wind by Toni Morrison and her son Slade, and Before John Was a Jazz Giant, for which he received a Coretta Scott King Illustration Honor. Sean also created the art for Dizzy by Jonah Winter and Skit Scat Raggedy Cat by Roxane Orgill. His work has received two Blue Ribbon citations from the Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books. Qualls has created illustrations for magazines, newspapers, and advertisements and his work has been shown in galleries in New York and across the country. 





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