Zindzi Mandela (1960–2020)

Zindzi Mandela tells her curious grandchildren Zazi and Ziwelene the story of their great-grandfather Nelson Mandela.

When Nelson Mandela’s great-grandchildren Zazi and Ziwelene find a photo of their great-grandfather, that sparks an honest discussion about apartheid and race relations in South Africa. Answering her grandchildren’s questions, Zindzi Mandela shares her experience as a child of apartheid, what her mother’s and father’s lives were like and how dedicated Mandela was to his people; “Grandad was fighting for us all to be equal.” In clear and emotional language, the authors discuss the history of apartheid and Mandela’s fight to end it, even while locked away in prison. One of the story’s central messages is the importance of living a life of service, as did Mandela, “a man who was able to forgive all the people who made him and his family and his people suffer.” Qualls’ pencil, collage, and acrylic illustrations are evocative; powerful spreads depict police brutality, incarceration, protest, segregation, and hope. Qualls showcases his command of color, emotion, and style on every page. Readers might come away from this informational book wanting better documentation of historical facts; there is no authors’ note or other backmatter. Nevertheless, this is a beautiful and inspiring reflection on Nelson Mandela’s life and his impact on the world.

A gorgeous and personal tribute to Mandela’s legacy. (Picture book/biography. 6-12)

-Kirkus Review… (more)

Grandad Mandela is a picture book that teaches elementary grade students about Nelson Mandela, African politics and how Mandela fought (without weapons) for his beliefs. Two great-grandchildren of Nelson Mandela ask their grandmother questions about his life which she clearly and directly answers. Because of the style this story is written in, it does not flow as well as some children's books do, but it is an interesting topic and should hold the attention of the reader or listener. The author was able to give a lot of information about Nelson Mandela, apartheid and the People of Colour living in South Africa in a short book.

This book is a good starting point for children who want to learn about Mandela, social justice and what they, themselves, can do to further Mandela's legacy. It can also be used when teaching about biographies and the various styles they are written in. The illustrations by Sean Qualls match the dignity and directness of the text. This is a great beginning to learn about Nelson Mandela and could be a great way to encourage further research. The one thing that the author or publisher could have added would be resources to find out more. I recommend this book for school and public libraries. The publisher, Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Childrens, provided me with a copy of this book to read. The opinions stated are my own.… (more)