Nelson Mandela

This work by Kadir Nelson is not a traditional biography. The book includes detailed pictures and the story of Mandela told so that younger children might understand. It begins with Mandela's childhood with his people and moves to his becoming a lawyer, and eventually leading civil rights rallies. Mandela is put into prison, but eventually returns to the embrace of his country. This book is a good example of political protest, and a different story of freedom rallies than the one traditionally told in America. It would serve best from second to fifth grade.

Nelson Mandela written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson. No modern life better illustrates the cost and the value of keeping the faith. Mandela was educated with the support of the United Methodist Church, drew strength from Thembu chiefs and his ancestors. The spare narrative moves swiftly through the timeline of Mandela’s life as a lawyer, activist, prisoner and president. The compelling pictures demonstrate his passion, character and generous spirit.

In Johannesburg, 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.
In glorious illustrations, 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

Kadir Nelson's artwork is just stunning. It's beautiful and forceful and moving.

In this book, Kadir works to explain Apartheid and Mandela's life in a way that children can understand. He shows, for example, a sign on a beach that says Whites Only. In the background are white people having fun. I think most children are going to be able to relate to the concept of not being allowed to play, and will realize the unfairness of such an arbitrary system.

At other times, Kadir shows men making little rocks out of big rocks. And he shows the small little cell and bed that Mandela slept on for decades.

There is possibly a little less emphasis on the roll of Europeans and their economic and moral support than I've seen in other books. But the show more strength of the people, and of Mandela shines through.

This is a gorgeous book.

Pam T~ show less

This is a beautiful book, as we'd expect from award-winning artist and author Kadir Nelson. He tells Nelson Mandela's story in prose that's structured like poetry. It's definitely a striking book, but it wasn't the whole package for me. I'd pair it with another biography of Mandela because I feel like it doesn't provide quite as much information as I'd like. There is an author's note with more information about Mandela's life (and sources are cited, hooray!), but I wish more of that information had been included in the actual text of the book.

This would make a great readaloud for kids who are already familiar with Mandela's life or apartheid or as part of a discussion about Nelson Mandela's life.

I have mixed feelings on this book seeing as its extremely well written, paced, and drawn but the plot does not leave much in the sense of gripping conflict that engrosses the reader. It pushes the reader to think about freedom and what they would do when faced with injustice, but it more or less just tells. I do not feel like the novel wants to open me up, but instead just implant the necessary information given. The writing is solid alongside understandable language, but it lacks the luster that a Mandela story should have in my opinion.

What catches your eye right away is that there is no title or the author’s name on the front cover, there is just a portrait of a kind face of Nelson Mandela. I thought that was a great choice of the author and illustrator Kadir Nelson. This is a moving biography of Nelson Mandela , a former president and a great liberator of South Africa. I, personally, did not know that his dad dies at the age of 9. Then Nelson was put to study under a great chief far away from home. I also did not know that Nelson spent 27 years in jail. He was an inspiring leader who fought for justice and against apartheid. He was successful at that. I want to be him when I grow up!! :)