Emmanuel's Dream

February 9, 2015
Thompson (Be a Changemaker) presents a warm, matter-of-fact overview of the life of Emmanuel Ofofu Yeboah, born in Ghana in 1977: âTwo 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.â Even before Thompson arrives at Yeboahâs efforts to change attitudes about physical disabilities through a cross-Ghana bicycle ride (the subject of a 2005 documentary, Emmanuelâs Gift), his determination to be seen for who he isâand not just for his disabilityâis made crystal clear. As a child, he âhopped to school and back,/ two miles each way,â and at age 13 he traveled to Accra on his own to support his family after his mother fell ill. Working in a palette of creamy oranges, teals, and gray-blues, Qualls (The Case for Loving) provides solid visual and emotional scaffolding for the setbacks and triumphs Yeboah faced while demonstrating âthat being disabled does not mean/ being unable.â Ages 4â8. Authorâs agent: Ammi-Joan Paquette, Erin Murphy Literary Agency. Illustratorâs agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House.

Starred review from March 1, 2015

K-Gr 2-This powerful and winning picture book tells the story of a young man overcoming the odds. Born in Ghana with a deformed left leg, Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah experienced stigma as a result of his disability: his father abandoned the family, and many assumed that the boy would be little more than a burden. However, with the encouragement of his mother, Yeboah refused to give up, hopping to school (instead of walking) and even learning to play soccer and cycle, despite receiving no extra help or accommodations. Thompson's lucidly written text explains how Yeboah cycled 400 miles in 2001 to raise awareness, forever changing how Ghanaians perceived those with disabilities. The narrative is simply and clearly written, and the illustrations are skillfully rendered in charmingly emotive ink and watercolor collages. A brief author's note explains how Yeboah inspired legislation upholding equal rights for the disabled and how he continues to make strides, working with organizations that provide wheelchairs to those who need them and setting up a scholarship fund for children with disabilities. VERDICT This uplifting account will resonate with readers and supplement global and cultural studies. A triumph.-Kathryn Diman, Bass Harbor Memorial Library, Bernard, ME

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2015
Grades K-2 Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah was born in Ghana with a severely deformed leg, but with boundless self-determination, he became a world-renowned athlete and activist. In the beginning of her straightforward, free-verse text, Thompson only lightly touches on what it's like for disabled people in Ghana: Most people thought he would be useless, or worse / a curse. But most of Emmanuel's childhood is characterized by discrimination. When he tries to find work to support his sickly single mother, most people told him to go out and beg / like the other disabled people did. Stalwart Emmanuel, however, is resolute about making a difference, and he obtains a bicycle to travel around Ghana, nearly 400 miles in 10 days, to prove just how capable disabled people can be. Qualls' illustrationssimple line drawings and stylish, expressive figures filled with layers of rich, warm color on pale, thickly painted backgroundscapture Emmanuel's triumphs beautifully. An author's note describes Emmanuel's activism in more detail, particularly the Persons with Disabilities Act, passed in Ghana following his bike ride.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)