Common Sense Media Review
By Regan McMahon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Stellar art portrays key aspects of Mandela's life for kids.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
NELSON MANDELA traces the life of the former South African president from his poor village childhood through his education, struggle for racial equality under apartheid rule, his 27-year imprisonment, and eventual freedom and presidency of the country.
Is It Any Good?
Dynamic art and simple text combine to convey the heroic nature of Mandela's life in ways even a young kid can understand. Author-illustrator Nelson Kadir's beautifully rendered moments in the great leader's life underscore the power of an individual to change the world, starting with the place where he lives, despite great odds and many years without success. An inspirational book about one of the world's most inspirational leaders.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what apartheid meant in South Africa. How was it different from or similar to segregation in the pre-Civil Rights United States?
Does Nelson Kadir's painting of a whites-only beach look like any historical photos of the American South that you've seen?
What other heroes of social justice have you read books or seen movies about?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Kadir Nelson
- Genre : Biography
- Topics : Activism , History
- Book type : Non-Fiction
- Publisher : Katherine Tegen Books
- Publication date : January 2, 2013
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 9
- Number of pages : 40
- Available on : Hardback
- Award : ALA Best and Notable Books
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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