Grandad Mandela

Grandad Mandela is a picture book that teaches young, through elementary grade, students about Nelson Mandela, African politics and how Mandela fought (without weapons) for his beliefs. The schema of the book is that Mandela's great grandchildren ask questions and their grandmother tells the story. Concepts such as apartheid are simply and clearly explained. 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 . Of note is that this book is written by members of the Mandela family.

Grandad Mandela shows the stories of Nelson Mandela's life through the lens of his daughter telling her children stories and answering their questions. Because of this format, the writing can seem quite stilted but I feel that the author managed to cram a lot of important information and messages into very few words on each page.

I think that this would be perfect for slightly older children than the usual picture book demographic due to the importance of the information; I imagine it would be a brilliant way to introduce difficult topics such as racism to a child.

The illustration style is gorgeous. It really evokes a sense of place and culture and fits perfectly with the story.

Overall I would recommend this book to people who want to teach their children more about race and the problems that different people across the world have dealt with. Also it is a great introduction to the importance of Nelson Mandela in history.

Two great-grandchildren of Nelson Mandela ask their grandmother questions about his life which she clearly and directly answers. Illustrations by Sean Qualls match the dignity and directness of the text. A fine introduction to Mandela's life and a good steppingstone to further research.

Having loved other books published by Frances Lincoln, when approached by the publisher to read Grandad Mandela I decided why not! I am very glad that I did because it was such an informative read that was easy to digest.

I shamefully don’t actually know that much about Nelson Mandela and the apartheid, so this book was a really good introduction to him and what he did. Narrated in a way that’s engaging for children, Grandad Mandela is told from the perspective of his daughter and great-grandchildren as they ask their grandma questions about her father. Add to that it is beautifully illustrated throughout by Sean Qualls, and you’re on to a winner here.

I’d definitely recommend Grandad Mandela for fans of the Little People Big Dreams series, and for those who would like to learn the basics about Nelson Mandela and what he did for South Africa!

We need to pass the past on to our children, and this is a good book to help do that. A very simple picture book, with questions that the children ask about Grandad Mandela, that their grandmother tries to answer, which allows us to get our questions answered as well.

This book was written by the grand children of Nelson Mandela.

The pictures are bright and appear to be based on photographs, as that pose in the picture below, looks very familiar.

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Good introduction to learning about other countries, as well as learning about discrimination and police brutality.

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And in the end, the message it to help others.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

Except from a review on my website: Miss Jenny's Classroom

I don't actually get enough history books coming across my desk and I truly wish I did get more because I LOVE history. In fact it was history that really got me reading widely in my teens and beyond. When I was offered an ARC for this book I immediately said yes but I'll be honest: I didn't know that much about Nelson Mandela.

I know, that might sound odd, but I knew who he was and that he'd been imprisoned. I knew enough about apartheid to carry on a discussion but I really didn't know how all the pieces fit together...until now. This book is dealing with a really big issue - apartheid. I'll be honest in saying that this is a topic that brings out strong emotions and opinions in people (and with good reason) and thus makes it a tricky topic to convey to a reader - let alone in a picture book (more what I would call a Transition Book) format.

One thing that really stood out for me what that this wasn't made into a black vs white debate. It mentions in context thoughts about it and the culture that had developed in the country that led to apartheid occurring but also balances this out showing that while Nelson Mandela fought for change from prison many people of colour and white as well were fighting to end apartheid together.

I really liked the approach of this book with the great-grandchildren asking questions. It's a natural way to tell a story, and especially important in my opinion as this is about a real person. The family vibe really adds to that real person mantra.

Grandad Mandela serves as a wonderful introduction to the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela, who brought an end to racial apartheid while president of South Africa.

The book is written as a conversation between the book's author, Zindzi Mandela, who is Nelson Mandela's daughter, and her two grandchildren, Zazi and Ziwelene. While the conversation primarily serves to structure the narrative, it also brings a sense of familial connection and pride to Mandela's story.

In order to adequately cover the major events of Mandela's life, the story also explains important concepts from that time and place that might not make as much sense to children these days, such as apartheid, justice (especially as it related to apartheid), and the African principle of "Ubuntu" -- treating others as we would want to be treated, and in Mandela's case, forgiving his enemies in order to work with them for the betterment of the entire country.

In addition to the thorough (without being too wordy) and important story, the illustrations here are wonderful -- they capture the view of Mandela as a single, important person, but also his fight for justice and the way it encompassed an entire country -- and the colors are wonderful too.

This is a great way for children to learn about an important historical figure, and for those of us who are older, it can serve as a jumping-off point for further reading.

(Very little is actually said of violence ("fight" is generally used as a more theoretical term, implying the general fight for justice), but there is one scene that depicts two white policeman with sticks raised over two black people who are on the ground -- no blood, but it gives a visual of the racial dominance that was upheld under apartheid.)

(Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy.)

My son and I enjoyed this book, but it needs more background information. I know enough about Mandela to supplement the story for clarity, but a child in the US reading the story on his own may get confused. I wanted a brief biography at the end.

I enjoyed the illustrations, and kids will appreciate that this biography is told like a story. They hear about family members from other family members too, so in that way they will relate to this book - while learning about an important historical figure.

Questions and answers is an Interesting way to present the story of Nelson Mandela. The information presented gives good basic introduction to the life of Mandela. The flow seemed a little forced at times. Illustrations were wonderful

Gorgeous illustrations. Very helpful children’s book to teach children about racism and apartheid and the struggles Mandela went through.

What a sweet and powerful story about Nelson Mandela and his legacy. This book is written as if Mandela's daughter was telling his grandchildren about Mandela's life. It is told simply in a way to help kids start to understand big evils like apartheid and segregation.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the read.

What a beautiful way to introduce children to such an important figure, and how lovely to see him through the eyes of his family. A touching and well designed book, with strong illustrations.

This story is based on questions and answers between Nelson Mandela’s daughter and her grandchildren after they see a picture of their grandpa.

“Look, Grandma! said Zazi. “We found a picture of Grandad Mandela. Can you tell us about him again?”

The questioning begins after Grandma Zindzi reminds the children that granddad Mandela was her dad and that he went to jail when she was eighteen months old.

She goes on to explain what her dad was fighting for. When she finishes the next question is:

“Did you like it? asked Zazi."

Grandma explains that white people's houses, schools, and hospitals weren’t mixed with theirs. Their homes, schools, and hospitals were inferior to the whites and it wasn’t fair.

“But why did the white people start making everybody’s lives be sad lives?” asked Ziwelene."

And this is the format of the book as it explains Mandela’s life through the eyes of his daughter.



Concerns:

To be honest, at first, I wasn’t a fan of the question/answer format. But as I read the book a second time I felt better about it. I couldn’t locate the targeted age group for this book on the publisher’s website, but due to the format, I wouldn’t recommend it for the very young.

What I Liked Most:

This was a unique presentation of a very special man and his family. A great resource for teachers and a good book to promote discussions.

This history lesson in picture book form was interesting. It deals with Mandela’s grandchildren asking their mother about who their granddad was and why he went to prison, what he believed etc. I think the book is very successful in it’s points, and uses simple language to help kids understand Mandela and his life.

A conversation between the daughter and 2 great-grandchildren of Nelson Mandela. The book answers key questions about the life of the man they knew as grandad, but the world knew as a champion for the rights of all and social justice.

The book is a good introduction to the life of Mandela and what life was like for him and his family. This book could be used with older children to teach about a sensitive issue and why Nelson Mandela is such an important figure in our recent history.

To any South African reading this - I don't care what your colour is, or what your stance is on farm or muti murders, xenophobia or your discrimination against the Chinese in our country - or any of the other problems our country is riddled with. Please, read this review and buy this book. We need to get over this race thing. Because if I see one more kid brainwashed by the thoughts of his or her family about race, I think I'm calling the social workers.

You know like we say "I love you lots like jelly lots?' We are different colours but we all taste the same?"


I was pretty much AWOL when Mandela came out of Prison. I wasn't even in utero yet, but I remember growing up with a beautiful picture book of stories chosen my Madiba. I loved Mandela because of his choice of wonderful stories and illustrations at that point - not knowing anything much about him other than helping end Apartheid and being the first black president of the country. Looking back, I think his wonderful personality shone through that picture book.

Ah, the things kids focus on.

This book is told by Zindzi, one of Mandela's children. I love that this is not a generic book written by an outsider - it's his daughter who has a story to tell about him. Mandela was sent to prison when when she was only 18 months old. She tells this story to her grandchildren.



The artstyle is multi-medium and lovely. It's drawn, cut out and painted as well as made to look old and worn in some places.

Zindzi explains to her grandchildren why white South Africans started Apartheid, and I couldn't agree with her reasoning more:

You see a glimpse of how bad life under Apartheid was for Zindzi. This book gives an introductory lesson into where Madiba and Winnie grew up. It also introduces children to concepts like justice, and the tenacity to never give up. It also explains why Madiba was kept in prison.

I wish that all South Africans would look past our current political situations and stop blaming races - befriending people of different colours and cultural backgrounds has changed my life for the better. So many South Africans will accept others, but not invite them into their friend circles. Stop thinking of things as an "Us and Them" matter. It's just an "us" matter.

You have to understand that when my mom grew up, they didn't know what Mandela looked like. Having a picture of him was prohibited by law So when he came out of jail, there was a massive controversy- most people were so happy, but other idiots weren't.

I remember stories of my aunt partaking in anti-Apartheid strikes where they'd get pepper-sprayed. The government was truly horrible back then. This is a good way to introduce the concepts of fighting a horrible system.

This book really brought my perspective back to where it should be. Highly Recommended for all South Africans who need to get over their kak and start to learn acceptance and love. Madiba was trying to show us something, people. Please stop engaging in acts of hate - that's the reason that crime based on race is happening in our country. This picture book fosters the equality we need.

Thank you, Madiba, for giving me a chance to see my black friends in class and see my gay friends kiss. If not for you...I don't know where we would be. This book has stirred up so many positive emotions in me, but sadness at the current state of our country and mindsets.

This introduction to Nelson Mandela's life and legacy is a great way to start the conversation with children. The message and illustrations are both beautiful and important, and at the end the reader is left with a heartwarming feeling of community. The question-and-answer format of the story allows for a gentle and familiar avenue of discussion on the topics of apartheid, Mandela's life, racism, and more.

I think the beauty of this book is that it was written by Nelson Mandela’s own family. Their personal story about his life flows on each page. As a teacher, I felt like I learned several new things about Mandela’s life and legacy. I think this is an excellent nonfiction picture book about a very important man who changed South Africa for the better. It is perfect for elementary book reports. And research projects. Sean Qualls is an incredibly talented illustrator and this book is no exception. The pictures jump off the page and capture the depth of the story. This is a story that should be a part of every children’s library.

Thank you to Quarto for sending me a digital copy of this book to review!

This is an enchanting read. Grandad Mandela is a picture book highlighting the life and vision of one of the greatest humanitarians in history. The illustrations are bold and contrasting and the language used is simple yet resonating. The exciting thing is that Mandela's life story is told through the words of his own family! They share the principles on which he was raised, the struggles he undertook and what we can do to help continue his legacy.

This book is a great way to not only familiarize children with the work and non-violent ideology of Mandela but will also help start a conversation regarding sensitive issues like race so that we can raise more empathetic adults who are willing to contribute to making the world a better place.

A must read for young leaders-in-the-making everywhere!

'Grandad Mandela' by Ambassador Zindzi Mandela with Zazi and Ziwelene Mandela and illustrations by Sean Qualls is a book authored by the Mandela family and published to coincide with what would have been his 100th birthday. It's a beautiful way to remember a great man.

The story is set out as a series of 15 questions and answers from the great grandchildren about Nelson Mandela. The questions are the sort any child would ask: Why was he in prison? Did he ever try to escape? Were other people wanting justice too?

The questions are answered frankly and illustrated nicely. It would be a good way to introduce a young child to the life of this man and his struggle for freedom in South Africa. I really like that it is written by the descendents of Nelson Mandela.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Children's Books, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

Wonderful book teaching youth an important part of history. The illustrations are beautiful as well -- everything about this book is a delight.

The children's Grandad Mandela is the story Nelson Mandela's life through the lens of his daughter. The illustrations are simply amazing. I loved the book, for the pictures as much as the text. The illustrations evokes a sense of Africa and it's beauty and culture.

This book would be perfect for elementary aged children, who are beginning to learn about different cultures, African history or simply leaders of the world.

I highly recommend this book to teachers for inclusion in their classroom library, as well as parents who want to include diversity in their children's own personal library. It would be a great book to discuss race, equality, lawlessness and inclusiveness for all.

I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend you read it as well.

Thank you to the publisher and #NetGalley for a pre-publication ebook in exchange for an honest review.

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.

Grandad Mandela is a very important story about a part of history that we cannot forget. However, because it is told as two children asking about their great-grandfather after coming across an old photo of him, the explanations make sense for children of all ages. The idea of teaching a child what apartheid is is challenging, but grandparents are pretty good at taking difficult topics and having them make sense for kids.

The questions are things that kids would ask. Not only why did he go to prison, but did he get to celebrate his birthday in prison?

This book was written so that children today could understand the power of the South African people coming together to end apartheid and how Nelson Mandela was the spirit of the movement. One thing that I love is that at the end when they are asking their grandmother if she misses her father, she says that while she misses him, the best way to honor his memory is to volunteer and to help make the world a better, more loving place.

Grandad Mandela is a great way to introduce the topic of who Nelson Mandela was and what apartheid was. It can help children think about race issues in the United States with a little bit of distance and it encourages all of us to be better people and think of those around us.

A shortened story of Mandela's life, told by two of his own grandchildren asking questions to their mummy (Mandela's daughter). The illustration is faultless, and the story is told really nicely, however considering my own 5 year old reading this book will cause too many questions like: why the police were so bad? why did they put him in jail? So maybe I'd wait a bit longer to read this with my son :)
I loved the ending.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

GRANDAD MANDELA is a Valentine to one of the most courageous men in history, the late Nelson Mandela. This beautifully illustrated biography for children was written by his family to honor his 100th birthday. Questions from his great-grandchildren to his daughter form this lovely book’s structure. Highly recommended for readers of all ages who can benefit from the legacy of this fearless spiritual legend. 5/5

Grateful to the Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Children’s Books and NetGalley for the early copy, in exchange for my true review.

#GrandadMandela #NetGalley

3.5★
“Do you know what Ubuntu means? . . . 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.”

On this, the hundredth birthday of Nelson Mandela (born 18 July 1918), it seems fitting to show a new children’s picture book that tells a simplified history of the man, his life, and his legacy.

Two of his great-grandchildren are asking their grandma, Mandela’s daughter, about Grandad Mandela – how he lived, where he grew up, why he went to prison – all the things you’d want to know about a man you were related to who was world-famous and won the Nobel Peace Prize.

Zazi and Ziwelene Mandela are visiting Grandma Zindzi and begging her to please tell them about the man in the photographs one more time. They asked where he used to live.

[My Goodreads review includes an illustration of Mandela as a boy with thatched clay home in background.]

Then they want to know why he and other people were upset with the way things were in South Africa. There are illustrations of white police beating black people, and Grandma Zindzi explains about Apartheid.

[My Goodreads review includes an illustration of Zindzi as a little girl with her sister and her mother standing next to a park bench while a white mother sits on it with her little girl.]

She explains the anger, the fighting and the rallies and how Nelson was imprisoned for many years, yes, even for his birthday. But when the world pressure built up, he was finally released and became the President of the country, leading both black and whites.

[My Goodreads review includes an illustration of Mandela as President and the end of Apartheid.]

The book finishes on a nice philosophical note.

[My Goodreads review includes an illustration of the meaning of Ubuntu – many different people living together.]

Grandma Zindzi explains that if they are volunteering to care about people, they are doing the same work as Grandad Mandela.

Like the other books in this series, it’s a nice idea to make history very accessible for children and for people who may struggle with “literature”. I still find the illustrations a bit strange and not terribly appealing, but the story is an important one, especially on this hundredth anniversary of a wonderful man.

Thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing for the preview copy from which I’ve quoted and copied illustrations. I’m pleased the Mandela family is continuing what Grandad Mandela started.

It is always difficult to explain to children how and especially why bad things happens. To explain racism and the desire of some humans to humiliate and kill other humans. Sometimes it is completely impossible but through the story there is always a chance to encourage them to grow up as good responsible, hate-free adults. It is a try but worth doing it to make the world a better place.
Grandad Mandela is written by Mandela family members, told as a story based on questions and answers between children. It is autobiographical in its character and through the questions and answers various episodes from Mandela's life and his circumstances are outlined. It is a very easy read, sometimes too standard in terms of approaches, but useful for someone looking to a short understanding of this historical time from the life of South Africa. I was not completely satisfied by the choice of illustrations, but it has an artsy dramatic touch which compliments and sometimes adds more dynamism to the writing.
Recommended as a wise companion to history lessons.

Interesting to read about a famous figure in history from his family's perspective. Fun to read with kids. Great illistrations!mwould recommend.

The story of apartheid and Mandela's struggle is hard to convey to younger people without factoring in the material suffering and hurt it caused to Black people in South Africa. However, this book condenses the important themes of justice and the concept of ubuntu for younger readers in a way that is accessible and hopefully leads them to inquire more on their own as they get older. The artwork is gorgeous and conveys a sense of atmosphere and place.

A gorgeous picture book at Mandela's fight for freedom told from the perspective of his grandchildren speaking to Winnie.

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.

Two kids ask their grandmother—daughter of Nelson Mandela—to tell them the story of the great man. Considering the perspective of coming from his family, and that it’s for kids, it’s far different than any other biography you’re likely to read. It’s perfect in its simplicity.
The artwork for some reason reminds me of Frida Kahlo, using a lot of different angles and color schemes, which some people will find innovative and others simply weird. There’s a funny visual where protesters are holding up placards, and the text of the story is on them.

Nelson Mandela is one of those figures I grew up hearing about but I never really knew much about him, just that he was imprisoned for protesting apartheid. So I learned a lot from this book about his career. It might have been nice to see the book explain more about apartheid, especially regarding the role of colonialism, but a picture book has inherent limitations. What this becomes, then, is a great way to start a conversation about racism and justice with young readers.

This is a great picture book for children. I think it is a good way to introduce famous people to them. As adult, I learn new things about Nelson Mandela by reading each pages of this book.

Talking about the illustration, I love he color choices but I wish they draw it better.

Written by intimate family members, Grandad Mandela is a dialogue between Grandma Zindzi and her two grandchildren about their famous great grandfather, Nelson Mandela. Through uniquely beautiful art, and engaging storytelling, young readers learn all about Mandela and his fight against apartheid. There's even a bit of South African culture to learn about. Grandma Zindzi finishes up by discussing the concept of Ubuntu, which is like our 'golden rule’. Basically, treat others how you want to be treated. She also talks about volunteering. I do wish there had been some suggestions about how to volunteer, especially geared towards kids. Still, as a teaching tool for young readers, this is an excellent resource! My cubs and I read it together, and it prompted a desire to learn even more about Mandela. Highly recommended!

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Grandad Mandela is such an amazing story! Unique in that it is told from the perspectives of his daughter and two of his young grandchildren, Zazi and Ziwelene Mandela! While reading along we learn about the influential life and works of Nelson Mandela and how he changed and inspired the world! Reading this book introduces children to South Africa during the time of apartheid. The words, message and illustrations in this story are so powerful and moving! As a reader you are taken to a time when discrimination, racism, segregation, and inequality were justified by harsh and unreasonable laws! Mandela dedicated his lifetime to changing this systematic oppression of South Africans, and his legacy and works continue to inspire and change the world to this day! This one is definitely a must read for everyone!

Grandad Mandela
by Zindzi Mandela , Zazi Mandela, and Ziwelene Mandela
​ill Sean Qualls
'I cannot and will not give any undertaking at a time when I and you, the people, are not free.' ​
Picture
Eight-year-old Zazi and six-year-old Ziwelene discover an old photograph. Their grandmother Zindzi Mandela, the youngest child born to Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and President Nelson Mandela, recognizes the photo immediately. It is a picture of her father. Through a series of questions, the great grandchildren learn about their heritage, their great grandfather's legacy, and the struggle to dismantle apartheid and win the freedom for all peoples in South Africa.
The deprivation, pain, and imprisonment Mandela endured are explained. However, Grandmother lovingly frames the story in a positive light, pointing out the strength and dignity of her father and his firm resolve to remain true to his principles.
​"I want to see you strong,
​you must hold your head up high."
Grandmother continues, relating Mandela's release from prison and his subsequent South African presidency, as well as his tireless efforts to champion equality and justice for all.
The children are encouraged to honor him by volunteering and working to create a better world.
Ambassador Zindzi Mandela, with her grandchildren Zazi and Ziwelene have written a personal and powerful tribute to Mandela's life and legacy. Grandad Mandela is an exquisite volume and a treasure for children throughout the world.
Picture
Ubuntu: I am because we all are
Sean Qualls employs a predominantly sepia-toned pallet. It heightens the warmth of family connection. There is a sense of the humanity and humility of this man and of his family, grounded in their country and its people.