Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

by Chris van Wyk (Adaptation), Nelson Mandela, Paddy Bouma (Illustrator)

Nelson Mandela's autobiography, LONG WALK TO FREEDOM, offers a glimpse into the mind of a great leader, admired across the globe for his dedication to the struggles against apartheid in South Africa. Now the youngest readers can discover the remarkable story of Mandela's long walk from ordinary village boy, to his dynamic leadership of the African National Congress, to his many long years in prison-and, at last, his freedom and astonishing rise to become the leader of his country.

Genres: Biography, Picture Books, Africa, Nonfiction, History, Childrens, Geography

64 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2009

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based upon Nelson Mandela's autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom , this picture-book presents the story of the long-time activist who fought against the injustices of South Africa's apartheid regime to younger readers. Beginning with his birth in the small Thembu village of Mvezo in 1918, Chris van Wyk's adaptation traces Mandela's story through his school years, his early career as a lawyer, and his role in the African National Congress. The infamous Sharpeville Massacre, Mandela's trial for plotting the "overthrow the government," and his subsequent twenty-seven years in prison, are all briefly covered. The book concludes with the story of Mandela's release, and his election as South Africa's first black president...

Created in collaboration with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, this lovely picture-book gives an excellent overview of Mandela's life, covering all the bases. A timeline and glossary are included at the rear. Paddy Bouma's evocative color illustrations ably accompany the text. All in all, a most welcome addition to the field of biography for the younger child. Recommended to any picture-book reader who enjoys biography, or is interested in Nelson Mandela.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I admit that, while I've always held an admiration for Nelson Mandela and what he accomplished, it wasn't until I watched "Invictus" that I began to become more curious about the man himself. Loving picture books as I do, and often finding picture book biographies more compelling than longer "grown-up" books, I was eager to read this picture book abridgment of Mandela's autobiography "Long Walk to Freedom" Alas, I was not as interested in it, or moved by it, as I had hoped to be.

The book covers most of the milestones in Mandela's life, starting from his childhood and ending with his election as president. It fails to delve into some of the nuances of Mandela's character and choices, such as his estrangement from his family--issues I find deeply fascinating regarding Mandela as both a human and as a servant of the people. I'm willing to forgive this given the intended audience for the book. And, there is no doubt that Mandela's story is inspiring. It can't help but be amazing. And, yet, for me, the story failed to really capture the spirit of the man or the excitement or pathos of the times. Some of the word choices could have been stronger, more creative. At times, the illustrations were warm and touching. In a few instances, though, I found them a bit lacking.

I do appreciate that the author and illustrator are both from South Africa. I appreciate the intention of the book and think it is important for young people to know about Mandela, about all those who fought to end apartheid. But I ended the book feeling I could have learned just as much from some online searches for "Mandela Biography" and I remain thirsty for more insight into his personality.

[Rachel Lowry · Rating 5 out of 5]

When my son was 8 years old he grabbed a copy of this from the op shop and read it in one sitting. Listening to him digest the story of Nelson Mandela as he read it the first time was really moving. He picked it up the next day and read it again. Last night I noticed he was reading it again. He’s 9 now, and says he has read t at least 5 times because he finds the story so important. We’ll done to the author and illustrator, it’s not easy to reach that age group in a way that has them picking it up again. Highly recommend this book for kids.

[Seripa M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book and has enlightened me about the history of my country. Mandela was a hero to all South Africans during the time of apartheid and has brought me to where I am today. If it wasn't for him I wouldn't of has such a good country.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids were getting a little stir crazy after only one week of the Covid-19 stay-at-home situation. So I read to them about a man who spent more than a quarter of a century locked in a cell because he believed in equality. Perspective is important.

[Julian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is children's adaptation of Nelson Mandela's autobiography, Long walk to freedom. It's a great walk through Mandela's life, apartheid and all the challenges he overcame. It is great for children to understand racism, prejudice and the power of the collective to change our lives. My 8yo was very engaged, even when we were very tired on a Friday night.

[Nicole Marzan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom is the abridged, picture book version of Mandela's autobiography of the same title. The picture book biography by Chris van Wyk is told from a first person perspective with Nelson Mandela being the narrator. The book begins with some background information about how the Europeans came to South Africa and fought over the land and tribes (the Xhosas, the Zulus, and the Tswanas). Nelson was born into the Thembu tribe on July 18, 1918. Nelson talks about his father and his life as a young boy; he refers to these memories as the "happy days." The book then goes deep into the life Nelson Mandela, describing his move to a different village, his schooling, and finally his fight against apartheid.

I really enjoyed this book because of all the details. I was given a lot of in depth information in this book, even though it is set up as a picture book for kids. I thought it was nice how on the endpapers at the beginning and end of the book there is a quote by Nelson Mandela. This gives the reader a good preview at what Mandela's beliefs and ideas were. I also enjoyed the illustrations by Paddy Bouma. Bouma uses a technique that does not focus too much on the details in the character's faces but more so on the cohesiveness of the page as a whole. The last page shows Nelson standing with a group of children holding the South African flag and it clear that the children are all of different ethnicity even though their faces do not have a lot of detail. I also liked how there was a glossary and timeline in the back of the book. Overall, I think this book would be very beneficial for a child who has to do a report on Mandela because of all the details that the book contains as well as the interesting and eye-catching illustrations.

[The Library Mouse Tales · Rating 5 out of 5]

We bought this book during Black History Month so that I could learn more about one of the most well known and influential figures from black history. It tells the incredible story of his life and achievements.

He experienced the unfair treatment that black people faced in South Africa while it was under white control. He chose to fight apartheid, and suffered many unfair punishments including being imprisoned for 27 years. before becoming South Africa’s first democratically elected black president. For the rest of his life he continued the campaign for freedom and justice throughout the world.

The book has been specially adapted for children but is based on Nelson Mandela’s own autobiography ‘Long Walk to Freedom’ published in 1994. The picture book is simply written to suit a younger audience, contains lots of biographical information and is full of colourful illustrations of Nelson Mandela and events throughout his lifetime. There’s a really useful timeline and glossary at the back of the book too which will help anyone researching for a project or school work.

I think this book is an excellent way to learn about this very important man and how he helped change history for so many people.

[Sudip Rakshit]

A lovely pictorial version of the biography of one of the greatest men of our times.
Gives a glimpse of the travails of Rolihlahla who was named Nelson by his school teacher, who left his own home after his father passed away and his uncles house as he was being asked to get into an arranged marriage. His not taking the college union leadership and joining the college board as most studnets did not take part in the voting- and having to leave the college ....later he joined law school and the ANC..started the youth wing of the ANC...but realized that the only way to stand up to the brutal apartheid government was by force - he travelled out of the country to get training in armed warfare..but was arrested and sent to Robin island where he spent 18 of his total 27 years ....later he was released from prison by De Klirk the president of South Africa at the time who negotiated with Mandela to fully dismantle apartheid and establish a transition to universal suffrage....

I plan to read the whole book soon....

[Eve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely book for children to learn about Nelson Mandela and apartheid. Age appropriate without hiding the realities. For me, at times, bits about his personal life were a bit long and wordy and maybe less important to focus on than his political life and struggles (that said, some personal context is necessary). Bought this for my nephew who is 6, but I might leave it til he's 7 to give it to him - maybe slightly too grown up a topic for him just yet.

[Neeli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic abridged version of Nelson Mandela's esteemed autobiography. Having read the original and the illustrated version too, I would highly recommend this book for children aged 10 to 12 who have started to gain an interest in biographies. I was captivated by the pictures....Mandela's features (even the mischievous ones) are easily recognizable!

[Haley Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was published in 2009 and I would classify it as a biography. This book tells the story of Nelson Mandela's life through a picture book. I would use this in grades K-8th because it uses simple words and address an important time in history.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Beautifully written and illustrated. What a life of a great man in a book that anyone could understand. The writing was gracious and straight forward, written in a way that explained the life and times during Nelson's life. Definitely well worth reading for young and old alike.

[Eleonore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super sweet children's book. Really nice illustrations. Written in a peaceful tone.

"Out of the experience of an extraordinary human disaster that lasted too long, must be born a society of which all humanity will be proud."

[Elaine Mercado · Rating 4 out of 5]

Autobiography of Nelson Mandela up go when he was released from prison. One man can make a huge difference.

[Mitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an important book. The drawings really enhanced my understanding of the circumstances and feelings of these events and this man. I really appreciated this book.

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring story of an inspiring man.

[prateek maglani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read for children above 9

Good read for my 9 year olds and the illustrations really helped. Highly recommended to be read.
Prateek . .

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Illustrated biography of Nelson Mandela. Loved the artwork and also the writing--I felt part of the culture of tribal South Africa.

[Arazhia · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a brief biography about Nelson Mandela and what he was fighting for.
The languange are easy to understand. And I like how they illustrated it.

[Alison Calvagno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found in the children’s section, but a great review/overview of the full length “adult” version.

[Krista Horn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful overview of Nelson Mandela's life, and a good introduction to our kids about the history of apartheid.

[Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom is a biography by Chris Van Wyk. Nelson Mandela was the first African president of South Africa to be freely elected by the people, as well as a life-long crusader for African rights. The book follows his life from his birth in a rural African village to his presidential appointment while highlighting key moments and trials he experienced that shaped who he was. The author writes in the first person so readers get the feeling that Mandela himself is telling them his life story. I found this perspective extremely engaging and made the book seem personal.
One aspect of this book that stood out to me was how the author explained Mandela's imprisonment and discrimination. These are serious and adult topics, and the author presents them in a way that children will understand while not being overwhelmed. The author also does a great job of connecting what Mandela experienced as a child and in school to his later professional life. Each page has illustrations that help narrate what is going on, which would be beneficial during class read-alouds.
I think that this book would be extremely useful in a 3rd grade classroom, because of the complexity and length of the text. While the vocabulary isn't extremely daunting, some of the concepts would be harder for younger children to grasp. It would definitely be a great read-aloud book if a class was doing a unit on freedom, equality or black history month.

[Kjsmit11 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Personally, I typically do not read non-fiction stories but i truly enjoyed this. Nelson Mandela recently passed away to it was interesting to read about all the wonderful things he accomplished in his life in South Africa. This complex picture book is a biography but it is written as if Nelson Mandela is speaking to the reader. For children, I think this book may be a little too long to read in one setting. I would recommend reading it as a read aloud and splitting it up between a couple days. At the end of the book, there is a timeline that outlines Nelson Mandela's life so it is easy to put the dates and events together. There is also a glossary of words that my seem confusing to young readers. I would recommend this book to children who enjoy biographies and also to teachers who like to teach about others.

I would love to use this book as a read aloud in my classroom. If biographies are in the curriculum, I would include it as a lesson with many other types of stories about people. Another way I could use this book in my classroom would be during Black History Month. Students can be educated on someone who made a big impact in his country and around the world. I think students will enjoy learning and researching more about Nelson Mandela.

[Jonathan Ryal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This biography on Nelson Mandela provided a great amount of information about the entire upbringing and struggles of his life. The author starts with Nelson as a young boy growing up in a small and remote tribal community. He takes us through the gifts of his life and schooling along with the down times of loosing his father and divorce. We then get to the political aspects of his life that ends with Nelson Mandela being freed and becoming president of South Africa. This book does a great job of mixing in large detailed illustrations that really help to explain the words and meaning the author wants to get across. There is a lot of deep context in the story for a child. This could be a bit overwhelming and hard for them to connect or sympathize with. These pictures really tie the story together and bring you into his life.

[Gen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first time I have read an autobiography in the form of a children's picture book. Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, tells the story about a life of a long-time activist who herded sheep when he was young to fighting for democracy in South Africa. Mandela was born in the village of Mvezo in 1918, went to school there, began a career as a lawyer, was a member of the African National Congress, his 27 years years in prison, his release, and finally his election as South Africa's first black president. The pacing is very impressive for it traces through Mandela's life while keeping young readers engaged. The text in this book is as descriptive as the illustrations themselves. The language was creative and the pictures were eye-catching. Overall, the way this story was presented was stunning and brilliant. I definitely recommend this book for young readers.

[Leonie Atherton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good book. Its tells the story of Nelson Mandela's life beautifully, tastefully and suitably for children. The book successfully sums up, a very detailed life story yet still manages to capture the emotions of the people involved. I have to admit, I am much more clued up on the life of Nelson Mandela after reading this. This book would be excellent as a source during Black History Month and there are lots of activities which can be done linked to this topic. Further research into South Africa would also be a great thing for older children to do. This book is easy to read and would be suited to comfortable readers of around 10 years old. The illustrations are authentic and informative and sensitive subjects are handled well. The only criticism I have, is the story could have been written to be a little more engaging. Some parts were a little dull.

[Cassandra Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this book! This was one of the biography books that I chose to do. The pictures were beautiful and really made me feel like I was in the scene and in South Africa. I loved the colors that were used because I really feel like they depicted South Africa and represented the culture of that part of the world. The way that the story/biography was presented was awesome! Even though it was a true story the way that it was presented it seemed as though it could have been fiction due to the creative language that was used. I loved the way that it was organized on the inside with the pictures and text. I think that this was a very creative and wonderful way to present a true story to children. I feel as though children would enjoy reading this story just as much as I did.

[Taneka · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most prominent figures in South African history, Nelson Mandela rose from being a small boy working his tribal land to the president of South Africa. This book takes the reader through the life of Mandela. After losing his father, he is taken in by an uncle and educated at a boarding school. He runs away from home after being told he would marry and arrives in Johannesburg. Mandela fights for freedom for all South Africans and joins the African National Congress (ANC). He is jailed for attempting to overthrow the government. While in jail the fight for freedom carried on and he was freed in 1990 and became president in 1994. The book includes a timeline in the rear for Mandela’s life and a glossary for definitions of words and organizations.

[Nashay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an autobiography offer a glimpse into the mind of the great leader. The book talks about the struggles he faced against fighting the apartheid in South Africa. The book takes you from Nelson’s childhood as an ordinary village boy, to his leadership of the African National Congress, to his long years in prison, and finally his rise to become the leader of South Africa. This is a great introductory book for children in the early elementary grades, when teaching a lesson on South Africa, civil rights, and Nelson Mandela. With the passing of Nelson Mandela it's a good time to teach about this hero and used during a heroes unit or during a social studies lesson when teaching about South Africa.