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Biography & Autobiography. Juvenile Nonfiction. Sociology. Geography. Picture Book Nonfiction. HTML:Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah's inspiring true story�??which was turned into a film, Emmanuel's Gift, narrated by Oprah Winfrey�??is nothing short of remarkable. Born in Ghana, West Africa, with one deformed leg, he was dismissed by most people�??but not by his mother, who taught him to reach for his dreams. As a boy, Emmanuel hopped to school more than two miles each way, learned to play soccer, left home at age thirteen to provide for his family, and, eventually, became a cyclist. He rode an astonishing four hundred miles across Ghana in 2001, spreading his powerful message: disability is not inability. Today, Emmanuel continues to work on behalf of the disabled. Thompson's lyrical prose and Qualls's bold collage illustrations offer a powerful celebration of triumphing over adversity. Includes an author's note with more information about Emmanuel's… (more)
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When the world gave up on Emmanuel he prominently
At no time did Emmanuel hide from his disability. He rode with "the pozo" on his jersey and let everyone know that he was just as capable as anyone else.
Emmanuel's Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah is certainly an inspiring book, and I read it with interest, moved by its true story of a young person who never let the challenges he faced defeat him. It reminded me of Meshack Asare's Sosu's Call, an award-winning Ghanaian picture-book about a fictional boy who, like Emmanuel, had physical disabilities, but who triumphed, showing the people of his village what he could do. Laurie Ann Thompson's narrative here is engaging, and there is an author's note at the rear, giving more information about Emmanuel. The accompanying artwork from Sean Qualls, done in mixed media, is colorful and expressive. Recommended to picture-book readers looking for inspiring true stories of young people overcoming great difficulties.