God's Dream - Hardcover

Tutu, Archbishop Desmond; Abrams, Douglas Carlton

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0763633887 ISBN 13: 9780763633882

Publisher: Candlewick, 2008

Synopsis

With warmth and humor, Archbishop Desmond Tutu distills his philosophy of unity and forgiveness into a picture book for the very young.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu has a vision of God's dream, which he shares here with the youngest of listeners. It involves people who reach out and hold each other's hands, but sometimes get angry and hurt each other — and say they're sorry and forgive. It's a wish that everyone will see they are brothers and sisters, no matter their way of speaking to God, no matter the size of their nose or the shade of their skin. Aided by vibrant artwork evoking such images as a rainbow and a sharing circle, Tutu offers the essence of his ubuntu philosophy, a wisdom so clear and crystalline that even the smallest child can understand.

About this title

About the Author

Archbishop Desmond Tutu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his lifelong struggle to bring equality, justice, and peace to his native country of South Africa. He also served as Archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa, from 1986 until 1996. In 1995, former South African President Nelson Mandela asked him to lead the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which became a model of national forgiveness and coexistence. He is currently the chairperson of the Elders, an international group charged with helping to end conflicts and solve global problems. Archbishop Tutu's most recent book is God Has a Dream: A Vision of Hope for Our Time. He lives with his family in South Africa. 

Douglas Carlton Abrams is the coauthor with Archbishop Desmond Tutu of God Has a Dream: A Vision of Hope for Our Time. He is also the cofounder of Idea Architects, a book and media development agency working with visionary authors to create a wiser, healthier, and more just world. He lives with his family in California.

LeUyen Pham is the author and illustrator of Big Sister, Little Sister and has illustrated many other books for children, including Freckleface Strawberry by Julianne Moore and the New York Times bestseller Grace for President by Kelly DiPucchio. About God's Dream, she says, "Being a part of this book has been an extremely significant experience for me, considering that I left war-torn Vietnam during the fall of Saigon when I was only a year old. My son was also born during the creation of this book, bringing the lovely message of hope and love full circle." LeUyen Pham lives in San Francisco with her family.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2—Tutu teaches a message of peace and hope in this gentle picture book, echoing the theological ideology of his memoir, God Has a Dream: A Vision of Hope for Our Time (Doubleday, 2004). "Dear Child of God," the narrator begins, "what do you dream about?" While children may dream about "flying high" or "being treated like a full person," God dreams about a world in which all of his children join hands in peace, reconciliation and unity. In simple, eloquent language, Tutu conveys the message that although we come from different lands, have different eyes and skin, and talk to God in different ways, we are still brothers and sisters. By "sharing, loving, caring" and "knowing we are family" we can "make God's dream come true." The incandescent graphite, watercolor, and ink illustrations of captivating multicultural youngsters engaged in the carefree pastimes reinforce the overarching themes of love and inclusiveness. The angelic, trusting faces reflect the hope that Archbishop Tutu holds for all the world's children of God. They hold hands and share welcoming smiles, creating a circle of love and acceptance. Parents may want to pair this inspirational book with Karen Lynn Williams's Circles of Hope (Eerdmans, 2005) or Alice McGinty's Thank You, World (Dial, 2007), two more stories exploring the importance of love, faith, and hope.—Linda L. Walkins, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Brighton, MA
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Edition details

• Publisher: Candlewick
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0763633887
• ISBN 13: 9780763633882
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 40
• Illustrator: Pham LeUyen