A review by kschultz29
Emmanuel's Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah by Laurie Ann Thompson
4.0
When Emmanuel was born many people thought he was cursed because one of his legs was paralyzed. However, his mom still loved him and as he got older he could do most of the things that other people could do, such as carry water or climb trees. One day at school, Emmanuel’s friends help him learn how to ride a bike so he can ride with them. After his mom gets sick, Emmanuel goes to Accra to find a job in order to support his family. When his mom dies two years later, Emmanuel gets the idea to ride his bike around Ghana to show people although he might have a disability, he is not unable to do things. Finally, not only does he achieves his goal of riding around Ghana to spread his message, but along his ten day journey he gained the support of both able-bodied and disabled people from all around the country.
Like other children’s books with characters who have a disability, Emmanuel’s Dream gives the message that having a disability does not mean that people are unable to do something, it just means that they may have to do something differently. For instance, instead of walking to school, Emmanuel first has to be carried by his mother, and later hops on his left leg there and back. Since it is a true story, the book also explicitly gives a voice to those with disabilities because Emmanuel – not the author – is the one who originally spreads the message that people with disabilities are still able to do the same things as those who are able-bodied. In fact, Emmanuel wears a shirt that says “the pozo” which means “the disabled person” to call attention to the fact that while he is disabled he can still ride a bike for 400 miles around the country. Therefore, this biographical children’s book gives more of a voice to those with disabilities than fictional stories that include characters with disabilities because the author is just sharing the message that originated from someone with a disability.
This text also shows readers the way people in Ghana view those with disabilities. For example, the story explains that when Emmanuel was born people thought he was cursed which is a belief that is still held by many people in traditional African cultures. Furthermore, it portrays the problematic view in Ghanaian culture that people with disabilities can only make money by begging on the street because they are unable to have a job. However, Emmanuel’s story disrupts this belief because he is able to get a job. Thus, whether they have a disability or not, children who are from Ghana or other African cultures that hold these same views will be able to identify with the cultural beliefs in the story.
Lastly, the way Emmanuel’s story is illustrated in the book perpetuates stereotypes of African countries. For instance, many of the illustrations show women carrying large bowls of food, which is also associated with the idea that everyone in countries like Ghana are poor and have to carry food or water long distances. Yet, the notion that everyone lives in poverty is subtly disrupted when the text mentions that Emmanuel talked to wealthy landowners and government officials. This works to tell readers that not everyone in Ghana is poor and that Ghana is not just a helpless country.
This book is part of the Larissa Gerstel Collection at American University located at http://www.american.edu/cas/education/iie/gerstel.cfm
Like other children’s books with characters who have a disability, Emmanuel’s Dream gives the message that having a disability does not mean that people are unable to do something, it just means that they may have to do something differently. For instance, instead of walking to school, Emmanuel first has to be carried by his mother, and later hops on his left leg there and back. Since it is a true story, the book also explicitly gives a voice to those with disabilities because Emmanuel – not the author – is the one who originally spreads the message that people with disabilities are still able to do the same things as those who are able-bodied. In fact, Emmanuel wears a shirt that says “the pozo” which means “the disabled person” to call attention to the fact that while he is disabled he can still ride a bike for 400 miles around the country. Therefore, this biographical children’s book gives more of a voice to those with disabilities than fictional stories that include characters with disabilities because the author is just sharing the message that originated from someone with a disability.
This text also shows readers the way people in Ghana view those with disabilities. For example, the story explains that when Emmanuel was born people thought he was cursed which is a belief that is still held by many people in traditional African cultures. Furthermore, it portrays the problematic view in Ghanaian culture that people with disabilities can only make money by begging on the street because they are unable to have a job. However, Emmanuel’s story disrupts this belief because he is able to get a job. Thus, whether they have a disability or not, children who are from Ghana or other African cultures that hold these same views will be able to identify with the cultural beliefs in the story.
Lastly, the way Emmanuel’s story is illustrated in the book perpetuates stereotypes of African countries. For instance, many of the illustrations show women carrying large bowls of food, which is also associated with the idea that everyone in countries like Ghana are poor and have to carry food or water long distances. Yet, the notion that everyone lives in poverty is subtly disrupted when the text mentions that Emmanuel talked to wealthy landowners and government officials. This works to tell readers that not everyone in Ghana is poor and that Ghana is not just a helpless country.
This book is part of the Larissa Gerstel Collection at American University located at http://www.american.edu/cas/education/iie/gerstel.cfm