God's Dream [Hardcover]

Archbishop Desmond Tutu (Author), Douglas Carlton Abrams (Author), LeUyen Pham (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: August 26, 2008 | Grade Level: Kindergarten and up

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.

Editorial Reviews

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
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Coauthors of the adult book God Has a Dream: A Vision of Hope for Our Time (2004), South African Nobel Peace Prize–winner Tutu and writer Abrams team up once again, this time with illustrator Pham, to create a  picture book about a subject dear to them all. In a series of energetic scenes, a multicultural cast of toddlers follow God’s dreams about people caring, sharing (the picture shows kids inviting a shy boy to join their circle), and playing together. Adding a touch of drama is the elemental scene in which two kids get in a fight: a girl chases a boy and grabs his ball. He cries, and she feels sad; God cries with them. The large, digitally enhanced pictures, alive with color and pattern, make clear the hurt, anger, and regret. Finally, the two fighters make up, and they join a big circle of laughing kids, finding brothers and sisters from everywhere. Praying together are Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Christians, and more. A book to talk about at preschool and at home, especially after disagreements flare. Preschool-Kindergarten. --Hazel Rochman

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick; First Edition edition (August 26, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763633887
• ISBN-13: 978-0763633882
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 0.4 x 11.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #126,134 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Desmond Mpilo Tutu won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 and was only the second black person ever to receive it. In 1986 he was elected archbishop of Cape Town, the highest position in the Anglican Church in South Africa. In 1994, after the end of apartheid and the election of Nelson Mandela, Tutu was appointed as chair of South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate apartheid-era crimes. His policy of forgiveness and reconciliation has become an international example of conflict resolution, and a trusted method of postconflict reconstruction. He is currently the chair of The Elders, where he gives vocal defense of human rights and campaigns for the oppressed.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read May 14, 2010

By Shaila Abdullah

Format:Hardcover

I am a Muslim mom and I loved reading this book to my 6 year old. The message of unity, not division is so powerful and the illustrations are absolutely beautiful. These are the kinds of life affirming lessons our children need to hear in the world today. Diversity is strength and our success is dependent on us coming together as one people. That is and will always be God's Dream.

Updated review, June 2013: A few years ago, I purchased multiple copies of this book and distributed to various nephews, nieces, and friend's children. In the end I was left with 2 copies, one that I kept for my daughter and one that had no home...until now. My second daughter fell in love with this book when she was 3 months old. Any time we read her the book and show her the pictures, she immediately cheers up. This is her favorite book and we never leave home without it.

Highly, highly recommended.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars esloan October 23, 2009

By E. Sloan

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

The story and illustrations in this book are appropriate for early elementary-aged children. The authors convey to the readers a solid, nondenominational message of friendship and acceptance without being overly pragmatic or preachy. I would recommend this book for purchase by parents or teachers looking for a story of morality and values with a religious spin, but in a format that is attainable by a younger audience.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great June 27, 2009

By Savant

Format:Hardcover

What a great man Bishop Tutu is, It is unfortuate that we only like to celebrate celebrities for whom most have not done very much for the human family. This book contains some of the greatest words of liberation and ascendancy. Not to mention some of the best of,prolific prose, quotes, and profoundity of all times. This is a must have for "all people" and "all times"! Yes, for kids!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the perfect book to emphasize the importance of peace, love, sharing and the fact that we are all brothers and sisters! July 24, 2009

By D. Fowler TOP 50 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

There are all different kinds of children in the world, but two things they have in common are that they are all God's children and each and every one of them dreams. God dreams too and many little children might just wonder what he dreams about. Archbishop Tutu thinks he might know. Among the many dreams that God dreams he says that:

God dreams that we reach out and
hold one another's hand and play one
another's games and laugh with one
another's hearts.

Not everything goes well in the life of a child, but God will always be with him and in his heart. We are all different, yet we are all in the same family. There is a way to make God's dream come true. Do you know the secret?

This is a charming book with wide-eyed illustrations that compliment it perfectly. This is a book with no specific audience, but rather one that is universal. It is the perfect book to emphasize the importance of peace, love, sharing and the fact that we are all brothers and sisters.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Good book for children of all ages January 4, 2011

By Beth O

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Reading "God's Dream" to my grandchildren during Christmas week was a real treat. Happily my six-year old granddaughter proudly declared that her classroom (south Jersey)had children that looked like all the diverse children in the book. It is good to connect reality with idealism; this book does that. It is not relevant to just one or two religions, but appropriate for everyone -- of faith or doubt -- everyone of good will.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Children's Book May 30, 2010

By C. Nervik

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

All children should read this book! This book presents God and faith in a way that children can understand, and it emphasizes the love and grace of God. I am a Christian minister (and former youth minister) and I highly recommend this book!

50 of 72 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars has a universalist worldview, not Christian March 7, 2010

By Sonya Haskins

Format:Hardcover

The drawings in this book are beautiful and I certainly agree with the message that we should all get along, forgive one another and treat others equally. That is a WONDERFUL message and if this is the only message you want to send to your child, then the book would be appropriate.

For Christian parents, however, I think it's important to note that there is also an underlying theme - which we see a lot today - in the book that basically it doesn't matter what you believe, we're all worshiping the same God.

On one page, for example, the text reads:

"Even if we speak different languages
or have different ways of talking to God."

The accompanying illustration shows a Buddhist, a Muslim, a Jew, a Hindi, etc.

In the Bible, Jesus says "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

I am NOT trying to start a debate here about right or wrong, what you believe, or in any way attack the author. He seems like a very nice man. And again, I do like many parts of the book, but as far as being called a "Christian" book, I would completely disagree. I thought other parents might want to know that the book actually takes a more Universalist approach rather than a Christian approach.

Sonya

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Most Beautiful Children's Book September 11, 2011

By Amish Mama

Format:Hardcover

I stumbled across this book at a used book store and thought it was the most beautiful children's book I had ever seen. The illustrations are at once warm and realistic. The children are lively and feel "real". Each page is colorful and each face brightly expressive. The text is also beautiful and deeply meaningful. However, I know that just because an adult likes a book does not mean that children will be as enthralled. This morning I read this book to group of about 10 (generally highly active) children in Children's Chapel at our church. They were all mesmerized. In the 2 years I have been working with this group of kids, this is the most attentive I have ever seen them to a book. A couple of hours later I happened to be around one of the children from that group and she picked up the book again and started telling me the story. So, they loved it and got "the message" from it. I am writing this review just because I pulled it up on line to order a couple of more copied for our church library and for my niece. I can't think of a nicer gift.