Johannesburg -Elementary schoolchildren from around the US will soon be given the opportunity to learn about the life of Nelson Mandela.
A children’s book based on the childhood of the former South African president is set to be included in the school curriculum around the US.
The book, titled Nelson Mandela: the Boy Called Troublemaker, looks at Madiba’s boyhood days, the lessons he learnt and how he overcame enormous difficulties to achieve success.
The biography is written by South African-born children’s books author Ellie Crowe, and was published in December 2013.
It’s already an Amazon bestseller.
Crowe, who grew up in Outdshoorn, now lives in Hawaii. She says she’s thrilled her dream of inspiring kids to learn about Mandela has finally come to fruition.
“Mandela is a very popular and admired figure in the US. Schoolchildren learn about the battle against racial discrimination in the US. Lessons also include learning about apart-heid and the South African struggle for freedom.
“When writing biographies of famous people, I like to show the young readers that famous people like Mandela were children too and also experienced difficulties like teasing or bullying or discrimination. They overcame these difficulties and led extraordinarily successful lives.
“Mandela grew up in the old Transkei. I wrote about specific instances in his childhood and related them to his life later.
“One of my favourite stories was how his older cousin bullied him. He managed to outwit his cousin. But he let his cousin save face.
“He wrote later that this was a lesson he applied later in life – to always let your enemy ‘save face’ – to never back your enemy into a corner. One can see how he practised that.”
Crowe included the tokoloshe: “I once joined my Xhosa nanny under the kitchen table because a witchdoctor was seen hiding near our house.
“I enjoyed drawing on all those memories and making them part of the book.”
This will be Crowe’s second book to be used in US schools. The other is Surfer of the Century, the Life of Duke Kahanamoku.
“Duke Kahanamoku is a Hawaiian hero who also experienced racial discrimination and poverty. He became an Olympic swimming champion and a famous big-wave surfer.”
Saturday Star
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