Emmanuel's Dream

The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah
by Laurie Ann Thompson
Illustrated by Sean Qualls
Lexile:  AD770
Genre:  Biography
Award: Schneider Family Book Award, 2016-17 Star of the North Picture Book Nominee

Emmanuel was born with one leg and a dream.  His dream was to show the word that one person is enough to change the world.  When he was born, his father left and his mother taught him that if there was something he wanted, he would have to learn how to get it for himself.  So he learned to crawl and eventually hop.  Emmanuel wanted an education in a time when people with disabilities were not thought to be worthy of an education, but he didn't let that stop him.  When his mother got sick, he had to quit school and move to the city in order to support his family, but she gave him one final gift of words:  "Be respectful, take care of your family, don't ever beg.  And don't give up."

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