Emmanuel's Dream

Written by Laurie Ann Thompson · Illustrated by Sean Qualls

A boy with one leg cycles 400 miles to prove disability is not inability.

4.4 Goodreads · 3,305 ratings

34 pages· 895 words· Est. 7 min read-aloud· AD770L

$18.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

In Ghana, Emmanuel defies the odds with one deformed leg. Taught by his mother to dream big, he hops miles to school, plays soccer, and supports his family. At thirteen, he leaves home, eventually cycling 400 miles across Ghana. His journey challenges perceptions, spreading the message that disability is not inability. Emmanuel's story is a testament to resilience and triumph over adversity, inspiring change for the disabled community.

From the publisher

Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah’s inspiring true story–which was turned into a film, Emmanuel’s Gift, narrated by Oprah Winfrey–is nothing short of remarkable. Born in Ghana, West Africa, with one deformed leg, he was dismissed by most people–but not by his mother, who taught him to reach for his dreams. As a boy, Emmanuel hopped to school more than two miles each way, learned to play soccer, left home at age thirteen to provide for his family, and, eventually, became a cyclist. He rode an astonishing four hundred miles across Ghana in 2001, spreading his powerful message: disability is not inability. Today, Emmanuel continues to work on behalf of the disabled. Thompson’s lyrical prose and Qualls’s bold collage illustrations offer a powerful celebration of triumphing over adversity. Includes an author’s note with more information about Emmanuel’s charity.