(2) K-3 Illustrated by Charly Palmer. Nelson Mandela (1918–2013) is remembered for his "wide, warm smile"--but the hope that fueled that smile was difficult to maintain. As a child and a young man, he worked hard and had hope for his future. When South Africa's apartheid laws were created and enforced, Mandela used his position as a lawyer to defend Black Africans and joined the African National Congress to create a plan for a united and free nation for all. The government sentenced Mandela and other freedom fighters to life in prison, but Mandela didn't let his imprisonment or his anger stop his cause. This detailed picture-book biography, with its comparatively lengthy text, highlights how Mandela used whatever means were at his disposal to continue progressing toward freedom for his people and his country, even under the most restrictive and difficult circumstances. During his decades in prison, for example, he made a difference by connecting with white guards on a human level. By the time the book shows Mandela freed and elected president, the reader is full of admiration for this passionate and talented leader whose dedication earned him the nicknames of Madiba, "honored elder"; and Tata, "beloved Father of a new country." Palmer's dramatic paintings use dynamic brushstrokes to create engaging portraits of the eminently recognizable Mandela and of the world he influenced. Appended with extensive back matter and source notes.

Reviewer: Autumn Allen | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2021

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Sean Qualls. Young Zazi and Ziwelene find a photo of their great-grandfather, Nelson Mandela, at their grandmother's house, which inspires them to ask her about him. The book's question-and-answer narrative seems contrived ("Why did Grandad go to jail?"; "What is justice?"), but Grandma Zindzi's answers are nimbly worded. Qualls's acrylic, collage, and colored-pencil art has a stateliness worthy of the book's subject.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Zoom In on Legendary Leaders series. These titles offer a superficial first glance at the lives of six influential leaders (all male), their accomplishments/impact on others, and their place in history. The historical photos, paintings, and drawings add depth to brief texts that align to Common Core Standards. Appended lists of quick stats and key dates may be helpful when writing reports. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Zoom In on Legendary Leaders titles: Abraham Lincoln, Barack Obama, Cesar Chavez, George Washington, Mahatma Gandhi, and Nelson Mandela.

Reviewer: Nancy Sheridan

(3) 4-6 Real-Life Story series. Tracing Mandela's personal and political journeys, this reliable biography tells of a boy from the Madiba clan who had the good fortune of being educated and who became a renowned figure of black South African leadership and international campaigns for justice. An eight-page black-and-white photo insert is well captioned. Timeline. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Lauren Causey

(4) 4-6 Newsmakers series. This accessibly written series is notable for its clean layout, including color photographs, sidebars, and charts. The mostly complimentary narratives are solid overviews of their subjects' early lives, successes, and failures. A "Stop and Think" feature offers discussion questions that can be used for assignments. For the living subjects, the content will soon become outdated. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Newsmakers titles: Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Vladimir Putin, Malala Yousafzai, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Nelson Mandela, and Pope Francis.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) 4-6 Gateway Biographies series. Two well-known international human rights activists are profiled in these slim biographies. Mandela's political life is chronicled closely and chronologically, with too many dates and events encumbering the relatively brief text; Yousafzai's biography is clearer but covers the same ground as her recent memoir. These easy-to-navigate resources are most suitable for younger report writers seeking basic biographical information. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review includes these Gateway Biographies titles: Malala Yousafzai and Nelson Mandela

Reviewer: Jessica Tackett MacDonald

(3) K-3 National Geographic Readers series. Short chapters with challenging but controlled vocabulary (Obama's text is simpler than Mandela's) track Obama's and Mandela's paths to becoming the first black presidents of their respective countries; pre-presidential civil rights work is emphasized more than presidential policy. "Words to Know" boxes and in-text transliteration support independent reading. Bright photographs, fact boxes, and pullout quotes increase accessibility. Mandela has an index. Timeline. Glos. Review covers these National Geographic Readers titles:Barack Obama and Nelson Mandela.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(3) K-3 Moving swiftly through crucial moments in Mandela's life, from childhood tragedy to his outcry against apartheid to his nearly thirty-year imprisonment, release, and eventual presidency, this pictorial biography aptly honors the South African revolutionary. Nelson's signature large-scale portraits capture both the strength and emotions of his subject--particularly the text-less cover featuring Mandela's visage with a dignified expression. Bib.

Reviewer: Shara Hardeson

(4) K-3 History Makers series. This series of introductory biographies offers very young readers the broad details of these historical figures' lives and impacts. In addition to archival photographs, each simple text is supplemented by a running timeline; although many events on it are not mentioned in the narrative, the format is visually appealing. Overall this series provides decent jumping-off points for further research. Glos., ind. Review covers these History Makers titles: Anne Frank and Her Diary, Florence Nightingale and a New Age of Nursing, Martin Luther King and the Fight for Equality, Nelson Mandela and His Struggle for Freedom, and Winston Churchill and World War II.

Reviewer: Hannah Rodgers Barnaby

(4) YA Champion of Freedom series. Color and black-and-white archival photographs (often poorly reproduced), maps, and sidebars combine with a comprehensive text to present an accessible chronological biography of each notable activist. First-hand accounts, drawn from a variety of sources, lend an authentic voice, while the discussion of historical events and figures provides the political and historical contexts that motivated such determination and sacrifice. Timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Champion on Freedom titles: Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Aung San Suu Kyi, and Nelson Mandela.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Paddy Bouma. Abridged by Chris van Wyk. At the start of this abridged autobiography, Mandela's gentle voice recollects a near idyllic childhood. Ensuing years encompass his association with the ANC, the opening of his law office, and his imprisonment; the book ends in 1994 when Mandela is elected president of South Africa. Butter-hued pages and warm-toned illustrations loosely outlined in black cast a rich glow over the story. Timeline. Glos.

Reviewer: Betty Carter

(3) 4-6 New York Times Book series. Journalist and editor Keller presents a well-rounded portrait of the South African civil rights activist, from freedom fighter to prisoner to president and beyond. Keller's vivid writing brings to life his subject and the complex history of South Africa. Quotations, newspaper excerpts, anecdotes, and interviews with Mandela provide the basis for the book's information. Many photographs chronicle events. Timeline, websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Henrietta M. Smith

(4) 4-6 Days That Shook the World series. From circumstances leading up to Mandela's imprisonment to becoming South Africa's first black president, this well-researched title presents a comprehensive account of Mandela's struggle for equal rights under apartheid rule. Despite the tight design, the accessible text, supported by archival material, photos, maps, and notable quotes, brings history to life. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(3) 4-6 Leading Lives series. With outlined but fluid texts, these books follow the lives of famous political leaders from childhood. Focus is placed on the lasting legacies of the figures, and each book includes a descriptive list of "key people," or important historical figures in each subject's life. Photographs and quotes add interest to the texts. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Leading Lives titles: Golda Meir, Che Guevara, Malcolm X, Indira Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Ho Chi Minh.]

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Malcah Zeldis. Straightforward prose tracks Mandela's journey from a South African village to his political awakening, ensuing activism, and subsequent imprisonment. Readers will appreciate this book's generosity with small but fascinating details (Mandela's childhood toys, the exact size of his prison bed) and its folk-art illustrations, which blaze with color as if to reinforce the power of the subject's convictions. Bib.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) 4-6 Famous Lives series. The lives of these two famous leaders are each related in streamlined fashion, combining personal details with just the highlights of their public careers. The layout includes plenty of white space, boxed quotes from the subjects, and large-size photos (of varying quality) that show Mandela and Castro at various stages in their lives and offer background on their countries. Chronologies are included. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) 4-6 In World History series. Encapsulating Nelson Mandela's contributions to racial justice in South Africa and explaining the conditions that motivated his activism, including twenty-seven years in prison, Gaines's narrative moves quickly but clearly. The balanced account is carefully footnoted and enriched with black-and-white photos, maps, a time line, and excerpts from source documents. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) YA A & E Biography series. These books provide plenty of information and detail about the personal and professional lives of these individuals. The occasionally dry texts succeed in providing historical context, events, and insights on each person's life, although Albright doesn't measure up to the other two titles. The volumes are illustrated with photographs. Mandela contains a pronunciation guide. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee