Dreams of Freedom
Frances Lincoln
This powerfully moving, timely book is published in association with Amnesty International (who will receive all royalties).
Voices from the past and present day, from many different walks of life and from near and far – all of whom are champions of freedom, speak out on this topic that is of vital importance to each and every one of us.
It is imperative that their words are heeded so I make no apology for mentioning the freedoms the likes of Malala Yousafzai, Chief Standing Bear, Aung San Suu Kyi, Ali Ferzat and Nelson Mandela talk of:
Freedom to Dream, Freedom to be a Child, Freedom to Learn, Freedom from Fear, Freedom to be Yourself, Freedom of Expression, Freedom to enjoy life and liberty, Freedom not be unfairly imprisoned,

Freedom from Slavery, Freedom through Equality, Freedom to Have Your Own Ideas, Freedom to Feel Safe, Freedom to have a Home, Freedom through Peace, Freedom to Take Responsibility, Freedom to Make a Difference.
Each of these freedoms and the final spread containing some words of Elsa Wiezell are visualized by famous artists from different parts of the world. Every one of them pulls you up short, making you focus not only on the stunning illustration but also on the words they portray. Some spreads are bright and joyful such as Sally Morgan’s glowing scene for the Dalai Lama’s words …

others such as Mordicai Gerstein’s, dazzlingly transcendent.

Antje von Stemm’s images for Clare Balding’s words are delightfully quirky and I found Chris Riddell’s beasts looming up from the black to accompany the Freedom to Make a Difference proverb, downright menacing.

Add to all this, a cover illustration from Oliver Jeffers and a foreword from Michael Morpurgo and you have an inspirational and aspirational book that needs to be on the shelves in every primary classroom, several copies for every secondary school library, and one on every teacher’s bookshelf and among every family collection. Assuredly it’s one to talk about and to treasure.

Also reissued at the same time is

We Are All Born Free
Frances Lincoln pbk
This is the first paperback edition although this wonderful book has seen two previous incarnations, first in hardcover and then in mini hardback format. I treasure them both.

Another moving and thought-provoking read for anyone over about eight who is interested in freedom and human rights is:

Africa is My Home
Monica Edinger , illustrated by Robert Byrd
Walker Books pbk
I’d not heard of the practice of pawning children before reading this moving, beautifully illustrated, real-life story. But that was only the start of the terrible ordeals that its young narrator had to face. Far worse was to follow. Young Sarah Kinson, (along with many others) was taken on board a slave ship and far away from her African home. After a tortuous voyage on the Amistad, she arrived in Cuba and from there is sent to New Haven in the USA, along with two of her travelling companions, Kagne and Teme. Eventually their cause was taken up by Lewis Tappan, an abolitionist, and after two years of internment and several court cases, they received their freedom, an education and were ultimately returned to Sierra Leone. These events were to have far reaching consequences both in the USA and Sierra Leone.

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