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God's Dream
With warmth and humor, Archbishop Desmond Tutu distills his philosophy of unity and forgiveness into a picture book for the very young.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu has a vision of God's dream, which he shares here with the youngest of listeners. It involves people who reach out and hold each other's hands, but sometimes get angry and hurt each other — and say they're sorry and forgive. It's a wish that everyone will see they are brothers and sisters, no matter their way of speaking to God, no matter the size of their nose or the shade of their skin. Aided by vibrant artwork evoking such images as a rainbow and a sharing circle, Tutu offers the essence of his ubuntu philosophy, a wisdom so clear and crystalline that even the smallest child can understand.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu has a vision of God's dream, which he shares here with the youngest of listeners. It involves people who reach out and hold each other's hands, but sometimes get angry and hurt each other — and say they're sorry and forgive. It's a wish that everyone will see they are brothers and sisters, no matter their way of speaking to God, no matter the size of their nose or the shade of their skin. Aided by vibrant artwork evoking such images as a rainbow and a sharing circle, Tutu offers the essence of his ubuntu philosophy, a wisdom so clear and crystalline that even the smallest child can understand.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
About the author
Desmond Tutu
229 books503 followersDesmond Mpilo Tutu was a South African cleric and activist who rose to worldwide fame during the 1980s as an opponent of apartheid. In 1984, Tutu became the second South African to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Tutu was the first black South African Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa, and primate of the Church of the Province of Southern Africa (now the Anglican Church of Southern Africa). Tutu chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and is currently the chairman of The Elders. Tutu was vocal in his defense of human rights and used his high profile to campaign for the oppressed. Tutu also campaigned to fight AIDS, homophobia, poverty and racism.
He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984, the Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism, the Gandhi Peace Prize in 2005 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009. Tutu has also compiled several books of his speeches and sayings.
He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984, the Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism, the Gandhi Peace Prize in 2005 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009. Tutu has also compiled several books of his speeches and sayings.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
December 4, 2014
God’s Dream by Desmond Tutu picture book for young readers cleverly teaches that people from throughout the world are God’s children. The book features an international cast of children through warm, rich illustrations by LeUyen Pham that presents the various races and cultures children may derive from. The author gently reveals God’s Dream: for all of His children to love, care, and share with each other in spite of our differences in race, dress, cultures, or geographic location. God’s Dream by Desmond Tutu is a good source to help teach children to love everyone.
http://inspiredbooksguide.com/desmond...
http://inspiredbooksguide.com/desmond...
October 8, 2012
This is an excellent story directed at children to encourage them to look deep inside themselves and asks what they dream of. In the story children are encouraged to live by the word of God, which ever God or faith they believe in or follow, and to treat people equally, being kind, caring, forgiving, regardless of how they look, what language they speak, their ethnicity, what religion they follow. It would be an excellent choice of book for use in a RE class as it incorporates the main goals in many religions without focusing on one in particular. It has one clear message which is delivered very well by Abrams and Tutu; equality. The illustrations in the book are very powerful and strongly support the story and message being delivered by the authors in a very accessible and child-friendly manner. I would say that it is a story suitable for KS1 and KS2 that could be read to the class, as it is the message that is delivered that is the most important aspect of the story.
March 20, 2019
Truth seeking parents be warned. This sweet beautifully illustrated book was so right on until it said “or have different ways of talking to God.” The picture attached clearly shows a Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish and kneeling child with praying hands, which is wonderfully diversified, however I do not believe they are all talking to the same god. It’s my job to show my children how to love their fellow man without coming into agreement with them. It is possible to love yet not agree, Jesus did it perfectly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2016
My eight year old daughter was asked to read this book to our church congregation last weekend. Beautifully written by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and illustrated by LeUyen Pahm, this is is a sweet book that gives the message of the importance of acceptance and tolerance for all. My daughter and I especially loved this line, "Do you dream about being free to do what your heart desires? Or about being treated like a full person no matter how young you might be?"
June 3, 2015
What a lovely book! This was gifted to my 2yo, and while most of the words themselves are beyond him, he's captivated by the pictures and can recognize some of the concepts and emotions: it's easy for him to pick out the angry child, or the sad child, and there's so much to see and discuss on each page that this book will grow with him for many years.
February 8, 2016
This book is the perfect introduction to talking to young children about how all of our differences in identity and race are a reflection of God's image and part of God's design. A wonderful little primer on theology of race for ages 3-7. I am picking up a copy for us to keep at home and read regularly with my own kids and K-1 church kids.
September 8, 2009
My daughter really liked this book around age 18 months. Probably because the illustrations are superb. Of course, there is also a wonderful message.
December 29, 2018
This is the book I regularly grab to read to baby. It's absolutely beautiful.
August 13, 2021
A beautifully written and illustrated book with a wonderful message!
December 16, 2015
Not sure what I had in mind for this book, but I hadn't expected to like it as much as I did. Immediately inside the front cover, I'm drawn to the depictions of African-print textiles (though they have nothing specifically to do with the story). The drawings are very clearly meant to be multicultural in terms of race, ethnicity, country of origin. Large text makes this a good choice for reading to a group of children.
The story begins with what God wants for us and from us. Had it remained focused on these pleasant thoughts, I would have thought it sweet, but nothing special. What makes me love the story is the acknowledgement that the world is not entirely peaceful. "But God does not force us to be friends or to love one another." What God dreams for is more than he requires. When we aspire to do more than the minimum, we enrich ourselves and the world. "God dreams that every one of us will see that we are all brothers and sisters," regardless of skin tone, nationality, religion. "Even if we speak different languages or have different ways of taking to God," my favorite page reads, with images of children in different religious dress praying in different positions. (Even the cat and dog learn to be friends.)
As an aside, most of the children are shown in bare feet or wearing only socks!
The story begins with what God wants for us and from us. Had it remained focused on these pleasant thoughts, I would have thought it sweet, but nothing special. What makes me love the story is the acknowledgement that the world is not entirely peaceful. "But God does not force us to be friends or to love one another." What God dreams for is more than he requires. When we aspire to do more than the minimum, we enrich ourselves and the world. "God dreams that every one of us will see that we are all brothers and sisters," regardless of skin tone, nationality, religion. "Even if we speak different languages or have different ways of taking to God," my favorite page reads, with images of children in different religious dress praying in different positions. (Even the cat and dog learn to be friends.)
As an aside, most of the children are shown in bare feet or wearing only socks!
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June 21, 2016I really liked this book.
The warm illustrations feature children of various genders and ethnicities, in Western and non-Western attire, as well as some varying religious markers indicated (though I didn't see any headscarves, alas) -- as well as a cat and a dog, who often mirror the action of the children, offering a nice Easter egg for attentive readers.
The simple (child-accessible, somewhat lyrical, not overly simplistic) text does a nice job of conveying that it's good for us to share with each other and care for each other -- and sometimes we do hurt each other, but we can make amends.
Also, I'm kind of a sucker for the rainbow at the end.
(I don't love "we are all brothers and sisters" because hey, some kids are non-binary, but I know that's asking a lot and this book came out in 2008 and I just have a knee-jerk reaction against that phrase and will totally still be buying this book for my brother and sister-in-law when the nibling is a bit older, inshallah.)
The warm illustrations feature children of various genders and ethnicities, in Western and non-Western attire, as well as some varying religious markers indicated (though I didn't see any headscarves, alas) -- as well as a cat and a dog, who often mirror the action of the children, offering a nice Easter egg for attentive readers.
The simple (child-accessible, somewhat lyrical, not overly simplistic) text does a nice job of conveying that it's good for us to share with each other and care for each other -- and sometimes we do hurt each other, but we can make amends.
Also, I'm kind of a sucker for the rainbow at the end.
(I don't love "we are all brothers and sisters" because hey, some kids are non-binary, but I know that's asking a lot and this book came out in 2008 and I just have a knee-jerk reaction against that phrase and will totally still be buying this book for my brother and sister-in-law when the nibling is a bit older, inshallah.)
May 20, 2011
God's Dream is a wonderful book for children. It teaches that we are all God's children. Inspite of our differences in size, shape, color or where we are from, we are all his. This Nobel Peace Prize winner has passed on his love of God and peace through this beautifully illustrated book.
The illustrations in this book show children of every race and nationality. The children are absolutely adorable. The color schemes are warm and inviting. I highly recommend this book for an early reader.
The illustrations in this book show children of every race and nationality. The children are absolutely adorable. The color schemes are warm and inviting. I highly recommend this book for an early reader.
February 14, 2011
God's Dream is a great children's books, regardless of your faith. It is easy to read and can really be interpreted in many ways. The Archbishop talks about all the things he thinks God would want for our world and they are all things I hope would hope, we would dream for also. It has large print and beautiful illustrations that children can read and enjoy by themselves. It has pictures of many different races, colors, hair colors, etc. so every child can find someone that they relate to. I love it and definitely recommend it to any Christian children.
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April 30, 2009This book is written by Nobel Peace Prize winning activist, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his collaborator Douglas Carlton Abrams. It is a simple message of similarities regardless of differences told through "God's Dream" of peace.
Pham's pictures show benevolent looking children from various cultures all getting along. The simple characters are surroundd by brightly colored backgrounds that make a quilt linking the book together.
Pham's pictures show benevolent looking children from various cultures all getting along. The simple characters are surroundd by brightly colored backgrounds that make a quilt linking the book together.
October 4, 2008
A beautiful book for young children that talks about how we can serve and please God by loving one another.
After reading it at the bookstore I loved it so much that we bought it-- at full price, something I do not often do with kids' books, especially non-board-books that could be easily trashed.
After reading it at the bookstore I loved it so much that we bought it-- at full price, something I do not often do with kids' books, especially non-board-books that could be easily trashed.
February 9, 2009
I picked this up because I love, love, love LeUyen Pham's warm, sweet illustrations of children of all backgrounds. This book has a more religious tone than her others (it's co-written by Archbishop Desmond Tutu); it would be a good pick for a Sunday school class. "We are all brothers and sisters...even if we speak different languages or have different ways of talking to God."
May 12, 2009
I was hesitant when I saw this title, but I love this book! It's so inclusive and lovely, and I love the page where all the kids are talking to God in different ways. LeUyen Pham does a great job of showing all kinds of gorgeous children. Yay for Archbishop Desmond Tutu for making such a peace-full book.
December 12, 2008
I loved this book because it has a great theme that is easy to discover but does not overtake the book. This book helps us learn that we are all similar to each other even though we have different colors of skin, hair, and eyes. The ilustrations are amazing.
February 7, 2010
I bought this book for Nakyla when we were in Portland. I love, love, love this book for it's message that we are all God's children and should treat each other with love and respect. I love the beautiful illustrations.
April 12, 2011
This book will work well with a unit that will investigate different religions. Although fictional the text gives the audience to better understand the Christian faith. I recommend this for 1st-3rd grades.
July 3, 2013
I may bump up my review to four stars if my daughter shows interest in hearing this one again... What I really like about this book is that it talks about how to handle conflict in a Godly way and gives kids tools to act through love rather than anger.
April 12, 2015
This picture book is about God's dream for us: that we love one another. This book could be used in private Christian schools in Kindergarten or first grade to discuss students' understanding of themselves and their relationship to other people, as well as the issues of diversity and tolerance.
September 12, 2008
I am not a religious person at all, but I loved the simplicity in this book. Religions tend to get bogged down in the "I" and "only me" and this book makes it easy to see past that.
December 11, 2008
I learned from this book that no mater what color we are we are all brothers and sisters of our Heavenly Father.
January 22, 2012
This is a wonderful book about our differences and how to cherish each other as God cherish's each of us. My daughter loves it.
November 23, 2011
I love that this book has pictures of children of all different races, etc. Talks about how we should hope and dream, a great message for children. Great for Christian students!
August 28, 2012
This is my current favorite children's book.
October 5, 2012
We LOVE this one. It has opened up a lot of conversations about how we treat people.
July 4, 2013
A very sweet book that stresses kindness and spirituality featuring illustrations of children from different countries
January 28, 2014
One of the best books I have ever read. The illustrations are stunning and the text timeless. Sarah and I give this book to our friends when they welcome new children into their homes!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews