Desmond and the Very Mean Word by: Desmond Tutu This story takes readers alongside Desmond and the negative words that were spoken to him on his bike ride to visit Father Trevor. Join in reading this heartfelt story to view the thoughts and emotions of Desmond while he is battling inner feelings on how to approach these mean words.Children's Literature Briefly states that young children are often left out of historical fictions; therefore widening the gap between them and the past. This text all...

I liked how this book handled the topics of forgiveness and the cycle of “getting back.” It was good to see the book explore how hurtful words can linger in a person’s head and that getting them out can be difficult. The book showing how Desmond started feeling better by understanding that the red-haired boy was passing on a dynamic that he himself was subject to, and that helped Desmond find the strength to apologize and forgive the boy. We also get to see that it’s a powerful moment for both b...

This is a wonderful book! I cried at the end of course. I found it absorbing and definitely don’t think it’s just for kids!Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the famed South African social rights activist and retired Anglican bishop, tells the true story of an experience he had when he was a young boy, when he got called a very mean word by another child. He was so hurt, and wanted to get even. Father Trevor, his childhood hero and mentor, helped him through that rough patch, by talking to him about how h...

Gr. 3- 5A gentle work of fiction based on a childhood experience conveys the power of forgiveness and pays tribute the mentorship of a beloved parish priest who cared for everyone in his care. The history of racism in South Africa may be bewildering to younger readers. Middle grade readers may relate to the dilemma of standing up to white bullies or the close relationship with a mentor/ priest.The oil paint illustrations feature a dusty palette and a full range of emotions in the characters.

This is a wonderful new picture book from Archbishop Desmond Tutu. It relates a story that happened to a young Desmond during his childhood. I like that he does not name "the very mean word", as that opens the story up to any child who has been called something hurtful. Much like his mentor Father Trevor, Archbishop Tutu creates his story in a kind and gentle way, relating the idea that forgiveness needs to be genuine and come in its own time. I especially like the words of Father Trevor, as he

Desmond and the Very Mean Word, is a picture book, which would be appropriate for younger students, possibly in 1st-2nd grade. This book focuses on bullying and forgiveness. Desmond is a young African American boy, and while riding his brand new bike, he is called a mean name by kids who are playing in the street. The “mean word” is never stated in the text, so it is up to the reader to infer what the kids might have said. Desmond seeks advice from Father Trevor, who tells him, “That is the prob...

A story of forgiveness. The only problem is it is wrapped up a little too neatly. It is based on a true story, so I can't really fault the author, but sometimes a person that wrongs us isn't always sorry for what they did.Still, you have to love a story of forgiveness, and especially one that deals with the reality of racism.

This is a morality story, as the title suggests. Often such stories are pedantic and painful, and not remotely interesting to kids. Fortunately, this story does not suffer that fate.This book prompted two really good discussions with the four year old. The first had to do with how we feel when we treat people badly and forgiveness, valuable lessons regardless of your religious belief or lack thereof. The second had to do with racism and the history of South Africa.At first I thought it might mat...

This is a superb account of the importance of learning and exhibiting forgiveness. Archbishop Tutu and Douglas Carlton Abrams vividly uses a true story that Archbishop Tutu experienced. They demonstrated the art and skill of forgiveness through the eyes and experience of Desmond, a young African boy that rides his bike through his town. A group of European boys attempt to block him from passing by them. However, Desmond decides to speed pass them in fear of the boys taking his bike or doing some...

A wonderful moral true story of author Desmond Tutu whose personal experiences have him struggling to overcome the very mean word when he was a young boy. "When you forgive someone, you free yourself from what they have said or done. It's like magic." Does Desmond learn the truth of these words?Desmond and the Very Mean Word picture book filled with realistic illustrations to help young readers connect. Appropriate for all ages but recommended for grades 2-5. This story is based on history throu...

Using gentle language and avoiding the "mean word" that hurt him so deeply as a child in South Africa, Archbishop Desmond Tutu draws a lesson about forgiveness from his own experiences. While riding his new bike through a neighborhood, a group of boys heckles him and calls him a name, thus spoiling his pleasure in the ride. Even though his mentor, Father Trevor, advises him to forgive the bullies, Desmond cannot, and he insults the boy who insulted him the next time he sees him. After seeing the...

Desmond and the Very Mean Word has won The Children's African Award, which is the resource I used to find this high-quality picture book. I watched the read aloud of this book on YouTube, which also has added in phrases, such as "He struggles to do the right thing." This book is based off of a true story that the author experienced as a boy in South Africa. This book involves an African American boy, who is so proud and excited to have a new bike. The only person he wants to show it to is a prie...

Desmond and the Very Mean Word, A Story of Forgiveness by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Douglas Abrams, illustrated by A.G. Ford is based on a true story. The book starts with Desmond riding his bike to see Father Trevor, when suddenly a group of boys try to stop him in the middle of the street. One of the boys, with red hair, shouts a mean word to him and everyone else laughs. Finally, Desmond arrives to Father Trevor’s office and through a few questions lets Father Trevor know what happened. Fat...

This book Desmond and the Very Mean Word: A Story of Forgiveness is 2013 children book written by Desmond Tutu, Desmond and Douglas Carlton Abrams, and illustrated by A.G. Ford. In this book while riding his new bicycle Desmond is hurt by the mean word yelled at him by a group of boys, but he soon learns that hurting back will not make him feel any better. This book is filled with forgiveness. This book is based on a real account from Desmond Tutu life. The illustrations in this book are incredi...

This book won the 2014 Children’s Africana Book award and is written by an author of color. Desmond uses the help from his surroundings, including Father Trevor, to overcome the hardships he faced as the children in his neighborhood said a mean word to him. I highly recommend this book to young readers, who are mostly at a stage where friendships and fellow classmates, friends, etc. significantly make a difference in their lives. Through reading this book, I can see students learning the best wa...

I love how the mean word is kept generic so that children can imagine their own experiences with being called names. It also offers ideas about how to work through problems while honoring a real compassionate adult advocating for forgiveness.

Plot summary and personal response:This award-winning book is a biography, written with a young audience in mind. It introduces the reader to some of the real-life childhood experiences of Archbishop Desmond Tutu in segregated and racist South Africa. Young "Desmond was vey proud of his new bicycle" and was looking forward to showing it to his friend and mentor, Father Trevor, a white priest. When he is confronted by a group of white boys who taunt him with "a very mean word", Desmond is hurt an...

A book by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, apparently loosely autobiographical, about a young boy who is called a very mean word, and carries anger in his heart against the other boy, although his priest counsels forgiveness. He sees his bully being bullied himself, and realizes the cycle of wrath his priest warned him about is real, and thus tries to forgive.

Gr. 2-5... "When you forgive someone, you free yourself from what they have said or done. It's like magic." In this story, Desmond learns the truth of these words. Desmond, a young boy learns that mean words can be very hurtful, but that saying something mean back or holding a grudge, only causes more pain. Listening to the wise words of a dear friend, Desmond learns that forgiving not only makes you feel better, but really sets you free from holding on to something that only causes resentment a...

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a Nobel Peace Prize winner for his lifelong struggle to bring equality justice, and peace to his native country of South Africa, tells a true story from when he was a young boy. Desmond is very proud of his new bicycle and he wants to show his mentor, Father Trevor. As he was riding to show Father Trevor he comes across some young white boys playing the in the road. As he passed them, the tallest, red-haired boy yelled out a very mean word. As an adult reader, you can in...