We are all born free

About the book

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed on the 10th December 1948 as an enduring international commitment to human rights. Published in the 60th anniversary year of the Declaration, this collection shows us that even the youngest child can understand why human rights are still of crucial importance. It reminds us how much they concern us all, young and old, all over the world.

Adults as well as children will appreciate the artistic value of this book as well as its educational significance, with each Article being illustrated individually. This book will be treasured for a lifetime and readers will never get tired of looking at its incomparable colours and details, whether they are 6 or 106.

Kate Allen, Director of Amnesty International UK, says of the book:

'Amnesty International's vision is of a world in which every person enjoys all the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. An attempt to learn from the horrors of the Second World War, the UDHR set out for the first time the fundamental rights to which everyone, everywhere is entitled. It inspired the founding of Amnesty International, which now has more than a quarter of a million members and supporters in the UK and over two million worldwide, and campaigns to abolish the death penalty and end torture, for the release of all prisoners of conscience, to control the arms trade and to stop violence against women. The world of 2008 needs the UDHR just as much as the world of 1948 and this book puts the UDHR’s importance into sharp focus with a series of stunning drawings from some of the world’s most famous illustrators.'

Contributors

John Burningham, Niki Daly, Korky Paul, Jane Ray, Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick, Jan Spivey Gilchrist, Ole Könnecke, Piet Grobler, Fernando Vilela, Polly Dunbar, Bob Graham, Alan Lee, Hong Sung Dam, Frané Lessac, Sybille Hein, Marie-Louise Gay, Jessica Souhami, Debi Gliori, Satoshi Kitamura, Gusti, Catherine and Laurence Anholt, Jackie Morris, Brita Granström, Gilles Rapaport, Nicholas Allan, Axel Scheffler, Chris Riddell, Marcia Williams, Peter Sis.

Forewords by John Boyne and David Tennant

Awards

We Are All Born Free has been announced as an Outstanding International Book by the United States Board on Books for Young People (USBBY).

The board recognizes books that offer young people the best of children’s literature from faraway places, help them see the world from other points of view or address a topic that may be missing from children’s books in the United States.

We Are All Born Free is the winner of Special Award given by the English Association in the English 4-11 Awards for Best Children’s Illustrated Books 2008.

We Are All Born Free has been selected by David Tomlinson, Deputy Head and education writer in South London, as the BEST Non Fiction title of the year in READ ME Best Books supplement of Junior Education and Child Education,November 2009

Reviews

'What a  beautiful picture book. It works very sensitively to express the themes without overloading the young reader, or filling the subject with  foreboding. It should work very well in schools as well as for  individual children in their own homes.'  - Helen Dunmore, author and Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature

'Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, this fantastic book offers a simplified text written especially to make it accessible for children.  To add to its appeal, each declaration is illustrated by an internationally renowned artist or illustrator.  All royalties are donated to Amnesty International. One of my favourites of the season.'' - Annie Everall, Service Manager, Young People and Policy Development for Derbyshire Libraries

'Every child needs to own this book and every parent needs to read it.  A simplified version of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is presented via the brilliant illustrations of some of the world’s most wonderful illustrators. All royalties from this book are donated to Amnesty International.'' - Tamara Linke, proprietor, Tales on Moon Lane, London.

‘A lyrical, simplified and beautifully realised edition brought into rapid relief by a wealth of award-winning illustrator talent.’  -  The Bookseller

'Sure to win hearts and minds this Christmas, this is something really special. Featuring an abundance of diverse artistic talent, this book is an enduring gift that resonates without being ponderous or preachy.' -   Lindsey Stainer, Blackwells bookshop

'A sensitively treated and sumptuously illustrated exploration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for young children.' -  Jake Hope, Children's librarian for Lancashire Libraries

'A book to mark any momentous occasion, from birth to Bar Mitzvah and beyond.' -  Marilyn Brocklehurst, Norfolk Children's Book Centre

'The large-scale book is a feast for the eyes and the mind, providing plenty to ponder and discuss at home and at school.’  - Kathryn Ross, The Scotsman

Published in association with Amnesty International, this amazing collection of illustrations celebrates the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The perfect gift for both children and adults. - Publishing News

The UDHR is not the most obvious fodder for a picture book but once you’ve seen We Are All Born Free you’ll wonder what took them so long… A copy in every classroom would be a good start, particularly as royalties go to Amnesty International, but ideally every child should start life with one of their own. - Telegraph

A children's book about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights? It's a bl**dy miracle! - Families South East 4 stars. Lovely book celebrating the universal declaration of human rights in a way that children will understand. - www.bettybookmark.co.uk

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Pictures sounds like a really terrible idea doesn't it. Until you see the book We Are All Born Free. In this fine and important publication, the rights are put into language that everyone can understand and illustrated by some of the finest illustrators in the world. As one teacher saId to me " I will be giving everyone this book for Christmas" - why not follow her example. - Carousel

Wonderful - Julia Donaldson, children's author

Sunday Times children's book of the week 9 November 2008

'To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, its 30 articles have been simplified and drawn by 29 internationally renowned illustrators, with royalties going to Amnesty. It is shocking to be reminded how few of the declaration's clauses are practised - including “Nobody has any right to hurt us or to torture us”, and “We all have the right to a home.” The text is clearly valuable as a set of ideals for life (and rules for the playground); the pictures are inventive rather than literal. They vary in tone - from comic to serious, childlike to sophisticated, fantastical to realistic - and use mediums that range from collage to screen prints. The South African Niki Daly depicts a statue of Nelson Mandela in a freedom park; Jane Ray's damaged rag doll illustrates torture; Polly Dunbar comes down to a child's level to communicate the idea of being innocent until proven guilty; and Alan Lee shows paper planes carrying messages caught on the barbed wire of a wall to provoke thought about our freedom to travel. Meanwhile, David Tennant's introduction suggests, appealingly, that, although Dr Who is 903 and not human, he probably has the declaration pinned up in the Tardis.'

                                       - Nicolette Jones, Sunday Times