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Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope | 
| Author: Nikki Grimes
Creator: Bryan Collier
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Category: Book
List Price: $16.99
Buy New: $11.55
You Save: $5.44 (32%)
New (37) Used (8) from $10.61
Rating:  20 reviews
Sales Rank: 1414
Media: Hardcover
Edition: Library Binding
Reading Level: Ages 4-8
Pages: 48
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 10.2 x 10.2 x 0.5
ISBN: 1416971440
Dewey Decimal Number: 328.73092
EAN: 9781416971443
ASIN: 1416971440
Publication Date: August 26, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Ever since Barack Obama was young, Hope has lived inside him. From the beaches of Hawaii to the streets of Chicago, from the jungles of Indonesia to the plains of Kenya, he has held on to Hope. Even as a boy, Barack knew he wasn't quite like anybody else, but through his journeys he found the ability to listen to Hope and become what he was meant to be: a bridge to bring people together. This is the moving story of an exceptional man, as told by Nikki Grimes and illustrated by Bryan Collier, both winners of the Coretta Scott King Award. Barack Obama has motivated Americans to believe with him, to believe that every one of us has the power to change ourselves and change our world.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 15 more reviews...
 A Model for Children November 27, 2008
Dr. Joan E. Aitken (Kansas City, MO United States)
1 out of 5 found this review helpful
This picture book for elementary aged children tells an amazing story about Barack Obama. The President's story is inherently unique and fascinating, so it's a delight to see it told for children. Although the stylized drawings are not my favorite style, they are detailed and appealing. Young children will find this inspirational American story and the illustrations engaging.
 A little much, even for a fervent Obama fan November 23, 2008
T. Mooney (Santa Rosa, CA USA)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
I took a look at this book at my local bookstore a few days before November 4, and at that time I giggled at the very bright, technicolor pictures of the book. I also winced a little at the dangerously-close-to-hubris conceit of writing such a book before the election results were known. How could you tell a complete story about a historical figure unless you knew what the ending was? At the time, though, I thought this was a harmless book, and was still giddy (and terrified) at the thought of Election Day coming up.
Now, after the euphoria has subsided a bit, I took a second look at this book.
I didn't laugh at it much this time around. I still winced when I read it, and not in a good way.
Some good things about the book: The final pictures were practically prescient (it almost matched the Obamas' election night picture, with the Obama parents walking out with Sasha and Malia by their sides); it was interesting to see the beginning illustrations and interpretations of Obama's childhood pictures, and the rest of the book telegraphed the giddy hope of Big Expectations that many, many people felt that night.
However, I thought the asides from the mother and her child were a little distracting, a "forced" questioning innocence from the child and an almost condescending tone from the mother. Most distracting, as noted by other reviewers, was the "Lion King/Messiah/Star Wars/Chosen One" kind of vibe given to Obama throughout the narrative. This was the dangerously-close-to-conceit part of the book that made me wince. While it's good to teach children to respect the President of the United States, this book fairly jumps across the line from respect to breathless worship.
President-Elect Barack Obama is an ordinary man. A deeply talented speaker, brilliant thinker and professor (Harvard Law School, people!), and arguably the most disciplined politician I've ever seen--BUT, an ordinary man. A devoted loving husband and father, BUT an ordinary man. He's NOT "The One/Golden Child/Messiah/Moses Of The 21st Century", and it's dangerous to put him on that pedestal.
Having said all that, when I read this book as expressive poetry instead of literal historic narrative, the technicolor visual and literary flourishes were easier to take. (Though I fervently wish they picked a different picture for the front cover!) If you don't mind the hyperbole--or if you're an "Obama Otaku" (Anime fans will know what I mean)--then the in-your-face nature of the narrative in this book won't phase you at all. In fact, reading this book with any less attitude than TOTAL WORSHIP AND EUPHORIA (caps meant) will probably make you nauseous. Otherwise, if you're looking for a more sober historical book for your child, I would steer clear of this one.
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