Barack

by Jonah Winter, AG Ford (Illustrator)

Overview

A glowing picture book biography of the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama.

This is a journey that began in many places.

It began in Kansas, home of Barack's mother. It began in Africa, home of Barack's father. It began in Hawaii one moonlit night, the night that Barack was born.

Sometimes it was a lonely journey. Sometimes it was an enchanted journey. But throughout this most unusual ride, this boy often wondered: Who am I? Where do I belong?

Jonah Winter and AG Ford re-create the extraordinary story behind the rise of the inspirational icon Barack Obama in this stunning picture book.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780061703966
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	09/21/2010
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	191,127
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 10.70(h) x 0.20(d)
Lexile:	890L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Jonah Winter grew up in Dallas, Texas, and saw JFK on November 22, 1963, moments before he was assassinated. Mr. Winter is the author of many celebrated biographies for young readers, including the New York Times bestselling Barack, also illustrated by AG Ford; You Never Heard of Sandy Koufax?!; Dizzy; and Frida.

AG Ford is a New York Times bestselling artist and recipient of two NAACP Image Awards and has illustrated more than thirty books for children, including picture books by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Sharon Robinson, Ilyasah Shabazz, Martin Luther King III, Nick Cannon, Jonah Winter, the Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and many others. He grew up in Dallas and attended the Columbus College of Art and Design and now lives in Frisco, Texas, with his wife, Brandy, and their two sons, Maddox and Carter.

Editorial Reviews

Heartfelt.” — Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

This most recent picture book about a 2008 presidential candidate (see Reviews, Aug. 11 for more books on the subject) could serve as an object lesson in haste: the publisher has said that Winter (Frida) turned the text around in two weeks and, unfortunately, it shows. Known for his clarity and lively prose, the author punctuates this biography with clichés. Barack Obama's life is framed as a "journey" through a complicated childhood to "unimaginable heights" (Winter doesn't specify those heights until an endnote, which centers on Obama's presidential campaign). At first Winter depends heavily on existential questions ("Where do I belong?" "Who am I?"), but these are poorly suited to the target audience, and some of his answers are glib. For example, discussing Obama's biracial background, he writes: "So what did that make Obama? For Caucasians, it simply made him 'black.' For some African Americans, though, it made him lessAfrican American." Debut artist Ford deserves credit for executing more than 20 paintings in only months; however, his figures are often distorted or strained. Ages 4-7. (Oct.)

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Publishers Weekly

PreS-Gr 2

More tribute than biography, Winter's picture book adopts the same reverential tone found in Nikki Grimes's Barack Obama (S & S, 2008). Yes, the facts of Obama's life can be found here. Readers learn about his brief interactions with his father from Kenya, his stay in Indonesia with his white mother and her new husband, his work in Chicago, election to the Senate, and nomination for the presidency. But Winter also includes speculations about Obama's inner questioning of his identity and endows his life with an almost messianic quality. After quoting Martin Luther King, Jr., he declares that Obama "would be the embodiment of King's dream-a presidential candidate whose very being was a bridge that joined nations." Ford's illustrations reinforce this vision of greatness, whether Obama delivers a speech in front of a huge American flag or gazes confidently into the future while skies clear behind him. Even his enthusiastic supporters may squirm at such adulation. Children deserve a more evenhanded presentation.-Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato

School Library Journal

Barack Obama's fascinating life story is briefly recounted by author and poet Jonah Winter. Narrator Ezra Knight has a melodious voice much like Obama's. He tells the beautiful and unique story in a manner that complements the biography. Obama's international life, exotic pets, diverse schools, and loving family are perfectly captured, as well as his questioning of his own identity: "Who am I? Where do I belong?" As Obama matures, he finds answers through the Civil Rights movement and the work of Martin Luther King, Jr., parts of the story that Knight delivers with just the right touch. Movingly, Obama's own books are highlighted for young listeners. This production can function as a read-along, as one version has page-turn signals. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

DECEMBER 2009 - AudioFile