Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope

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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.

Customer Reviews: Read 15 more reviews...

1 out of 5 stars

GOD talks to Barack Obama??? September 8, 2008
48 out of 72 found this review helpful

Even God himself talks to Barry while he's in church on Sunday, telling him: "Look around you. Now look to me. There is hope enough here to last a lifetime."

The above was taken from this children's book, Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope. Now, let me be clear about my review: The negative rating comes not from my personal political opinions. I am genuinely concerned about the way Barack Obama has been portrayed in this book.

Sure, it can be said that Barack Obama is an inspirational character. He has accomplished much in his young life, and it is understandable that he is admired by many. It's books like this one that cross the line. This book should not be characterized as Biography, but more like a work of Historical Fiction. It's loosely based in fact, but the author takes many liberties, creating an almost Messiah -like view of the Illinois Senator.

If you are a responsible parent, you should look elsewhere. If your child admires Barack Obama, look up the facts together. Don't let one person's over-the-top love for Obama indoctrinate your child.

***Update: Due to some questioning of my negative review, I felt it was appropriate to add this:

A messianic figure is a person who is viewed as having a number of the characteristics of the Messiah in the eyes of a particular group. These usually include that the person is charismatic, influential, develops a power base, is appealing to a large group that views itself as oppressed in some way, and appears to offer a way to overthrow that oppression.

Please, just go to your local bookstore and read it for yourself. You don't have to take my word on it....just thought I would share my opinion by posting a review. :)

***Yet another update: It seems only fair to mention that the Publisher and Illustrator were also responsible for the creation of this book. I regret not being able to review them, as the book was a collaborative effort. For more information, please see the comments section of this review and the Q&A. The link is available by clicking on the box "A Conversation with Nikki Grimes" below and to the right of the book image. :)

1 out of 5 stars

A review from a teacher...If this were a read aloud book September 13, 2008
46 out of 71 found this review helpful

I'm a 2nd grade teacher. I went to Barnes and Noble tonight and one of my missions was to look at the picture books regarding the presidential candidates (I knew that there had to be a few by now) to read to my students during our daily read aloud times. I want to be able to present each of the candidates in a fair manner. While at the store I found this book.

The books is SO heavy-handed (I looked to see if it hadn't been written by, endorsed by, or if the profits weren't going directly to the DNC). Barack comes across as a Moses for our times. He is spoken to by "Hope", and later on it seems that Hope turns into the voice of God. God doesn't just stir his soul but recites sentences/a paragraph, and seems to anoint him a modern-day prophet. The child in the book even compares him to Joseph of the new testament. This is going WAY too far (unless of course we are to expect The Book of Barack to be added to the Bible any day now). Actually, the heavy-handed writing made me laugh as I rejected even the possibility of bringing it into the classroom.

I do, though, allow adult guest readers to bring in books of their choosing when they join us for read alouds. I started to wonder how I would handle the situation if someone brought in this book. My solution will be to apologize immensely and then mention, "Oooops, we were suppose to go to the art room for a special presentation. We'll have to reschedule this read aloud."

There is no way I could present this book to my students. I might as well read the Bible and replace major names with Barack.

PLEASE publishers! Give us DECENT books about the candidates.

(*A note to Barack (though I doubt he will be taking time to read my little review):
Do you endorse these books or comments that compare you to Biblical figures???? I think you would do your campaign well to tell people to start considering you to be a mere man. You aren't a rock star. You aren't a prophet. I think these comparisons might wear on people and lose you an election.)

1 out of 5 stars

A Worshipful Treatment of Obama September 9, 2008
35 out of 61 found this review helpful

I saw this children's book on sale at the check out stand in an H.E.B. grocery store in San Antonio, TX right next to the two issues of US celebrity magazine which provided adoring coverage of Barack Obama and disdainful treatment of Gov. Sarah Palin. I must say it was an interesting juxtaposition. The treatment of Obama in the childs book is something I would have expected for someone like John F Kennedy or Martin Luther King but only after years of noble service and heroic effort. Like Obama's to memoirs, this book seemed premature and not fully earned. It is more about what the author thinks Obama might be someday rather than what he is now.

1 out of 5 stars

I don't know if it's possible to condescend to a five year old, but... October 17, 2008
25 out of 33 found this review helpful

...if it is, then this book manages to. I'm pretty neutral about Barack Obama as a person and a candidate, but the messianic message in this utterly insipid book makes me roll my eyes over and over again. The language is decent enough on a technical level for that age group, though patronizing. When he starts seeing the ghosts of JFK and MLK and references are made to Langston's Harlem, I'm not sure that the kids that the book is aimed at are going to pick up on the references. The illustrations are passable in the beginning, but as it continues, they become more and more over-the-top (Barack Obama crying in church, Barack Obama praying with a butterfly perched on his clasped hands, Barack Obama glowing with a heavenly aura). Cramming this political tripe into a children's book is bad enough, but the heavy-handed treatment and political sloganizing makes it unbearable.

1 out of 5 stars

Deification of Obama October 23, 2008
18 out of 27 found this review helpful

A friend and I saw and went through this book in a store. We could not believe it. It portrays Obama as Messiah, Obama as deity. And the presentation is to children. Yep, the illustrations are, indeed, beautiful. The message: over-the-top brainwashing. Of children. This book represents the unquestioning society and hero worship. The book is beautiful, and sickening.

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