From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 5—This title uses inspirational verse and illustrations to introduce readers to the president. The poetry itself is contrived and vague unless supplemented with "Barack's Story," presented in prose at the end of the book. The flat illustrations are out of order as Barack, shown as a young child in a classroom with an airplane drawing, is placed after two images in which he is depicted as a teen and an intermediate student. Lacking depth, the artwork does not generate interest or complement the text, and none of the people depicted are identified. Children are invited to submit inspirational stories about their dreams and President Obama. Several examples from children are appended along with a message from the author. Nikki Grimes's
Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope (S & S, 2008) is a much better choice.—
Nancy Baumann, Indian Paintbrush Elementary, Laramie, WY Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review
...[A] priceless biography.... The tome's uplifting narration, written in a bouncy rhyme, is not so much strictly about Barack as about the incredible potential inside each and every one of us which is waiting to be unlocked. But the book's beautiful illustrations by Ann Marie Williams do feature familiar tableaus of Obama at every stage of his development, from learning to ride a tricycle all the way to his finally standing at a podium in front of the President Seal.
Fitfully, I am Barack Obama closes with over a dozen testimonials by children representing a diversity of ethnic backgrounds. Each one essentially affirms, as 10 year-old Raequan eloquently puts it, "No matter where you come from, when you put your mind to it, you can do or be anything." What more proof do you need that times have certainly changed? --The Sly Fox Reviews by Kam Williams (excerpt)
One might easily mistake the beautifully-illustrated book, I am Barack Obama by Charisse Carney-Nunes and Ann Marie Williams, for a traditional children's biography. But it offers, in my view, a more innovative strategy by portraying our 44th President's life simply as the story of a young boy and his extended family: the obstacles he faced as a bi-racial child with a single parent; his love of basketball, of learning, and of helping others. Guided by the philosophy that "inspiration and optimism are the first steps" to children's achievement, Carney-Nunes's poetic second-person narrative speaks directly to young listeners through the life story of Obama: You'll travel far and wide
Along the journey of your life
You'll know joy and happiness
And you'll know sorrow,
you'll know strife...
Parents and teachers who are already familiar with Obama's background will recognize "Toot" and the landscape of Indonesia along with iconic images of his life and career. Additionally, the book contains an appendix with a brief bio, teaching resources, and personal essays by several children who have been inspired by the President. ("The same year Barack Obama won, I won," writes 10-year-old Morgana, "I am currently the youngest president ever elected in my middle school...") Their words suggest that Obama's story can begin with any child and this is exactly point of I am Barack Obama.
Carney-Nunes is the author of several children's books and CEO of Brand Nu Words publishing. She and Obama are also former classmates from Harvard Law School. --Literary Obama by Qiana Whitted
