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.
