Customer Reviews

Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(20)

 

 

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.

I was so excited to see a picture book version of Obama's life, and knowing the work of Nikki Grimes, I ordered the title without hesitation. What I received was very disappointing. The narration was saccharine, almost to the point of being a story about someone whom I did not know. The Illustrations were also very disappointing.
I felt the book, overall, gave an unrealistic picture of a wonderful man, and was, ultimately, not suitable for young readers. I will wait for something better written and illustrated for this age group to come along.

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. :)

Before I get into this review, let me say that books of this kind are nothing unusual. In the 1800s, schoolchildren read texts that glorified George Washington and Abraham Lincoln (the cherry tree, walking miles to return a book, etc.) as a means of inspiring patriotism and as examples of positive initiative for them to follow. In my own childhood in the late 1960s and early 1970s, I read similar texts on Martin Luther King and John F. Kennedy, as well as many others. In that respect, this book is no different. I'm sure that at the time, British loyalists, Confederate sympathizers, and those who disliked King and Kennedy had the same complaints about those books in their day.

Overall, taking this book as it is, it's clear intention is to use Obama's story written on a children's level to inspire them in the same fashion as the above mentioned books. We have the well known tales of Obama's confusion of his identity, the absence of his father, and the example his mother and grandparents set for him, and most everyone by now knows the rest. The presentation of young Obama's goal of uniting the various sectors of American society comes off as more admirable than worshipful to me.

Granted, those who are not inclined toward Obama's politics will not want this for their children (just as today's Democratic parents would be disinclined toward the current children's book on John McCain). But consider this book with an open mind and take it for what it is-a child's biography of Barack Obama-not a brainwashing guide for the future Obama nation.

...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.

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.)

When I picked up this book from a display at the bookstore I immediately thought, "Oh great. Now they have a kids' book full of propaganda that Obama is the Messiah or something!" I half expected it to be propped up next to the Christmas nativity merchandise. The title "...Son of Promise, Child of Hope" makes one think the text is out to proclaim the deity of B.O. I was pleasantly surprised that the text didn't go out preaching that Obama was the Christ Child, as implied in the title. But it did fringe upon the idea when this god-like voice, named Hope, would talk to B.O. as though he was the "chosen one."

It seemed like one page would be talking about B.O.'s childhood, the opposite page would then take you to all the wonderful things that B.O. did (with no specifics mentioned... *ahem* because he doesn't have many) and then turn the page and we have this "Hope" person whispering in B.O.'s ear, resulting in B.O. crying in church over the epiphany of it all.

On the good side there is an underlying theme that would encourage an underpriveliged child that he/she can do anything, and rise above their circumstances, just like B.O. did. It also brings comfort to a child experiencing divorce and father abandonment.

I will say that things are accurate enough, albeit fuzzy and non-specific. The text gets tangled with humanism, "Christianity," racial issues, biography, divorce, father abandonment, social issues, geography, a big push on education, and then a tie-in with the little boy and his single mom having a discussion in the "background" (which was probably the most noteworthy part of the book). Reading this book was like getting whiplash of the brain.

The actual art is beautiful, with the use of watercolor and collage. I literally had to touch the page in order to convince myself it wasn't a touch-n-feel book. Colors were goregeous. But the actual visual interpretation bothered me because it depicted B.O. as a little too holy and righteous. And, quite frankly, the front cover looks like a propaganda photo you'd expect coming from a communist country.

Nice try Ms.Grimes, but no can do. You're just trying too hard.

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.

I loved this book and the illustrations. I've read it to several children and they enjoyed it as well. Those children that were old enough to read, enjoyed it immensely. Beautifully written and illustrated. Thank you Ms. Grimes.

I was in the bookstore and I saw this book. I just have to write a review. As I was flipping through the pages of this book, I realized: how far has the fad that is Barack Obama come? All throughout the election, I was bombarded with posters with his face saying "Hope," Barack Obama action figures, etc. All of that was unnecessary and sickening to me. It was supposed to be a presidential election, not a high school popularity contest. That being said, flipping through this book made me sicker than all of that combined. The author of this book must be dumber than the rest. At what point did they decide: "Hey, let's make a propaganda children's book to brainwash children into believing Obama is going to be/is a good president!" Congratulations, Barack Obama, for making the state of this country worse and electing a reverse racist as a Supreme Court Justice. Hail to the Chief!