Some children's books are read to them at times when they fall to sleep or when they just wake and are really with you, in a classroom after lunch at U Pick It Time, and these moments contain the hope and dreams of the reader for the child....yes in a way it is the instilling of this...yes, we do that. As a teacher the greatest sadness comes when no one cares enough to do that or really cannot in illiteracy and poverty or in a state that they are so self involved and cynical they are frozen. Perhaps it's a song sung into the heart of a child as our meanings, we desire they fully attend on some unseen level, and the personal prayer of continuing on this represents is wished into them. It will come into their being as meaningful one day, our hope. You cannot find that wrong. It is the work of the adults in raising children, ever a hard and important work.
Nikki Grimes' text is read like this into children.
This book opens with the premise that this is being told on a day from a mother to son, a song of hope and an embodiment of that being demonstrated as she tells him Obama's story. He is sitting, questioning, applying, making text connection of course to SELF. Just as a child will do with a great story. How am I like him. It's meant to connect to King on some invisible level, and contains other echoes and it does something here hard to write.....it connects. Here hope for future is repeated like a refrain to the child, explained, put into real form as an example within Barack Obama's life.... over the paralyzing of fear, poverty, really the notions that hold us back, and the drain of inadequacy and measuring up is being eschewed. Hope is defined and displayed as the operant within this leader. As an operant for this child from his mother to hold in hard times as meaning.
If only it can be heard.
I like the way the story works because I recognize her poetic devices and I like the way this telling mother and son keep reappearing in this text so that we take it back into our lives, into real lives and into personal contexts. Great device used by a master writer. Don't forget who is writing, you get nothing but masterful in her text.
Now I really like the beautiful illustrations and know this artist from other work. I'd prefer exact likenesses of Obama, these aren't, but even there I suspect it's more off to give this to the thought that it might be many of our stories. It's funny but it calls to me of the lines and stiffness of Grant Wood and WPA artists. I hope fervently artists are employed again to transmit the message of hope to this nation in this our worst crisis in many years. Great work.
Books like this are so great as classroom gifts. We most likely lack them and (at least in CA) our schools are being dismantled through the politics of greed, and now AFTER the choice was made of a leader, it is nice to delve into teaching children as positively as possible about the President. We teach to young children who is their nation's leader naturally. It's so confusing for them these concepts. One of mine happily thinking MLK was now back as the President with a new life and name. It helps to be able to use story, and here story based in a man telling his life in his own way. Nice to share this "how to grow up" construct of making choices based in hope with kids. You know kids in my room are very young, in difficult lives, they need to see successful males demonstrate in their choices hope (and in their lives reach toward love and hope.) Over half my class knows no Dad and some are in foster care with the greatest of difficulties to face daily and from inside their contexts they must spring into good lives.Yes, they can. Here, finally a man does not give in to the inclination to see difficulties as destroying him, but making him who he is. A quilt of meaning.
You have to take that from this book. A song of hope sung to children.
I recommend it along with some reins on the politicizing and deploying of cynicism into the young. They are on a long journey. It matters to know some hope along the way. Our job might be to pass that along.
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Join or create book clubs
Choose books together
Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. Learn more
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle Cloud Reader.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Flip to back Flip to front
Follow the Author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.
| Price | New from | Used from |
|
Audible Audiobook, Unabridged
"Please retry" |
$0.00
| Free with your Audible trial | |
|
Hardcover, Picture Book
"Please retry" | $5.01 | $1.46 |
Frequently bought together
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Climate Pledge FriendlyClimate Pledge Friendly uses sustainability certifications to highlight products that support our commitment to help preserve the natural world. Time is fleeting. Learn moreProduct Certification (1)
Pre-owned Certified products are inspected, cleaned and (if applicable) repaired to excellent functional standards. Buying Pre-owned extends a product's life, reducing e-waste and raw material extraction.
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
