From Campaign to Inauguration
RSSAlicia Eames, Curriculum Connections -- School Library Journal, 10/20/2009
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President Barack Obama's election marked an important milestone in our country's history. On the campaign trail, Obama's vision of an inclusive America took center stage. A year later, interest in the man, his election, and his message continues unabated. Here are three 2009 titles worth noting.
In Yes We Can: A Biography of President Barack Obama, rev. ed (Feiwel & Friends, 2009; Gr 6-9), Garen Thomas frames the president's life story with quotes from his speeches, each a powerful example of his broad appeal and spirited commitment. “We may come from different places and have different stories but we share common hopes, and one very American dream.” Thomas takes readers from Obama’s early days in Hawaii to his historic election. While the author’s admiration for the president is apparent, she doesn’t avoid difficult topics, such as his relationship with his father, his search for a defined identity, and his occasional failures. Black-and-white photos illustrate the president’s childhood, extended family, early career, and campaign; fact boxes offer additional details. The extensive bibliography will be a boon for young researchers wanting to dig deeper.
Jill Abramson’s Obama:The Historic Journey (New York Times, 2009; Gr 3-7) is a young reader’s edition of the adult title. From the cover photo of the First Family at the inauguration to the end pages featuring campaign highlights, the oversize format makes good use of crystal-clear color photos that pop with the enthusiasm and passion of a historic campaign. Black-and-white personal photos feature the president as a young baseball player, a smiling Harvard Law student, and a youthful community organizer. Well-written, brief chapters take readers from “A Kid with a Funny Name” to “President Obama” and include spreads showcasing a family tree, a map of election results, and a list of facts about the president (shoe size, height) along with mentions of his favorite books, movies, and music.
The day after President Obama’s election, artist Greg Ruth “was out-of-his-tree excited,” and he began posting drawings of the man on his Web site. Later that day, he was approached by HarperCollins about illustrating the president’s inaugural address. The result was Our Enduring Spirit: President Barack Obama’s First Words to America (Oct. 2009; Gr 3 Up), a picture book that pairs Ruth’s sophisticated yet accessible drawings with an abbreviated version of the president’s speech. Working in black ink and splashes of color, Ruth extracts highlights from the inaugural address. With appeal for a range of ages, this inspiring composition echoes Obama’s stirring command: “Let it be said by our children’s children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter...we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it to future generations.”
