Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope | 
| Author: Nikki Grimes
Creator: Bryan Collier
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Category: Book
List Price: $16.99
Buy New: $10.63
You Save: $6.36 (37%)
New (36) Used (9) from $10.63
Avg. Customer Rating:  20 reviews
Sales Rank: 1992
Media: Hardcover
Edition: Library Binding
Reading Level: Ages 4-8
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 48
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 10.2 x 10.2 x 0.5
ISBN: 1416971440
Dewey Decimal Number: 328.73092
EAN: 9781416971443
Publication Date: August 26, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand New, Perfect Condition, Please allow 4-14 business days for delivery. 100% Money Back Guarantee, Over 1,000,000 customers served.
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Product Description
Ever since Barack Obama was young, Hope has lived inside him. From the beaches of Hawaii to the streets of Chicago, from the jungles of Indonesia to the plains of Kenya, he has held on to Hope. Even as a boy, Barack knew he wasn't quite like anybody else, but through his journeys he found the ability to listen to Hope and become what he was meant to be: a bridge to bring people together. This is the moving story of an exceptional man, as told by Nikki Grimes and illustrated by Bryan Collier, both winners of the Coretta Scott King Award. Barack Obama has motivated Americans to believe with him, to believe that every one of us has the power to change ourselves and change our world.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 15 more reviews...
 If you don't buy this book, then you must hate America! December 1, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Obama. Messiah. These two words are just meant to go together. Obama is our savior, and those faithful to him will be rewarded, just as all faith is always rewarded.
Yea, my children, if you love America, buy this book. If you hate America, then don't buy it. You will be tallied accordingly by the Department of Homeland Security.
As much as I love Obama, and his depictions in this book, I must sadly give it one star. Now that doesn't mean that you shouldn't buy this book, please buy it! But the one star review is consistent with my belief that this book does not portray Obama in quite enough of a messianic light. Obama is the creator and sustainer of the entire universe, not just the US, and this book should depict him as such.
Nevertheless, buy this book, especially for children. Every night, wrap your child in a warm comfy American flag and read them this book, taking extra care to point out the rays of light emanating from Obama's scalp. We need to indoctrinate our kids quickly and effectively, before the terrorists do!
 A Model for Children November 27, 2008
1 out of 5 found this review helpful
This picture book for elementary aged children tells an amazing story about Barack Obama. The President's story is inherently unique and fascinating, so it's a delight to see it told for children. Although the stylized drawings are not my favorite style, they are detailed and appealing. Young children will find this inspirational American story and the illustrations engaging.
Voted third party November 27, 2008
10 out of 13 found this review helpful
You have GOT to be kidding me???? There is something seriously wrong with any parent that would give this god-king worship book to a child. I fear for anyone that focuses this much adoration towards a man. I fear for any nation that adores a leader to this extent. Lets pull our heads out of the clouds people.
The text will give your brain WHIPLASH! November 24, 2008
9 out of 12 found this review helpful
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 little much, even for a fervent Obama fan November 23, 2008
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
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.
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