Barack Obama: An American Story by Roberta Edwards, Ken Call (Illustrator)

PROPAGANDA
A reviewer, A reviewer, 04/13/2008

Political propaganda masquerading as a children's book

A biography written for children
Patrick Killough (patrick@thekilloughs.com) , a retired Foreign Service Officer, 03/20/2008

Half or more of this 48 page biography of Senator Barack Obama is filled with drawings or photographs, mainly of the Senator and his family. But also a photo with Vice President Cheney when Mr Obama was sworn in as U.S. Senator in 2005. The book is aimed at young readers aged from perhaps eight to 13. But it also provides a ten-minute read for adults unfamiliar with the current candidate for the Democratic Party nomination to run for President of the USA. *** BARACK OBAMA: AN AMERICAN STORY lays out the candidate's white and black family roots in Kansas and Kenya. It also sketches his schooling in Hawaii, Indonesia, Columbia University and Harvard Law School. The book also makes it clear why Mr Obama chose Chicago as a field for his perceived vocation of making a better life for the poor and disadvantaged. For eight years he also served in the Illinois State Senate. In July 2004 in Boston Mr Obama gained national prominence when he gave the Keynote Address for the Democratic Party national convention. A few months later he was elected to the U.S. Senate. *** Sample writing from the text: 'It is hard to imagine two places more different than Kansas and Kenya' -- p. 11. 'Most newly elected senators don't get to work on important committees or pass important laws. ... From early on, he also spoke out against the U.S. war in Iraq' -- p. 44. *** There is no mention of religion in the biography: either the Senator's or anyone else's. There is stress on his biracial genetics and his achievements as a black man in being elected to the U.S. Senate and later running for President. Clearly written. A simple overview for children. -OOO-

Also recommended: Barack Obama: THE AUDACITY OF HOPE, DREAMS FROM MY FATHER.