Barack by Jonah Winter, Ag Ford (Illustrator)

From the Publisher

This is a journey that began in many places.

It began in Kansas, home of Barack's mother. It began in Africa, home of Barack's father. It began in Hawaii one moonlit night, the night that Barack was born.

Sometimes it was a lonely journey. Sometimes it was an enchanted journey. But throughout this most unusual ride, this boy often wondered: Who am I? Where do I belong?

Jonah Winter and AG Ford re-create the extraordinary story behind the rise of the inspirational icon Barack Obama in this stunning picture book.

Publishers Weekly

This most recent picture book about a 2008 presidential candidate (see Reviews, Aug. 11 for more books on the subject) could serve as an object lesson in haste: the publisher has said that Winter (Frida) turned the text around in two weeks and, unfortunately, it shows. Known for his clarity and lively prose, the author punctuates this biography with clichés. Barack Obama's life is framed as a "journey" through a complicated childhood to "unimaginable heights" (Winter doesn't specify those heights until an endnote, which centers on Obama's presidential campaign). At first Winter depends heavily on existential questions ("Where do I belong?" "Who am I?"), but these are poorly suited to the target audience, and some of his answers are glib. For example, discussing Obama's biracial background, he writes: "So what did that make Obama? For Caucasians, it simply made him 'black.' For some African Americans, though, it made him lessAfrican American." Debut artist Ford deserves credit for executing more than 20 paintings in only months; however, his figures are often distorted or strained. Ages 4-7. (Oct.)

Children's Literature

Barack Obama's life mirrors the iconic American-immigrant-rags-to-riches success story. His heritage and upbringing are an amalgam of bloodlines and cultures that span the globe. Barack was born to an American, his mother, and a Kenyan, his father, in Hawaii, a state whose population includes peoples and ethnic traditions from the Pacific Rim. His father left while Barack was still a toddler and Barack lived for a time with his mother and step-father in Indonesia. Then he returned to Hawaii to live with his mother's parents. As a result, Barack grew up acquainted with the life and customs of both the Far East and the United States. He also has an extended family of half-brothers and sisters, cousins, uncles, aunts, and grandparents in Africa. Therefore, questions centering around "Who am I?" and "Where do I belong?" are the subtext of Barack's maturation, a journey of self-discovery more literal than most. He developed a personal philosophy of tolerance and acceptance of others no matter their background or heritage, and an ability to interact with people from all walks of life. His central message is the conviction that the United States can, as a nation, overcome our difficulties because who we are as a whole is the resource-rich reward of our differences. The visual journey through Barack Obama's life is presented in colorful images that support the text and add to the drama of his story. This book would be a good resource for introducing the 2008 Democratic candidate for President to young children in a classroom, library, or home setting. Reviewer: Hazel Buys

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2

More tribute than biography, Winter's picture book adopts the same reverential tone found in Nikki Grimes's Barack Obama (S & S, 2008). Yes, the facts of Obama's life can be found here. Readers learn about his brief interactions with his father from Kenya, his stay in Indonesia with his white mother and her new husband, his work in Chicago, election to the Senate, and nomination for the presidency. But Winter also includes speculations about Obama's inner questioning of his identity and endows his life with an almost messianic quality. After quoting Martin Luther King, Jr., he declares that Obama "would be the embodiment of King's dream-a presidential candidate whose very being was a bridge that joined nations." Ford's illustrations reinforce this vision of greatness, whether Obama delivers a speech in front of a huge American flag or gazes confidently into the future while skies clear behind him. Even his enthusiastic supporters may squirm at such adulation. Children deserve a more evenhanded presentation.-Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato

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