 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Of Thee I Sing
- By Barack Obama
- Genre: History
Common Sense Media says
Educational, inspirational profiles of 13 American heroes.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this inspirational picture book written by President Barack Obama for his daughters focuses on the lives of 13 American heroes. The list is quite diverse -- both in terms of what these heroes look like and the work that they did. Short profiles range from Cesar Chavez, who fought for farm laborers' rights, to Maya Lin, who built the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The president's book will educate young readers about America's heroes and remind them that they can also make a difference in their world.
What's the story?
In this letter to his daughters, President Barack Obama calls out the girls' winning attributes ("Have I told you that you are creative?") and connects them to one of 13 American heroes. "Creative," for example, launches into a short bio about painter Georgia O'Keefe, who "helped us see big beauty in what is small: the hardness of stone and the softness of feather." The book includes further biographical information about each of the selections.
Is it any good?
Adults who read OF THEE I SING aloud to their kids shouldn't be surprised to find themselves choking up -- not only because many of the heroes profiled are so brave and amazing, but also because Obama does what all parents want to do: Remind their kids about how much they love them and inspire them to be the best selves they can be. The ending line may be a bit obvious ("And have I told you that I love you"), but you may be too teary by that point to see it clearly. Overall, this is an inspiring and educational book.
An award-winning illustrator provides beautiful paintings of the book's subjects. Especially fun (and poignant): On the left hand side, he represents them as children, standing along with Sasha, Malia, and a growing chorus of other future heroes.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the heroes profiled here. Which Americans had you heard of before? Who would you like to learn more about?
Parents with older kids might want to point out that many of the heroes profiled here were controversial figures in their time. What made them controversial? Why do you think Obama decided to include them?
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AGE
Not interested after reading this and other site's reviews.
I was curious about this book, so I read the only review available on the CS website then I went to Amazon* to read their reviews. I read the 2 negative reviews as I always do to determine identify any negatives or bias. Personally I wouldn't buy the book, but I disagree with "Borax" that buying books for your children written by "politicians" is weird. I have read 3 books written by Lynne Cheney for children and find them well-written, informative, beautifully illustrated and understandable at a variety of levels.
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AGE
Greek myths have better moral lessons
What a tedious book. It's self-consciously earnest and worthy, and for most kids totally forgettable. Parents are buying this so they can mold their kids politics, not because it might inspire them or--God forbid--give them some pleasurable reading. We got this from a friend who is obsessed with making her kids into extensions of her own ideas.
And no, this has nothing to do with my political views. I just don't know what kind of parent would give their kid a book by any politician. Weird.
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AGE
Reviews, not politics, please!
I don't think it's fair or informative for kjrutherford of Indiana to review this book because s/he hasn't read it. S/he says s/he's basing the opinion on a couple of negative reviews at amazon*. I just checked amazon where the book has 86 5-star reviews, 6 4-star reviews, and 3 1-star reviews (and no 3 or 2-star reviews). In fact, kjrutherford is taking advantage of this review space to plug Lynn Cheney's books for kids. I think the "review", along with my critique of it, should both be removed to make way for comments from people who have actually read the book and have something constructive to say about it that would assist readers.
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| Author: | Barack Obama |
| Illustrator: | Loren Long |
| Book type: | Non-Fiction |
| Genre: | History |
| Publisher: | Knopf |
| Publication date: | November 16, 2010 |
| Number of pages: | 40 |
| Hardcover price: | $17.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 3 - 3 |
| Read aloud: | 4 |
| Read alone: | 6 |
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