November 15, 2010
Already the author of two books for adults, President Obama turns toward young Americans with this picture book tribute to 13 men and women—and corresponding qualities of character—that demonstrate the nation's best. Written before he took office, the book directly addresses daughters Sasha and Malia, who appear throughout, joined by young versions of Georgia O'Keeffe, Helen Keller, Sitting Bull (a selection that's already generating controversy), Neil Armstrong, and the rest—a tangible reminder that every hero, artist, and explorer was once a child. Obama asks a series of questions, followed by poetic descriptions of each famous American. "Have I told you that you don't give up?" appears opposite Martin Luther King, Jr., hands joined in solidarity with civil rights supporters; "Have I told you to be proud to be American?" accompanies a winter scene of General George Washington encouraging a trio of soldiers ("He helped make an idea into a new country, strong and true"). On the left side of each spread, the growing chorus of children faces Long's paintings—by turns majestic, whimsical, and rousing—as though watching history unfold. The group is highly diverse, both in backgrounds and accomplishments, creating a collective portrait of citizens' inspiration, dedication, and bravery. Ages 3–up.

January 1, 2011

Gr 2-5-In characteristically measured prose, the 44th President introduces 13 American icons and heroes as exemplars of personal virtues, from Georgia O'Keeffe (creativity) and Jackie Robinson (courage) to Helen Keller (strength) and Cesar Chavez (inspiration). Though he includes Billie Holiday in his gallery (a gifted singer, but an iffy role model) along with a free translation of Chavez's !Si se puede! as "Yes, you can!" (which was his campaign slogan: the official UFW version is a more accurate but stiffer "Yes, it can be done!"), Obama offers general but cogent summations of why each figure merits admiration-Martin Luther King Jr., for instance, "taught us unyielding compassion," and Helen Keller, "never waiting for life to get easier," "gave others courage to face their challenges." Long's superb technical gifts and gentle sense of humor shine in the pictures. Posed nobly and, usually, hard at work in full-page scenes, each man or woman also appears as a willowy but recognizable child on the facing and following pages, joining a growing crowd of young observers gazing across the center stitching and exchanging symbolic tools of their various trades. Their ranks swelled with more children, these younger versions turn to face viewers on the penultimate spread, followed by a closing painting of the author walking with his daughters and a page of reasonably accurate historical notes. As well as offering thought-provoking choices and commentary, this stately outing leads naturally to Lynne Cheney's more populous America: A Patriotic Primer (S & S, 2002) as first introductions to our country's great ones.-John Peters, formerly at New York Public Library

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2011
With the conceit of providing inspiration to his daughters, Obama presents thumbnail portraits of thirteen notable Americans, from George Washington to Jackie Robinson to Maya Lin. The writing is sometimes heavy-handed, but the array of subjects is thoughtful. Long's emotive acrylic paintings and a smart book design have more pull than the text. Brief biographies of the subjects are appended.

(Copyright 2011 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

"If Barack Obama wants to quit his day job (and maybe he might), he can probably make it as a children's book author. Certainly, this is a beautiful package: thoughtfully conceived, handsomely illustrated and designed, and with a tight yet evocative text that brings children into the world of 13 famous Americans. Framed as a letter to his daughters ("Have I told you lately how wonderful you are?" the book begins), each double-page spread then asks a question that is exemplified by a person of note. "Have I told you that you are creative?" introduces Georgia O'Keeffe, who "helped us see big beauty in what is small: / the hardness of stone and the softness of feather." Most of the people briefly profiled are expected names--George Washington, Jackie Robinson, Helen Keller, César Chávez--but there are a few outliers here as well, including Billie Holiday and Sitting Bull. As the spreads turn, other children join (the unnamed) Malia and Sasha on the question page, each embodying their own special gifts and talents. Long's exceptional artwork has a timeless, Rockwellian quality that serves the text well, and the congregation of the children at the book's conclusion will have readers looking and looking again. An addendum features a bit more about each person highlighted. Parents will be happy to talk to their own children about how creative or kind or strong they are and reiterate, as the president does, their place in the American family. -- Ilene Cooper"