Barack Obama: United States President: Updated and Expanded

This biography is written so that older children would be able to read it. It has a lot of pictures, so it would be good for read alouds too.

This is just the book I was looking for! Many of my 3rd graders are interested in learning more about Barak Obama and his life, so I was on a search to find an appropriate book for my classroom. After researching several books, this one was the obvious winner! It's actually an interesting book for anyone of any age to read (as another reviewer stated), but it's what I'd consider to be a "just right" book for students in grades 2-4. The content if easy for kids to comprehend, and the independent reading level seems to target this age group. Glad I found this book - my children keep passing it on to others instead of putting it back in our classroom library tubs!

When I picked up "Barack Obama" I thought it was written for adults. Wrong - it's for young readers. Nonetheless, I couldn't help reading it. Ms. Edwards begins with campaign photos, along with words that explain the meaning of his name, his parents background (eg. meeting in Hawaii, father left when Barack was two and didn't return until he was ten, and then only for a month), how Barack wrote his father in Kenya after they separated again, moving to Indonesia and being taught to box by his stepfather after a bully took Barack's soccer ball. "Barack Obama" then tells how he was sent to Hawaii because his mother wanted a better schooling and lower crime environment (stayed with his grandparents), graduated from Columbia, and was a Chicago-area community worker for three years. (Also included his relatively benign reaction towards a white girl that wouldn't date him.) Barack saw problems while working in the community, and wanted to help. Thus, off to Harvard Law where he did very well. Then back to Chicago. Unfortunately, his parents died before he became U.S. Senator. February, 2007 Barack announced he was running for president - a race that he eventually won by more than 8 million votes. Again, misfortune struck - his beloved grandmother died just two days before the election. I enjoyed the photos, drawings, and narration, and imagine a young reader would be inspired by Barack Obama's story.

My 8 year old, 2nd grade, daughter got this as a gift - a very good overview of President Obama's life for kids (I even learned a few things!)