(3) K-3 Illustrated by E. B. Lewis. This nonfiction picture book (likely with invented dialogue) begins with the first White House Passover Seder, in 2011, and then flashes back to the new tradition’s origins on Barack Obama’s campaign trail the previous year, when Jewish staff members missed their family Seders. The (somewhat lengthy) text presents Passover and the biblical Exodus story accessibly and makes connections to Obama and earlier civil rights figures. Varied perspectives in the watercolor illustrations add visual interest. Back matter gives more information about the first White House Seder.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Tonya Engel. President Barack Obama's path through life has been anything but linear. This picture-book biography in verse relates how "Barry" (as he was known in childhood), who was born to a white woman from Kansas and a Black Kenyan father, began to explore his racial identity at an early age. He increasingly felt like an outsider as he moved from Hawaii to Indonesia and back again. In early adulthood, he spent time in big cities on the U.S. mainland ("I came home in Chicago") and, realizing that his unique background was an asset to the community, began to organize, which led to the start of his political career. Chronicling his personal life, political rise, and presidency in a style both poetic and informative, Rappaport offers a narrative that emphasizes themes of community and perseverance. Engel's paintings effectively complement the text, with dynamic colors capturing the energy of Obama's journey. Select quotes about both his political and personal achievements, peppered throughout the text, add richness. With a detailed timeline and bibliography, this is a strong narrative that is equal parts biography and tribute to a man who discovered that his uniqueness was precisely what qualified him to serve others.

Reviewer: Eboni Njoku | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2025

(3) YA Foreword by Yara Shahidi. This inspiring and refreshing book features ten young women honestly recounting their experiences working for the Obama White House. From their proudest to their most humbling and intimidated moments, the stories exude authenticity and provide exciting details about working behind the scenes in politics. An appended "Girl's Guide to Getting into Government" suggests programs and resources for politically minded young women.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) 4-6 Captured History series. In presidential photographer Pete Souza's iconic 2011 photo, President Obama and his advisors watch and wait as U.S. Navy SEAL Team Six storms Osama bin Laden's Pakistan compound--resulting in the death of the terrorist leader and 9/11 mastermind. Accompanied by well-chosen photographs, this matter-of-fact account provides adequate information for school reports. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Meredith Madyda

(3) 4-6 Former Chief Official White House Photographer Souza presents this visual survey of Barack Obama's time in office. Divided into themed sections, Sousa's stellar collection of photographs (accompanied by anecdotal commentary) paints a collective portrait of the values that informed the forty-fourth president's tenure (e.g., "Be Kind and Respectful"; "Work Hard"; and "Dream Big Dreams"). It's a handsome, inspiring tribute to a landmark presidency.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(4) K-3 Zoom In on Legendary Leaders series. These titles offer a superficial first glance at the lives of six influential leaders (all male), their accomplishments/impact on others, and their place in history. The historical photos, paintings, and drawings add depth to brief texts that align to Common Core Standards. Appended lists of quick stats and key dates may be helpful when writing reports. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Zoom In on Legendary Leaders titles: Abraham Lincoln, Barack Obama, Cesar Chavez, George Washington, Mahatma Gandhi, and Nelson Mandela.

Reviewer: Nancy Sheridan

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Dav Pilkey. A small African American girl and her companion, a Caucasian boy, explore the world described by poet Richard Blanco on the occasion of Barack Obama's second presidential inauguration. The verbal imagery is striking, and Pilkey's acrylic and India-ink paintings (done in the style he used in The Paperboy) make the adult thoughts more accessible to children.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) 4-6 Real-Life Story series. These well-researched biographies (accompanied by black-and-white photo inserts) detail the subjects' lives, starting with early childhood and moving thoughtfully through career highs and lows. Engaging, accessible descriptions of complicated issues in Bush and Obama balance the mostly complementary tone and provide a compelling introduction to the political process. Jobs respectfully traces the evolution of a sometimes challenging but visionary personality. Timeline. Bib., ind. Review covers these Real-Life Story titles: Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Steve Jobs.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) K-3 National Geographic Readers series. Short chapters with challenging but controlled vocabulary (Obama's text is simpler than Mandela's) track Obama's and Mandela's paths to becoming the first black presidents of their respective countries; pre-presidential civil rights work is emphasized more than presidential policy. "Words to Know" boxes and in-text transliteration support independent reading. Bright photographs, fact boxes, and pullout quotes increase accessibility. Mandela has an index. Timeline. Glos. Review covers these National Geographic Readers titles:Barack Obama and Nelson Mandela.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(3) K-3 Illustrated by David Diaz. A mother and son travel through a luminous American landscape as the words of the poem celebrating President Obama's first inauguration reverberate throughout the book. There are no explanations here for the reader, just strong images and strong words: "On the brink, on the brim, on the cusp, / praise song for walking forward in that light."

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) 4-6 Famous Lives series. The volumes in this readable series are chock-full of trivia about the title figures. Section headings help organize the information (and will help readers navigate the crowded spreads) while sidebars provide additional information. Each title's "A Day in the Life" section and "Do You Have What It Takes?" personality quiz may engage readers. The many photographs are generally relevant. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Famous Lives titles: Simon Cowell, Barack Obama, and J.K. Rowling.

Reviewer: Rebecca Hachmyer

(4) K-3 Illustrated by AG Ford. Hopkinson describes the First Family's life in the White House. The Obamas walk their dog, exercise, work or go to school, weed the garden, eat dinner together, etc. Illustrations of the family members are unflattering, though pet dog Bo is sufficiently cute. A list of facts and trivia about the White House and first families is included.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(3) K-3 Staake tells of how President Obama honored his campaign promise to his daughters and brought a dog to the White House. The straightforward text sticks to the facts: in short, Senator Ted Kennedy brokered the doggy deal. The effervescent illustrations, a combination of traditional and digital art, have the look of crisply cut paper.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Robert T. Barrett. With energy and emotion, Weatherford tells Barack Obama's life story. The text, formatted to look like a poem, is just the right level of difficulty for a picture book biography, but the page-concluding quotes plucked from Obama's speeches aren't worth the disruption to the narrative. Although the oil portraits don't always closely resemble their subjects, they lend intimacy to Obama's very public story.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) 4-6 The inspirational quotations constituting this offering's text are culled from five of Barack Obama's better-known speeches predating his inauguration. The corresponding drawings--loose-handed graphite sketches showing President Obama, his family, and diverse supporters--realize Nelson's stated intent: to remind readers of "the greatness of our country and its ability to grow and change for the better."

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) 4-6 This summary of the Obamas' "historic journey" (concentrating on the presidential campaign, election, and inauguration) is beautifully designed, with numerous high-quality photographs. Supplemental information includes a family tree, sidebars on Obama's and John McCain's differing campaign positions, and a spread on how the New York Times election issue was created. Best for browsing, not reports; there's no index or bibliography.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) 4-6 Gateway Biography series. The forty-fourth U.S. president, the longtime Massachusetts senator, and the supermodel-turned-entrepreneur are all given cursory biographical treatments. These books effectively describe the subjects' political or business successes and philanthropic work. However, anything negative is often oversimplified or omitted, especially in Kennedy. Banks includes a glossary and bibliography; Kennedy lists "Fun Facts" and other notable Kennedys. Obama has been updated through 2008. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind. Review covers these Gateway Biography titles: Barack Obama, Tyra Banks, and Ted Kennedy.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(3) K-3 Step into Reading series. Illustrated by James Bernardin. This engaging easy-reader biography of President Obama (who is referred to as "Barack" throughout) provides interesting details about his unconventional childhood. It also depicts the excitement of his historic victory, while emphasizing his interest in finding a way for everyone to work together to make America a better place for all. Soft-focus realistic illustrations emphasize the man's approachability.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(4) K-3 Pebble Plus series. Black-and-white family photographs of a young Barack Obama are the highlight of this otherwise unremarkable biography of the forty-fourth president. Intended for an audience of young emergent readers, the language and facts are very basic ("Barack saw many poor people in Jakarta. Their struggles made him sad," "Leading the nation wouldn't be easy. President Obama was ready for the challenge"). Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Laura A. Woollett

(4) YA Essential Lives series. Filled with interesting sidebars, photographs (Castro, Obama) or illustrations (Alexander), and maps, each of these biographies traces the life of its subject, including early successes and failures. The texts are bland but accessible; a clean design makes the books user-friendly, and appended resources make them helpful for school reports. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Essential Lives titles: Alexander the Great, Fidel Castro, and Barack Obama.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee