Beacon of Hope

The Life of Barack Obama

De: Doreen Rappaport, Tonya Engel - illustrator

Narrado por: Leon Nixon

A magnificent biography of Barack Obama​: a tireless organizer, a brilliant orator, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, and the first Black president of the United States of America.

Before he became the president, Barack Obama was a little boy called Barry. Amid a happy childhood in Hawaii and Indonesia, he also yearned for a better understanding of Black history and culture, and a better sense of his own identity as a Black American. Spurred by conversations around race, injustice, and inequality, he became a community organizer, practiced civil rights law, and was elected to the US Senate. “Yes we can!” became a rallying cry for his message of hope and change throughout the 2008 presidential election—which resulted in Barack Obama becoming the first Black president of the United States.

This addition to the highly acclaimed Big Words series celebrates one of the most inspiring American leaders of our time. Doreen Rappaport’s richly detailed narrative employs rousing quotes from Obama himself and encourages young listeners to investigate who they are and who they might one day become.

©2025 Doreen Rappaport (P)2025 Little, Brown Young Readers

Reseñas de la Crítica

* "A very successful biography that portrays a purpose-driven life fueled from Obama’s early years to the White House; the text captures the energy and passion of a man who broke barriers and changed ­history."—School Library Journal, starred review

"A respectful profile of Barack Obama, from childhood to the White House.... Further cements the 44th U.S. president’s status as a strong role model and an admirable human being."—Kirkus Reviews