Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters - Barack Obama

"If Barack Obama wants to quit his day job (and maybe he might), he can probably make it as a childrens 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.