Beacon of Hope, Doreen Rappaport
Beacon of Hope, Doreen Rappaport
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Beacon of Hope
The Life of Barack Obama

Author: Doreen Rappaport

Narrator: Leon Nixon

Unabridged: 21 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 01/14/2025


Synopsis

A magnificently illustrated picture book 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. With evocative illustrations by award-winning artist Tonya Engel, Doreen Rappaport’s richly detailed narrative employs rousing quotes from Obama himself and encourages young readers to investigate who they are and who they might one day become.

Don’t miss these other titles in the Big Words series!
Ellen Takes Flight: The Life of Astronaut Ellen Ochoa
Ruth Objects: The Life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Helen’s Big World: The Life of Helen Keller
Abe’s Honest Words: The Life of Abraham Lincoln
Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

About Doreen Rappaport

Doreen Rappaport is the recipient of a Children’s Book Guild Nonfiction Award for her body of work. Her books have been praised for both their careful research and their varied literary styles. Among the many titles to her name are a trilogy on African-American history, illustrated by Shane W. Evans; books on Native American history and women’s history; and many biographies, including Lady Liberty: A Biography, illustrated by Matt Tavares.

Beyond Courage, her most ambitious project to date, took more than six years to research and write and presented her with the opportunity to speak directly with some of the survivors whose stories are told within. “How Jews organized themselves in order to survive and defy their enemy is an important but still neglected piece of history,” she says. “I present a sampling of actions, efforts, and heroism with the hope that I can play a role in helping to correct the damaging and persistent belief that Jews ‘went like sheep to the slaughter.’”

Doreen Rappaport lives in upstate New York.


Reviews

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Quotes

* "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

Praise for Ellen Takes Flight:

A Junior Library Guild Selection
A Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year
A 2023 Chicago Public Library Best Informational Book for Young Readers
​A Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature Best Book of 2023

A 2024 National Science Teaching Association Best STEM Book
A CBC Children's and Teacher Favorites List Selection
A Rhode Island Children’s Book Award Nominee

* "The writing is excellent: Essential aspects of astronaut qualifications, training, and experience are described in clear detail.... Brilliant, sure-handed gouache illustrations add even more vivid life to the well-paced text.... A book sure to fly off shelves and into children’s hands."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* "Inspirational.... Dominguez’s engineering-like mixed-media art fittingly captures the underlying details around Ochoa’s determination and time spent in space."—Publishers Weekly, starred review

* "The majestic art is done in gouache, ink, color pencil, and pastel. The paintings are reminiscent of Norman Rockwell’s work and have incredible detail.... An excellent picture book biography of a groundbreaking Latina that soars."
 —School Library Journal, starred review

Praise for Ruth Objects:

ALSC Notable Children’s Books 
2021 RISE List Top Ten

Bank Street College of Education Best Books of 2021

"Velasquez's arresting jacket portrait of Ginsburg, superimposed on a facsimile of the U.S. Constitution, conveys a woman of purpose; Rappaport's biography, largely focused on Ginsburg's work for gender equality, reinforces this first impression."—Horn Book

"Striking."—Booklist

"Insightful and fascinating."—Kirkus Reviews