Of Thee I Sing: A Heartfelt Letter to My Daughters

scott g.: Granddaughter Loved It!!!

United States on Sep 17, 2023

Ken Hutchinson.: Very interesting read about a brilliant man👌

United Kingdom on Aug 04, 2023

Terri Broadwell: I used this book for my 2nd grade class. They enjoyed it.

United States on Jun 28, 2023

Elsie Jones Washington: Love it.
Informative and clear

United States on Apr 03, 2023

Poppy: Look at cover, get choked up, turn to first page, eyes well up. Never made it through as it was so sweet and touching. I will try another day. Buy it.

Canada on Jan 02, 2021

Samantha: I bought this as a Christmas gift for my husband and daughter and they loved it. It's such a cute book and inspiring for kids. It's a quick read, so good for younger kids to read to themselves, but also a good one to read to them at bedtime.

United Kingdom on Sep 18, 2019

Sr Avril Landay: The short 'letters' briefly tell the stories of inspiring people - from Abraham Lincoln and Chief Sitting-Bull to Albert Einstein and Neil Armstrong, and from Billie Holiday and Helen Keller to Maya Lin. These are just some of the people he writes about. He includes people of all races, religions and beliefs - that make up the American nation. He tells his daughters how he loves and appreciates them and how they can share their unique gifts to build one another up and work to build upon all that is good in their nation. The book is equally affirming and inspiring for young people and older people. I thoroughly recommend it.

United Kingdom on Apr 06, 2019

P. Baldovski: Obwohl es ein Kinderbuch ist, habe ich (60+) das Buch für mich gekauft, weil ich Obama mag und wissen wollte, was er da für seine Mädchen geschrieben hat. Es ist ein lehrreiches und sehr liebenswertes Buch. Natürlich wird man als Nicht-Amerikaner(in) die eine oder andere darin erwähnte Persönlichkeit googeln, aber das ist ja kein Problem. Bei Gelegenheit werde ich versuchen es so kindgerecht wie möglich ins Deutsche zu übertragen um es meinen Enkelsöhnen vorzulesen. Eindeutig Kaufempfehlung für alle (aber nicht nur!), die Amerika mögen und die etwas über sehr oder (uns) kaum bekannte Helden der Geschichte oder des Alltags lernen wollen.
I (60+ and a German citizen) bought the book for myself although it is for kids because I like Obama and wanted to know what kinds of messages he wrote down for his girls in it. Its pages on the left hand side ("Have I told you that you are ...") moved me to tears. It is really a book full of love, and information. Of course, as a non-American, one might have to google one or two persons but that shouldn't be a real problem. Maybe that is even the idea behind the book! On occasion, I'll try and translate it into German in order to...

Germany on Jan 23, 2017

Samuel: Barack Obama's "song" is an inspirational and captivating letter-poem-history-story that appeals equally to all ages and at many levels. First, the letter is every parent's wish for every son and daughter--motivational, visionary, empowering. Second, it's a prayer of thanksgiving, reminding each reader through words and pictures of the qualities that equate, first, to the uniqueness of the individual and, second, to the strength of the community.

The text begins with the speaker asking if he's told his daughters how "wonderful" they are, before illustrating the point verbally with references to specific and concrete sensory experiences like the sound of little feet running and children laughing.

Then come the profiles of exemplary figures of the past, each accompanied by an allusion to their wonderful gift and a beguiling illustration by artist Loren Long. The first is artist Georgia O'Keefe, whose special talent was to be able to "see" exactly what is in the field of vision of us all; the last is jazz vocalist Billie Holiday, who sang the songs that resonated with all who heard them and who continue to sing them.

The narrative form moves from the...

United States on Dec 29, 2010

ALB: All politics aside, this really is a beautiful book with a wonderful message. I hope that people who dislike President Obama's choices in office will not cast aside this book without taking a look first. The pictures are absolutely incredible, and I will definitely be checking out more books that Loren Long has illustrated. I agree with some of the other reviewers that some of the examples of great Americans seem a little odd, but I appreciate the sentiments behind all of them, and I think this book could inspire young readers to learn more about some of these people. I like that there is a short bio of each person in the back of the book, as I did not know who Jane Addams was. It is obvious that the book is trying to appeal to a wide range of people, and I think this is as it should be...the core message of the book is that our country is made up of all types of people and that we all bring different talents and ideas to the table. Some of the writing is really beautiful, but some of it does seem a little stilted, and some of the word choices make me wonder what age group this book was really written for.

I hope that everyone will note that President Obama wrote this book...

United States on Nov 19, 2010