First Family

by Deborah Hopkinson, AG Ford (Illustrator)

Overview

At work, at play, at home, in the White House.

The White House is a museum, the office of the chief executive, a gathering place for leaders and visitors from around the globe, and it is also a home for one special family—the First Family.

This book follows a day in the life of the Obama family: President Barack, First Lady Michelle, First Daughters Malia and Sasha, and even First Pup Bo. From moving in on inauguration day to making important decisions, hosting state dinners, planting a garden, exploring the historic house, and leading around the Secret Service, the First Family is very busy.

Deborah Hopkinson and AG Ford take young readers through an extraordinary ordinary day in the life of America's much-beloved First Family.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062183934
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	11/15/2011
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	7 MB
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

Deborah Hopkinson is the author of Small Places, Close to Home and Ordinary, Extraordinary Jane Austen, among more than fifty acclaimed works for young readers including picture books, middle-grade fiction, and nonfiction that help bring history and research alive. Deborah lives near Portland, Oregon with her family and a menagerie of pets. You can visit her online at www.deborahhopkinson.com.

AG Ford is a New York Times bestselling artist and recipient of two NAACP Image Awards, and has illustrated more than thirty books for children, including picture books by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Sharon Robinson, Ilyasah Shabazz, Martin Luther King III, Nick Cannon, Jonah Winter, the Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and many others. He grew up in Dallas and attended the Columbus College of Art and Design, and now lives in Frisco, Texas, with his wife, Brandy, and their two sons, Maddox and Carter.

Editorial Reviews

The creators of Michelle widen their focus in this affectionate portrait of the Obamas. After describing the family's move into the White House and the various purposes that building serves, the book touches on details of the first family's daily lives. Readers will find much of the information familiar: Malia and Sasha make their own beds and walk their dog, Bo; the president and Michelle work out at the White House gym; the first lady visits schools and serves as White House hostess. Fresher tidbits include the family members' Secret Service code names and the fact that the president's desk is made of oak from a British ship. Hopkinson adds some gratuitous filler (“It's rewarding to eat a salad made with lettuce from your own garden”) and heaps praise on Michelle (“With her winning smile, ready laugh, and big hugs, Michelle has warmth, glamour, and charm”). Though Ford's likenesses are recognizable and consistent, several images have a stilted wax museum quality, and the Obamas' heads sometimes have uneasy relationships to their bodies. Additional White House trivia wraps up the volume. Ages 4–7. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

K-Gr 5—Life in the White House captures the interest and hearts of America, and this book brings the Obama family into focus with fun details and realistic artwork. Starting with Inauguration Day, activities such as doing chores, eating dinner, and exercising show the Obamas' everyday routine. The artwork is expressive and nuanced in capturing the personalities in the family. The book ends with a statement that nicely summarizes their priorities. "For the Obamas, it's clear that just being together every day with the ones they love is the best part of all." Neat facts such as growing a garden on the South Lawn and playing with Bo the Portuguese water dog make this first family unique. Malia and Sasha are the main feature of the book, and they are shown getting to know the White House better by going on a scavenger hunt, going to school with their grandmother and secret service, and playing hide-and-seek in the hidden door and staircase. Facts about the White House and former presidents are incorporated seamlessly into the text.—Rachel Artley, Watertown Elementary School, TN

School Library Journal