24 Nov 2010 01:55:24
With "Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters," a picture book for readers three and up that hit bookstores Tuesday (it was announced in September), the president joins a long list of famous folk who've penned children's books: Madonna, John Travolta, Katie Couric, Will Smith. Paul McCartney, Whoopi Goldberg, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jay Leno. Jerry Seinfeld, Steve Martin, John Lithgow.
Even Obama's current secretary of state, Hillary Rodham Clinton, wrote one — when she was first lady, a book of children's letters to White House pets. The late Ted Kennedy wrote about Washington as viewed by his dog. On the other side of the political spectrum, conservative commentator Glenn Beck published a Christmas picture book last year, and Lynne Cheney has written several children's books.
Obama, who is donating his proceeds to a scholarship fund for children of disabled and fallen soldiers administered by the Fisher House Foundation, isn't even the only president to pen a children's book. Theodore Roosevelt and Jimmy Carter wrote books for young people, and John F. Kennedy had a young readers edition of his "Profiles in Courage."
Obama actually wrote "Of Thee I Sing" in 2008, after he was elected but before taking office, publishers said in September. It is illustrated by Loren Long, whose many credits include writing and illustrating the children's stories "Otis" and "Drummer Boy."
The book, published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, was already selling well Tuesday — it was No. 3 on Amazon.com's children's best-seller list, and No. 15 on the site's overall list.
But Obama, whose previous works are million sellers ("The Audacity of Hope" and the memoir "Dreams From My Father") wasn't the top-ranked presidential author on the overall list: George W. Bush's "Decision Points" was No. 1.
On the cover of "Of Thee I Sing" is a whimsical drawing of Malia and Sasha, skipping along with Bo, their beloved dog.
Even Obama's current secretary of state, Hillary Rodham Clinton, wrote one — when she was first lady, a book of children's letters to White House pets. The late Ted Kennedy wrote about Washington as viewed by his dog. On the other side of the political spectrum, conservative commentator Glenn Beck published a Christmas picture book last year, and Lynne Cheney has written several children's books.
Obama, who is donating his proceeds to a scholarship fund for children of disabled and fallen soldiers administered by the Fisher House Foundation, isn't even the only president to pen a children's book. Theodore Roosevelt and Jimmy Carter wrote books for young people, and John F. Kennedy had a young readers edition of his "Profiles in Courage."
Obama actually wrote "Of Thee I Sing" in 2008, after he was elected but before taking office, publishers said in September. It is illustrated by Loren Long, whose many credits include writing and illustrating the children's stories "Otis" and "Drummer Boy."
The book, published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, was already selling well Tuesday — it was No. 3 on Amazon.com's children's best-seller list, and No. 15 on the site's overall list.
But Obama, whose previous works are million sellers ("The Audacity of Hope" and the memoir "Dreams From My Father") wasn't the top-ranked presidential author on the overall list: George W. Bush's "Decision Points" was No. 1.
On the cover of "Of Thee I Sing" is a whimsical drawing of Malia and Sasha, skipping along with Bo, their beloved dog.
