Change Has Come: An Artist Celebrates Our American Spirit an Artist Celebrates Our American Spirit

This book provides insight into the thrill of the author on the evening he realized Barack Obama would become the next United States president. As a white United States adult senior citizen, I get goosebumps every time I page through this little book. Kadir Nelson had the drive and the desire to share his excitement on this most historic night -- it's a book that I will read and show to my grandchildren because it not only showcases his incredible art, it beautifuly describes (with Obama's words) a first-time change in the history of the United States of America. All school libraries should have this book in their collection.

Kadir Nelson, the award-winning illustrator ("Ellington is Not a Street," among others), strikes just the right tone in this evocation of what it has meant to listen to and view Senator and now President Barack Obama since his keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. Nelson quotes directly from five speeches by Obama, including that 2004 speech that vaulted him to national attention, a June 2006 talk to the "Take Back America COnference," one to supporters on SuperTuesday (February 2008), a March 2008 speech entitled "A More Perfect Union" delivered in Philadelphia, and the speech he gave In Grant Park, Chicago on the electrifying night that he was elected. I agree with another reviewer that the book will be treasured by adults, enjoyed by children, and probably disappointing to most adolescents. This latter group may be too blase-sophisticated to appreciate a book as memento, as an evocation of times past (the Civil Rights movement) and present. The graphite-drawn pictures have a casual, sketchy look that are both dramatic and true, and they balance the somewhat overdone U.S. Constitution style calligraphy. There's a satisfying variety of pctures: Various close-ups of Obama's face, alternately purposeful, smiling, and exuding a quiet, hopeful confidence. Nelson excels at the long shots of Obama speaking at the convention and in Grant Park, we see and almost feel the excitement, but never lose sight of the connection between audience and speaker. Many other pictures focus on Obama's supporters--waiting in line to vote, proudly displaying signs and waving flags. Some people may feel the book is a bit sappy--there's a two page spread showing a person with a disability using a walker to get to the voting booth, a series of portraits illustrates OBama's words that we are not many nations of different races and ethnicities, but one "United States of America," but these are drawn sensitivity and included, one suspects, because of the need to hear (now) President Obama's messages of common history (there's a beautiful miniature of the Statue of Liberty framed by a plain dark backgroud) and purpose. I only saw one picture that did not resonate: A shot of Obama and Joe Biden speaking (neither portrait very convincing) under the somewhat irrelevant words, "This time can be different." Otherwise, the book perfectly marriages picture and text. Adults will enjoy the small hymnal size and feeling of the book. It's both an evocation of the events, as well as a commemoration. I suppose one can wear an Obama T-shirt to celebrate his election, or own this book. For young children, the pictures will prompt discussion with parents skilled at reading and at "drawing" kids out to talk. In a sort of "Afterward," Kadir Nelson talks about his emotions on election night, and how these inspired his book. He writes superbly. Not for everyone certainly, but Obama's words and Nelson's spare but powerful pictures is a beautiful companion piece to one'

I have been tearing up regularly since the night of November 4, 2008, when I stood with thousands of others in Chicago's Grant Park and watched and listened as history was made. I stood in my kitchen and read this book immediately upon taking it from the shipping box, and teared up all over again, and I have to admit that it is hard to review objectively a book that made that happen. But that's an honest five stars, not five stars given because of the subject matter. Nelson has taken words spoken by President Obama and drawn images inspired by those words, and I think he has done very well by them. The very first page is a sign that says "VOTE" with an arrow pointing (presumably to the polling place, but, in this context, it tells us to turn the page). On the next, a line of people begins about a third of the way in, facing right, and the following pages continue that line of people into the voting booths. It's a powerful statement on the importance of the franchise, and brought to my mind the long lines at the voting stations that day and on the early voting days. The people that Nelson draws are not stick figures, not placeholders; one has the sense that they are portraits of real people. I don't know if they are or not, but each is very individualistically drawn. The artist has also chosen to use a basic black-white-gray palette, with strong yet easy lines that give a feeling of fluidity and motion, appropriate to the idea that we as a country have moved forward and will continue to do so. I was not familiar with Nelson's work before receiving this book, but am not surprised to learn that he is a Caldecott Honor winner.

This is a refined little hardcover book about the size of your hand, and half an inch thick. It has nice typography and design throughout. The limited colors on the cover and matching dust jacket give it a quality feel. It reminds me in some ways, the feel when you hold Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet, which is often given to people on their graduation, a wedding, or other life-changing event. The unfinished sketchy quality of many of the drawings, which are done in pencil and charcoal, along with samplings of phrases from Obama's speeches in a cursive script, give the book a feeling of immediacy, of looking over the shoulder at a little private sketchbook of the artist. I don't really perceive the book as a children's book. I don't think it is really for age 9-12, as they get kind of insulted by anything that smacks of a picture book ("aw, that's for babies!") at that age. And the subject matter is really a little too advanced for younger readers. The black and white illustrations don't catch younger children's interest, and the sampled bits of speeches is not of much interest to picture book aged kids-- their parents certainly, but not most little kids who want a story they can follow. So I think that the real opportunity for marketing this book is elsewhere. In my own opinion, the real target would be as a memento of a historic moment that could be given to a high school student on graduation or acceptance into college, or as a gift for a guest, colleague, family member who has expressed their joy and wonder at this moment of challenge and change in our history as Americans. This pretty book is not really for kids, but as a gift for a teen or adult, as a snapshot in time, a sketchbook of a famous African American artist-- YES, buy this book-- when you need a gift for almost anyone during this initial period of Barack Obama's presidency, this beautiful little book fills the bill very nicely.

A simply wonderful homage to Obama and our nation and what we've accomplished in electing him our newest President! The drawings alone are so moving, but then when married with Obama's own words take your breath away. This will be on our coffee table at our Obama Inauguration Party, and if it were Christmas I'd be giving one to a bunch of friends!