Obama's Children's Book Already a Bestseller on Amazon

Not set to release for another two months, President Barack Obama's children's book is already a bestseller on Amazon.com. The book is available for pre-order in hardcover and Kindle edition.

Publisher Random House describes President Barack Obama's children's book Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters as "a moving tribute to thirteen groundbreaking Americans and the ideals that have shaped our nation." Including such Americans as Georgia O'Keefe, Jackie Robinson, and George Washington, President Obama "sees the traits of these heroes within his own children, and within all of America's children."

Illustrated by Loren Long, who also created illustrations for another celebrity children's book, Madonna's Mr. Peabody's Apples, the cover of the book is a drawing of President Obama's two daughters, Sasha and Malia, walking their dog Bo. At about 40 pages, the book is intended for readers ages 4 to 8.

According to the New York Daily News, Obama's previous literary efforts made him a millionaire. His previous two books, Dreams From my Father and The Audacity of Hope were both New York Times Bestsellers and earned him around $12.6 millions in royalties. However, Obama will not profit from his children's book. Publisher Random House released in a statement that all proceeds will go toward "a scholarship fund for the children of fallen and disabled soldiers serving our nation."

President Obama's children's book will release two weeks after mid-term elections, though according to the Associated Press, neither Obama's literary representative Robert Barnett nor publisher Random House would comment on the timing of the book's release.

One of President Obama's strengths is his talent as a writer, and one can only assume that his children's book, especially one penned with his daughters in mind, will be both engaging and well-written.

Resources:

Amazon.com Bestsellers in Children's Books. 22 Sept. 2010 http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/books/4/ref=pd_ts_b_nav

Random House Catalog. http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780375835278

Hartenstein, Meena. "Barack Obama to release children's book 'Of Thee I Sing' two weeks after midterm elections"
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2010/09/14/2010-09-14_barack_obama_to_release_childrens_book_of_thee_i_sing_two_weeks_after_midterm_el.html

Italie, Hillel. Associated Press. "Obama children's book 'Of Thee I Sing' out Nov. 16"
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i2UL6on7lf-D6Ye3j18SzQAXkSIQD9I7BA2G0