A.G. Ford

The journey of Barack Obama to national prominence and the U.S. Presidency began with his diverse heritage and self questioning but resulted in hope.

This heart-tugging picture book from a debut author tells a lyrical soccer story in the voice of a young boy in a South African shantytown. In full-page oil paintings, unusual angles intensify the sense of the scuffling, exciting action, the tense confrontation, and the reality of shantytown life.

Words are powerful; they can inspire and they can be hurtful, as Shabazz demonstrates in this touching look at her father’s early life. Realistic illustrations combine with a compelling narration to examine a man and the turbulent times in which he lived. Older, more sophisticated readers may gain more from Shabazz’s X: A Novel (opens in a new window).