Michelle Obama has been busy creating engaging content for young people!
Becoming: Adapted for Young Readers is the new version of Michelle Obama’s monstrously successful memoir Becoming. In this book, the former First Lady takes readers on a journey spanning her life – from childhood memories of when she lived on the South Side of Chicago, to her balance of motherhood and work, to her time in the White House when her husband, Barack Obama, became president. This young-readers edition of Becoming is the best kind of adaptation, as it only simplifies the language. It barely alters Obama’s nuanced writing and compelling stories, and never talks down to its audience.
One of the most illuminating parts of Becoming: Adapted for Young Readers is the introduction. Obama writes: “I think it’s one of the most useless questions an adult can ask a child — What do you want to be when you grow up? As if at some point you become something and that’s the end.” As a sort of mission statement, she beautifully sets up her memoir, which is divided into three sections: Becoming Me, Becoming Us, and Becoming More. More than an organizing principle, her evocative statement also shows her genuine understanding of young people. I can say as a 17-year old that the question “What do you want to be when you grow up?” is still terrifying. How am I expected to know what I want to do for the rest of my life?! I can’t even vote yet! But she understands this fear and confusion, and proceeds to write the next paragraph about all of her accomplishments so far to assure readers that you never stop growing, changing, and achieving. Obama’s recognition of the way that many young people feel and act allows her to not only inspire, educate, and provoke deep thinking, but it also makes her readers feel seen and understood.
While Becoming: Adapted for Young Readers is recommended for those ages 10 and older, it is not an easy read. It is lengthy, substantive, and incredibly honest – it is not a fluffy or quick read. While I do believe that this adaptation for young readers is a great one, I do not know if I would recommend it to those as young as 10. I know that when I was 10, this book would be too intimidating and challenging for me. I don’t doubt that some 10-year olds could read Becoming: Adapted for Young Readers (or have it read to them), but I believe that those 12 years of age and older would have an easier time with the language and complicated concepts of racism, determination, balance, and motherhood presented throughout the book.
Overall, though, Becoming: Adapted for Young Readers is unsurprisingly fantastic. Deeply inspiring and passionate, this memoir is sure to uplift and entertain young readers. Obama remains one of the most accomplished and brilliant people living today, and Becoming: Adapted for Young Readers will delight readers both young and old.
Obama’s respect for young people and understanding of what appeals to them extend to Waffles + Mochi, a new Netflix series about healthy eating created by Erika Thormahlen and Jeremy Konner. It stars two felt-and-fur puppets who are food-obsessed best friends (both named after food) and go on adventures in a magic flying shopping cart. Obama is the executive producer of Waffles + Mochi and also appears in the show as “Mrs O”. 10 minutes into the first episode, it becomes obvious why Obama helped develop the series through Higher Ground (the multimedia studio that she founded with her husband). The show is fun, cute, and informative, and will engage and impress foodies of all ages while teaching them something new.
The first episode is all about the humble tomato. Viewers learn about what tomatoes are; how many varieties of tomato there are; how versatile they are (pasta, pizza, and gazpacho are all explored in this episode), and that a tomato is NOT a vegetable but actually a fruit. (This last concept is drilled in with an infectious and hilarious song sung by an animated tomato in a Sia wig- and actually voiced by Sia herself.)
In this episode, children also learn what it means to be deaf and how deaf people communicate through American Sign Language (ASL). Seeing deaf representation and education about ASL in children’s media is not easy to find, so it’s wonderful to see that the first episode of Waffles + Mochi has this inclusive segment.
Obama’s new content for young people – Becoming: Adapted for Young Readers and Waffles + Mochi – will both captivate and inspire. I highly recommend both to young people (in fact, to everyone). You can find Becoming: Adapted for Young Readers wherever you buy books and Waffles + Mochi on Netflix. Both are out now!
© Sayak S-G, SesayArts Magazine, 2021
