A group of kindergarten through third grade students at William H. Ray Elementary School in Hyde Park listened as Barack Obama and Michelle Obama read Maurice Sendak’s “Where the Wild Things Are” at the Obama Presidential Center’s library branch in Chicago—an
The day after the Obama Presidential Center’s grand opening, the mood in Chicago’s Hyde Park shifted toward something simpler and closer to home: a room full of young readers, a familiar story, and the former president and first lady turning it into an unforgettable moment.
On Friday. the Obamas took part in the opening of a new Chicago Public Library branch inside the Obama Presidential Center on the South Side. The audience was a group of 25 kindergarten through third grade students from William H. Ray Elementary School in Hyde Park. They listened as former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama read Maurice Sendak’s “Where the Wild Things Are” to them.
Photojournalist and Photo Desk Editor Ashlee Rezin spent 13 hours covering events on Thursday at the center’s grand opening. then returned early on Friday to capture what happened next. The moment, she said, carried the same feel people associate with Barack Obama’s presidency—relaxed, candid, and approachable.
Rezin began photographing from Barack Obama’s right. working to frame the children’s faces and the Obamas’ profiles as the story unfolded. As the book reached its loud. imaginative parts—when the monsters begin roaring and stomping—the Obamas stayed fully in it. They made faces and noises as they acted out the scene.
The photographer moved to capture the Obamas more directly. watching for a particular kind of response from the kids: hands raised. ready to roar along. She said she was “watching for the kids to raise their hands and do ‘roar’ as the Obamas were doing ‘roar. ’” and that she captured the moment when the performance matched the page.
The photo was shot with a Canon EOS R5 using an RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM lens at a focal length of 86mm. The settings were f/2.8, 1/200 and ISO 3200.
For Chicago. the library branch opening at the Obama Presidential Center didn’t just add space for books—it delivered a specific kind of proof that the center’s mission could feel personal. For the students at William H. Ray Elementary School, the story was already magical. Sitting there with the Obamas. it became something they can still picture: monsters roaring. kids raising their hands. and two adults who seemed comfortable being silly in the middle of it.
Obama Presidential Center Chicago Public Library Hyde Park William H. Ray Elementary School Barack Obama Michelle Obama Where the Wild Things Are Maurice Sendak photojournalism
This is actually cool, kids get to meet Obama and hear that book.
So wait was it like a real library opening or just a photo op with the Obamas reading a kids book? I mean I’m glad the kids were there but the article keeps talking about the photographer settings like that matters lol.
I heard Obama libraries are like… government funded or whatever so I’m not sure how this is “for the kids” and not just politics. Also “Where the Wild Things Are” is kinda weird for kindergartners, the monsters are literally acting out. But if the kids are raising their hands then I guess that’s fine.
Aww that’s sweet. I don’t even read news articles all the way half the time, but Obama acting silly in a library with little kids feels like the best timeline. Kinda funny they said it was “proof” the mission feels personal, like as if books need proof 😂 Also Chicago Hyde Park always seems like it has something going on.