Like all of us, President Obama prefers certain movies, music and books. During his years in public life, he’s let the world in on some favorites. Here are a few of his picks, which show a taste for everything from classical music to pop culture.

1. An annual tradition

President Obama reads at the White House Easter Egg Roll in 2009. (© AP Images)

Every spring, the White House hosts thousands of guests for an Easter egg roll. It has become a tradition for President Obama to read one of his favorite childhood books, Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak.

2. Film buff

Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca. (© AP Images)

President Obama has named Casablanca as his favorite film, also mentioning Lawrence of Arabia and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest as favorites.

3. Artistic reminder

(© AP Images)

On the president’s desk in the Oval Office is a wooden statue he received on the campaign trail. It depicts a hand holding an egg, a Kenyan symbol of the fragility of life.

4. Music to unwind by

President Obama awarding the Medal of Freedom to rock legend Bob Dylan. (© AP Images)

President Obama has said that if you listen to his iPod, you’ll hear music by Bob Dylan (above), jazz great Miles Davis, ’90s hip-hop group Fugees and classical compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach.

5. Comics cameo

President Obama appeared alongside Spider-Man in a special issue to commemorate his inauguration in 2009. (Flickr/teadrinker)

As a candidate for the presidency, Barack Obama mentioned his fondness for Spider-Man at a number of child-oriented events and named the web slinger his favorite superhero along with Batman. Marvel Comics returned the compliment by putting the president-elect in a special issue published just before Obama’s first inauguration in 2009.

Learn more fun facts about President Obama.