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April 25, 2009
BOOK REVIEW: Kids Write the Darndest Things to President Obama
By David M. Kinchen
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Dear President Obama:
Can I come over for a sleepover with Sasha at the White House? I've never been to a sleepover before and that would be super fun!
Your Friend,
Eliana, age 6
Salem, OR
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That was just one of more than 200 letters that are assembled in "Kids' Letters to President Obama (Ballantine Books, 192 pages, $15.00) collected and edited by Bill Adler and his son Bill Adler Jr. The senior Adler compiled a similar book of letters from kids to President John F. Kennedy.
Regardless of your political views, you'll enjoy the humor, insights and fresh openness displayed in these letters, many written as class projects in school and submitted by the teachers of the kids.
Many of the letters are from black boys and girls, inspired by the election of the nation's first African American -- in its truest sense, since Barack Obama's father was a native of Kenya -- president.
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Dear President Obama,
As a Black female, I'm going to try to be the first woman president, and the first Black woman president at that -- that is, if no one beats me to it.
If we could meet face to face I would be so honored. In a couple of years you will be a legend. One day I will be able to tell my children and grandchildren, "The first Black president was elected."
Sincerely,
Kiana, age 12
Anderson, SC
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The father and son editing team include many photos of actual letters, spelling errors and all. Many of the letters have artwork on them. The editors also include at the end of the book a glossary, er "glosery" --- a "Short Gide to Understanding the Kreative Spelings That Kidz Used."
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Art Linkletter wasn't kidding when he said "Kids Say the Darndest Things" and used it as the title of a TV series that debuted in 1998.
The letters to President Obama collected in this book have the frankness that children display when they're left to their own devices. One child offers to help the new president with his bowling game: "I will help you learn to bowl because you don't know how to bowl."
Another correspondent asks: "Do you think you could pass a law making chocolate a vegetable in our country?"
Yet another suggests a tension reliever for the president: "You should bring a yo-yo to the White House."
The book went to press before the First Family picked out their dog and young correspondents suggested various breeds, including a pit bull, a labrador, a border collie and a bichon frise.
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The youthful letter writers expect a lot from Barack Obama. Consider this letter:
Dear President Obama,
My name is Imanne. My family of five and I live in Berkeley, California. I am in third grade.
I think that you have a chance to improve the United States. Many schools in America are not doing doing very well. Children are not getting a proper education.
I also think that you should do something about alcohol and drugs. Many people are getting addicted to them. People are going crazy and doing things they wouldn't have done before.
Please think about what I said and consider doing something about it.
Sincerely,
Imanne, age 8
Berkeley, CA
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As a big fan of reading aloud, I think "Kids' Letters to President Obama" would make a great reading aloud book. It would also be a very appropriate gift to a young child advancing to another grade, for a birthday present or just as a gift to a child for no special reason. Toys break, but books live forever. A note to parents, grandparents and other relatives: You'll enjoy the book, too!
About the Editors:
Bill Adler is a literary agent and the author of numerous books, including several New York Times bestsellers. He created the Kids' Letters series of books, including Kids' Letters to President Kennedy and Letters from Camp, which have sold more than one million copies. He lives in New York City.
Bill Adler, Jr., is a writer living in Washington, D.C. He is the author of more than twenty books, including Kids' E-mail and Letters from Camp and Outwitting Squirrels, which has sold more than 300,000 copies.
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