A Puppy for the White House - Hardcover

Kathleen Smith

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0615301657 ISBN 13: 9780615301655

Publisher: Lollipop Publishing, llc, 2009

Synopsis

After hearing the presidential acceptance speech in Grant Park where President Obama promises his girls a puppy, a classroom of fifth grade students writes a delightful story about the First Family's quest to find their perfect puppy. Little do they know that they are really embarking on a quest of their own. The class has entered their story in a prestigious creative writing contest. They are ever-hopeful that their hard-work will pay off, dreams will come true, and they will become famous.

About this title

About the Author:

Kathleen Smith is a retired schoolteacher with thirty-one years of experience. While teaching she was honored two different years by graduating high school seniors as a teacher who influenced them greatly and made learning fun. She appeared in three different volumes of Who's Who in American Teachers nominated by former students who were in the top 5% of their graduating class. She was nominated Jefferson County Teacher of the Year in 1988.

Review:

I love you both more than you can imagine and you have earned the new puppy that is coming with us to the White House, So begins an idea for a clever creative writing assignment in Mrs. Smith s fifth grade classroom. What conversations take place at the Obama s? What breed of puppy would they choose as the perfect First Puppy for the First Family? What if you are allergic to most dogs? Her students brainstorm ideas and become super sleuths for their writing project. This is a relevant story cleverly written by Kathleen Smith and beautifully illustrated by Laurie Hansen. Ms. Smith has created a charming and witty contemporary tale for readers of all ages who have ever anticipated getting a puppy. She offers an insightful interpretation of the belief that dreams can come true. This book is worth savoring. --Dr. Barbara Jones, Retired Principal

The First Family s quest to find the perfect presidential pooch takes a delightful twist in a new children s book by Kathleen Smith. Told from the perspective of students near the ages of Sasha and Malia, A Puppy for the White House opens with Ms. Smith s fictitious fifth grade class talking about President-elect Obama s election night promise to his daughters to bring a pup to the White House. The discussion leads to a challenge. Ms. Smith asks the class to write a story about a family searching for their first dog that will be entered in a national writing contest. The class is advised to use pronouns in the story instead of real names to protect the First Family s privacy. In Search of the Perfect Puppy, written by the children, is the title of the book within Smith s publication. Smith s well-written, colorful book that features illustrations by Laurie Hansen shows a family turning a dream into a reality and boys and girls working together to achieve a goal. Hansen s illustrations that include a white terrier dressed in pearls and blue high heels, Bo sitting at the President s desk, and a dreamy garden image blend beautifully with Smith s words. The hardback cover with Bo sitting in front of the White House and fine paper add quality to the publication. Still, Smith s book is about more than finding a puppy. Woven within the quest is a lovely look at family life and at parents and children respecting each other s views as they embark on the puppy journey together. A book of hope, A Puppy for the White House is a joyful read written and illustrated to inspire children and adults to pursue their dreams. --Barbara Byrnes-Lenarcic, Arts Writer

This is a very topical book for children of all ages. It can be read to younger children, and read by children from 3rd or 4th grade on, as well as being used as a lesson planner to develop writing skills. Children can relate easily to a story about longing for a dog of their own and learning that they may have to wait for the right dog and the right time. The fact that the main characters are the President of the United States and his family makes the story more fascinating and the historical detail adds to the educational aspect as well. I would highly recommend this book and can only hope that there are more books like this in the works. --Dee Mahoney Clerk of District Court Teton County, Wyoming

About this edition

• Publisher: Lollipop Publishing, llc
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0615301657
• ISBN 13: 9780615301655
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32
• Editor: Jane Oliver
• Illustrator: Laurie Hansen