America's Promise - Hardcover

Powell, Alma

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0060521724 ISBN 13: 9780060521721

Publisher: HarperCollins, 2003

Synopsis

Honey and her younger brother, Benji, are new to the neighborhood. As Honey and Benji explore their town, they meet new friends, and encounter a special lady called Mrs. Mayberry. At Mrs. Mayberry's Play and Learn House, they enjoy books, music, games, and snacks. And when a surprise visit from Mayor Crawley presents the gang with an unusual task, determination and hard work help them conquer an exceptional challenge and reap the rewards of community spirit.

In this playful picture book, Alma Powell introduces young readers to the basic principles of America's Promise -- caring adults, safe places, a healthy start, marketable skills, and opportunities to serve -- and inspires us all to make America a better place for our children.

Mrs. Powell is donating all of her royalties for this book to America's Promise -- The Alliance for Youth.

A portion of the publisher's proceeds will also be donated to America's Promise.

About this title

About the Author

Alma Powell is the Co-Chair of America’s Promise, a diverse and growing alliance of nearly 500 national organizations dedicated to teaching today’s youth five basic hallmarks of building character and competence. Mrs. Powell is married to Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Alma Powell es conpresidenta de America's Promise (Promesa de América), una organización nacional sin fines de lucro dedicada a mejorar el futuro de los niños y la juventud. La Sra. Powell está casada con Colin L. Powell, el fundador de America's Promise. Tiene tres hijos y dos nietos. Donará todos de sus ingresos procendentes de la venta de este libro a America's Promise -- la Alianza por la Juventud.

Marsha Winborn, illustrator of A Valentine for Norman Noggs, has also illustrated Grandma's Cat and the Digby and Kate series. She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Marsha Winborn es ilustradora de varios libros para lectores jóvenes, incluyendo A Valentine for Norman Noggs, por Valiska Gregory, Pepper's Journal y Probably Pistachio por Stuart J. Murphy, y Eggnapped!, por Marisa Montes.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3-Some picture books are object lessons for various ways to behave or interact while others are vehicles for celebrities or even animated characters to market themselves, and still others are unabashed advertisements for causes or organizations. This book fits the last category. The author is cochair of America's Promise, an organization pledged to support America's youth by persuading other organizations and communities to help fulfill five so-called promises to children. This story is based on these five elements. Momma, Honey, and Benji Bear visit various neighborhood places to illustrate each one. First, they go to the day-care center where readers learn that America promises "Every child will have a caring adult in their life." Then it's off to the store, where they are told that America promises "All children will learn skills that will help them to make a living." This continues throughout the book as the rest of the "promises"-safe places to learn in and play, healthy food and medical care, and opportunities to give back to the community-are plugged into the story. Who exactly will deliver on these promises is also never addressed or explained. Serviceable watercolors of the bears and other animals, along with many subliminal messages, accompany the text. The plot, however, is secondary to the message, delivered loudly and clearly on each page. While these ideas and ideals may be admirable, and ones we all wish for all children, they are not the components of a good story.
Jane Marino, Scarsdale Public Library, NY
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0060521724
• ISBN 13: 9780060521721
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Winborn Marsha