PICTURE BOOK - Giant Steps to Change the World - Spike Lee & Tonya Lewis Lee

Illustrated by Sean Qualls

2011, Madstone: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers 

32 pages

Goodreads rating: 3.93

My rating: 3

Endpapers: pink background, with 12 different quotes in 12 differently-colored and shaped quadrilaterals

Illustrations:  I liked some of them a lot, but others didn't do anything at all to inspire me...

My comments:  I hunted for this book in anticipation of using it during one of my Owning Up/Character education lessons each week.  Unfortunately, it's not going to work for that.  The ideas put forth are wonderful but....vague.  Each set of pages referred to someone special in the history of the world.  Granted, there were quotes from each of them on the endpapers, but an addendum at the end of the book - or even a separate space on each page - would have been informative and helpful.
     Perhaps researching, or even discussing, the people ahead of time....or finding picture books about some of them...this would be the good ENDING to a mini-unit, but does not stand up well on its own.

Mohammad Ali
Harriet Tubman
Jesse Owen
Ben Carson
Marva Collins
Albert Einstein
Langston HughesJean-Michel Basquait
Barack Obama
the Tuskegee Airmen
Neil Armstrong
Mother Teresa

Goodreads:  "On some days your dreams may seem too away far to realize… Listen to the whispers of those that came before..." 
          Following the success of their much beloved picture books, Please, Baby, Please and Please, Puppy, Please; Academy Award nominated director Spike Lee, and his talented wife Tonya Lewis Lee offer up an inspirational picture book about activism and taking the big steps to set things right set to beautiful illustrations by the award-winning Sean Qualls. Using examples of people throughout history who have taken "giant steps", this book urges kids to follow in their footsteps and not be hindered by fear or a sense that you are not good enough. Despite the challenges, even the smallest step can change the world. So, what's your next step going to be?

The First Pup – Bob Staake

The Real Story of How Bo Got to the White House
Illustrated by the author
Feiwel and Friends, 2010
$16.99
32 pages
Rating: 4
Endpapers: Colorful cartoonish dogs running across the page
Illustrations: 1.) pencil sketch 2.) cut out the silhouettes 3.)scan and digitally color 4.) Adobe Photoshop details added

Here's another book about Sasha and Malia Obama's dog, Bo. He even graces the cover of Of Thee I Sing! It's a cute story of how the Portugese water dog came to the White House. I'd love to know how much of this was true. I'm sure that it was Ted Kennedy's idea, that makes sense and I know he had a Portugese water dog. But did it arrive by limo as the world watched?

The illustrations are cartoonish, but work (I'm not really a fan of cartoonish illustrations, especially in true stories). A great book to share with kids, especially when talking about the presidency and the First Family.

Of Thee I Sing - Barack Obama

A Letter to My Daughters
Illustrated by Loren Long
Alfred A. Knopf, 2010
$17.99
32 pages
Rating: 5
Endpapers: Medium blue

"Have I told you lately how wonderful you are?
How the sound of your feet
running from afar
brings dancing rhythms to my day?
How you laugh
and sunshine spills into the room?"
I love the format of the book. I love the 2-page illustrations on the title page. And it continues -- on the left page he asks a question and on the facing pages answers the question, using a special famous American from our history. He talks about Georgia O'Keeffe, Albert Einstein, Jackie Robinson, Sitting Bull, Billie Holiday, Helen Keller, Maya Lin, Jane Addams, MLK, Jr., Neil Armstrong, Cesar Chavez, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington. The last 2-page spread shows the kids that have been included along the way - the famous people as children, and all sorts of different kids of every ethnicity. This page would make a lovely poster!

"Have I told you that they are all a part of you?
Have I told you that you are one of theml
and that you are the future?
And have I told you that I love you?"
This is a wonderful book - written by our president for his daughters and all the kids of America. And I've got to say - our president is a terrific writer.

First Dog's White House Christmas - J. Patrick Lewis & Beth Zappitello

Illustrated by Tim Bowers
Sleeping Bear Press, 2010
$15.95
32 pages
Rating: 5
Endpapers: Green with drawing & info of ten dogs, where they originated, and some Christmas history from that country.

I read First Dog so was immediately drawn to this book. It is SO much more than a simple story of the Obama family's dog!

When Dog sees that ambassadors from all over the world are being invited to the White House for a Christmas gala, he adds "canine" guests to the invitation. As he waits and prepares, he tours the White House and checks out the many decorations. On the night of the gala, he meets ten new friends. Each has brought a gift and some informations about Christmas traditions in their respective country. At the bottom of each page is a "photo" of people from their country celebrating.

We meet English Bulldog, Canadian Newfoundland, French Poodle, Dingo from Down Under (Australia), Mexican Chihuahua, Rhodesian Ridgeback, German Affenpinscher, Italian Neapolitan Mastiff, Dutch Keeshond, and Turkish Kangal Dog.

Interesting information, clever story, and expressive illustrations make a top-notch Chrismas book...or a top-notch book for dog lovers!

First Family - Deborah Hopkinson

Illustrated by A. G. Ford
"Ages 4-7 (I'd go older, too)
Katherine Tegen Books, HC, 2010
32 pages
$17.99
Rating: 4
Endpapers: Tree green

Hey, this was great. Interesting peeks at the Obama family... President Barack, First Lady Michelle, daughters Malia annd Sasha, and dog Bo (a Portugese water dog given to them by Sen. Ted Kennedy (see My Senator and Me). Family times - growing a vegetable garden and having a swing set on the White House grounds-Secret Service information, tidbits about their 132 room home - all accompanied with lovely illustrations (paintings?) and added informational notes at the end . The 4 - 7 age range seems low. I think kids of all ages would enjoy this.

Good book!

First Dog - J. Patrick Lewis & Beth Zappitello

Illustrated by: Tim Bowers
Published: May, 2009
$15.95
Rating: 4
(Beth Zappitello is J. P. L.'s daughter)
Endpapers: Blue with the ten different breeds of dogs mentioned with infor about that dog.

What a riot!
A cute little black dog travels around the world looking for the perfect place to live. He goes to many different locations - discovering dogs associated with these places (London/English bulldog, Paris/French poodle, South Africa/Rodesian Ridgeback, etc.). But there's a problem at each spot around the globe. So he returns home to America, sees an article in the newspaper that the first family is looking for a dog, gets into the White House, the girls ask if they can keep him and their dad's reply is, "Yes we can!"

Illustrations: Boxes covering most of the page, framed in pale yellow - no white. Words on yellow.

Afterword about abandoned dogs.

Change Has Come

An Artist Celebrates Our American Spirit
Artwork: Kadir Nelson
Words: Barack Obama
Published: 2009
Rating: 5
For: Everyone!
Endpapers: Rust
$12.99

A tiny book, perhaps 5 X 7 - but one I picked up and read three times as it sat before me on the table at Borders. Simple colors - black/gray on cream. Powerful, unforgettable words. Sketches - of the Obama family, of Americans, of Pres. Obama, of the White House. Simple. Lovely. Special.

We're not going to settle anymore.
and
What began as a whisper has now swelled to a chorus that cannot be ignored.
and
Yes We Can.
and
Together, ordinary people can still do exraordinary things.
and
I believe that as we stand on the crossroads of history, we can make the right choices and meet the challenges that face us.
and more!

Such a hopeful book.