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Ted Kennedy made big splash as children's author

August 27, 2009 by Lori Calabrese · View Comments 

Many around the U.S. are mourning the loss of Senator Ted Kennedy. Kennedy will be remembered as a lawmaker who spearheaded efforts to advance a number of liberal causes, but what many may not know about Kennedy was his love of animals–specifically Portuguese water dogs.

Kennedy owned two Portuguese water dogs named Splash and Sunny and also introduced the Obamas to the first dog, Bo–another Portuguese water dog.

Kennedy’s love of Portuguese water dogs prompted him to become a children’s book author, penning My Senator And Me: A Dog’s Eye View Of Washington, D.C., a book on the political process for ages 4-8. According to Scholastic, Kennedy’s book “not only takes readers through a full day in the Senator’s life, but also explains how a bill becomes a law.” Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat, was inspired to write the book from his work with a Washington-based reading program, “Everybody Wins!” The program connects adults with elementary school students who work together to develop reading skills. Senator Kennedy has been a huge supporter of the program and, even as a U.S. Senator, Kennedy read every Tuesday at a local school in WAshington D.C. as part of an Everybody Wins program. Senator Kennedy believed in national service and literacy and donated his net proceeds from the book to charities including Read Boston, an organization that supports literacy in the Boston public schools.

The 56-page picture book illustrated by Caldecott-winning artist David Small, My Senator And Me: A Dog’s Eye View Of Washington, D.C., is not only a charming pet story, but it’s also a wonderful introduction to how the government works. Splash is always at Senator Kennedy’s side – in his office, at press conferences, in meetings at the Capitol and even right outside the Senate chamber. Told from Splash’s point of view, this book takes young readers through a full day in the Senator’s life. My Senator and Me also includes biographies of Senator Kennedy and Splash.

“I am very excited about the opportunity to create a book for young readers and their families that will deepen their understanding of how our American government works,” Kennedy said.

Senator Ted Kennedy will be buried Saturday evening near his slain brothers — former President Kennedy and former Sen. Robert F. Kennedy — at Arlington National Cemetery in northern Virginia. Kennedy is eligible for burial at Arlington because of his service in Congress, as well as his two years in the Army from 1951 to 1953.

Watch this tribute to Senator Ted Kennedy that mentions his service with Everybody Wins!

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An All-Star children's author?

July 14, 2009 by Lori Calabrese · View Comments 

Tonight, the lights will shine brightly in St. Louis for the 80th installment of Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game. A usual mainstay in the All-Star event, Alex Rodriguez, will not be appearing for the first time since 2000. Perhaps this 11 time All-Star will use his 3-day vacation to work on his next children’s book. That’s right–you heard correctly. Alex Rodriguez, the New York Yankee, is also a children’s author.

To read the rest of this article, please visit Examiner.com

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The Many Roles of Brooke Shields

July 7, 2009 by Lori Calabrese · View Comments 

Standing before the crowd at the Staples Center, Brooke Shields remembered the MJ she met when she was 13. Shields delivered an emotional address and reflected on a side of Jackson’s life many never knew. Shields began her career at the early age of 11 months and bonded with Michael who began his career at age 5. The two tried to find time to be kids when they were together and laugh, despite always being labeled as ‘an odd couple’ or an ‘unlikely pair.’

Toward the end of her speech, Shields read two passages from the book “The Little Prince,” saying that although he was called the King of Pop, he was always a little prince to her. She read, “Here is my secret. It is very simple: One sees well only with the heart. The essential is invisible to the eyes.

Brooke Shields’ career began with an Ivory Soap ad and it mirrored that of a rock gaining speed down a steep hill. Just like Michael, Shields grew up in the public eye and made her way to the big screen and her own TV series, Suddenly Susan. She managed to graduate from Princeton with honors and married writer/ producer Chris Henchy in 2001. Shields now adds mother to her accomplishments as she is the mom of two daughters–Rowan (born in 2003) and Grier (born in 2006). Her family has led her to another career that many might not associate with Brooke Shields–children’s author.

Shields has said publisher HarperCollins approached her to write her first picture book titled, Welcome to Your World, Baby. Published in June 2008, the book is written through the eyes of her five-year-old daughter Rowan and how she excitedly viewed the arrival of her younger sister Grier. “I had been recording things my daughter had said since the day I found out I was pregnant,” she said. “So it’s all said through her eyes and all from things that she really did say at one time, so basically she wrote the book.”

Shields has stated that writing the 145-word story was more difficult than recording her struggle with postpartum depression. In her memoir, Down Came the Rain : My Journey Through Postpartum Depression, Brooke discussed her very personal struggle with PPD after Rowan was born.

Since then, Shields has penned a second picture book titled, It’s the Best Day Ever, Dad! published in April of 2009. The book focuses on dads and daughters and the love they share. Shields previously told the Today show that her girls – Rowan Francis, 5 1/2, and Grier Hammond, 3 – are just obsessed with their daddy (Brooke’s hubby, Chris Henchy)which inspired the book.

Brooke Shields has held many roles in life, including her role today as Michael Jackson’s friend who addressed the crowd, telling everyone MJ’s favorite song was Charlie Chaplin’s “Smile” — and that’s exactly what everyone needs to do on this day. “We need to look up where he is undoubtedly perched on a crescent moon and smile.”

Additional Information:
Welcome to Your World, Baby
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (June 24, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0061253111
ISBN-13: 978-0061253119

It’s the Best Day Ever, Dad!
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (April 21, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0061724459
ISBN-13: 978-0061724459

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Imagination Library

May 17, 2009 by Lori Calabrese · View Comments 

When you think of Dolly Parton, you often think of country music, Dollywood, and so many other things…not children’s books. But in 1996, Dolly launched an exciting new effort to benefit the children of her home county in east Tennessee called The Imagination Library. Dolly wanted to foster a love of reading among her county’s preschool children and their families.

Dolly began to provide new books to children, addressing one of the most important factors affecting literacy–access to books. The free program mailed a brand new, age-appropriate book each month to every child under 5 in Sevier county.

With the arrival of every child’s first book, the classic The Little Engine That Could, every child experienced the joy of finding their very own book in their mail box. These moments continued each month until the child turned 5—and in their very last month in the program they received Look Out Kindergarten Here I Come.

Imagination Library became a huge success and so many other communities clamored to provide the Imagination Library to their children. As a result, The Foundation asked a blue ribbon panel of experts to select just the right books and secured Penguin Group USA to be the exclusive publisher for the Imagination Library. Moreover a database was built to keep track of the information.

Consequently, in March of 2000 Dolly stood at the podium of The National Press Club in Washington, D.C. and revealed the plan for other communities to provide the Imagination Library to their children. Today, the program is nationwide. To find out more and how you can register your child (ages birth to 5 years old) in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, visit the official website. Unfortunately, it isn’t available everywhere, but you can ask for it in your area.

Here’s how it works:

A community must make the program accessible to all preschool children in their area. The community pays for the books and mailing, promotes the program, registers the children, and enters the information into the database.

From there The Dollywood Foundation takes over and manages the system to deliver the books to the home. You can find out more of the operational details at the official website. Because of The Imagination Library, hundreds of communities are providing books to hundreds of thousands of children, fostering a love of reading.

Featured Video:

For more info:
Dolly’s Imagination Library Official Website
Wayne G. Basler Library
Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation

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