America's Promise [Hardcover]

Alma Powell (Author), Marsha Winborn (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

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.

Editorial Reviews

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.

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.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (April 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060521724
• ISBN-13: 978-0060521721
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 10.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,389,656 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars Worst children's book ever., November 15, 2010

By 

Jennifer Powers - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: America's Promise (Hardcover)

We were given this book as a gift and looked forward to reading it the first time. We were terribly disappointed.

The book has mediocre illustrations and a poor plot line that attempts to cover several different lessons and themes all at once. It doesn't cover any of them well. Add to that poor grammar - "He was a real big man. And a real smart man." - and things that just don't make any sense - "The human body can only do so much" spoken by a bison to a group of other animals, not a human in the bunch - and the book becomes a complete loss.

Do not buy this book. I only gave it one star because I couldn't write a review with no stars.

4.0 out of 5 stars America's Promise, September 3, 2008

By 

Jeffrey A. Douglass (Greenback, Tennessee) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: America's Promise (Hardcover)

Great book to help young children get interested in reading. And it tells a good story about America.