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Dear President Obama: Letters of Hope from Children Across America

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What was one of the most powerful motivations for people across America to vote for Barack Obama for President? Wasn't it because our children's futures were at stake, more so than ever before? Obama symbolized change and he revitalized what had become our increasingly diminished sense of hope (that's what eight years of George Bush will get you).

As with many things, some of the world's greatest insights and wisdom come from children, whose vision isn't clouded by all the judgements and baggage we adults bring to any given subject, especially politics. Kids just see things on a whole different level and can cut right to the chase on a subject, but they do it with sweetness, generosity and an innate sense of optimism.

I've purchased copies of Dear President Obama for my kids, nieces and nephews, but it's a book for parents, too. The letters are touching, funny and profound and the children's wishes, requests and advice should be required reading for our new President and all of us who still believe in the concept of hope.

It would be easy to damn this book with faint praise as being essentially for and about kids and their relationship to the historic election of President Obama. That would be a serious misstep, though, because beyond the power of the words these letters embody, is the perhaps unintended but no less palpable benefit to more adult readers who get to experience their own hope and wonder anew through the unalloyed perspective of these child authors. Reading these missives somehow liberates that part of our adult self that has been bridled and bound by doctrine, public opinion, and just the basic fear we have of daring to express our own unvarnished joy and hope, if only for an instant.

In terms of whether you should read this book, it really is that rare paradox--a smart no-brainer with soul to burn.

Picking up this book is akin to being able to look directly into the minds of children and teens across the country, which is a pretty amazing thing. Some of the letters are touching, some are funny and some are downright sad. Nearly all of them are fascinating and there is no way of predicting what thoughts will be revealed with the turn of each page.

Almost as interesting as the book itself is the way the project came to life. On the day following Obama's win, Bruce Kluger and David Tabasky simply emailed their friends, asking what their children would say to our newest President, given the chance. Their inquiry spread by email from friend to friend (as forwards tend to do), until the duo had received nearly one thousand responses. Their little project had snowballed into a major one!

Ultimately, 179 of the very best entries were chosen for inclusion in the final product. The authors were careful to represent a range of ages from nearly every region of the country. The result is a very real and wonderful sampling of the concerns and ideas of American children. We read letters from teens who are worried about the state of our economy as well as random thoughts that occupy the minds of younger children.

Four year old Madeline tells Obama that she "would like a real chihuahua and the sick people not to get sick." Hunter, age eight, would like to see a law "that you must eat the meat if you hunt and kill it." Eleven year old Claire requests help for "me and my mom, who is now single, to keep money in our pocket to buy food." Patrick, age 12, state "We have to work together to solve these problems. You need to count on us kids to help because we are the future." Kids are the future, which is exactly why this book is so riveting.

This is a fabulous project, both informative and entertaining. Each submission is interesting in its own right. The children selected their own presentation, which means they have an individual style. There are all types of fonts, paper styles and colors - some are typed, while others are written in cursive or printed . In addition to the letters, there is plenty of artwork, ranging from a gorgeous realistic portrait of Obama to some less realistic (but no less enjoyable) stick figures.

Check out [...]f to flip through the book and get a taste for its style. A clever idea paired with enthusiastic participants and great presentation makes this an incredibly neat read for adults and children alike. It's rare to be able to get such different perspectives on a singular event. The book is a humorous and inspiring read and will become a wonderful piece of history!

There was already a book like this published (Thanks and Have Fun Running the Country: Kids' Letters to President Obama) that was compiled by 826 National, a nonprofit writing and tutoring center with multiple locations throughout the country. I bought 826's book many, many months ago and to prove it, they have an earlier publishing date listed on their amazon page. Even if it was just a fluke, all of the profits from 826's book go towards their tutoring and literacy programs, back to the kids who wrote these letters, and back into a program that encourages this type of creativity and responsibility amongst many more children across the nation.

Where do the profits from this book go? Nothing is stated leading me to assume the profits go straight in the authors' pockets. Do yourself (and the kids) a favor and check out 826's book before you purchase this one. [...]

Despite lacking the ability to vote, many children and pre-teens embrace the political spirit during an election year. "Dear President Obama: Letters of Hope from Children Across America" is a collection of letters addressed to our newest president, reflecting young people's concerns and how they believe the new president can help. A charming collection of the hopes of children, and a look at politics through their eyes, "Dear President Obama" is a fine read for those interested in a new perspective and something to warm their heart.

"Dear President Obama" is a great book, and adults didn't write it!!! Several kids wrote letters to the president and sent them into the editors/compilers. Kids are a lot smarter about politics than anyone would think, and this book proves it.

Brainwashing begins at home, then the teachers take over while the Media reinforces with their undying love for the Obamessiah. This pablum for brain-dead Lib Kids shows why this charlatan won the election: mass hysteria induced by ignorance and propaganda. Lots of words to look up on Google, kids. Also check out taquiya, 'born Muslim', Sharia law, Bill Ayers, Burnadette Dourne, Louis Farrakhan, Rev Jeremiah Wright, Tony Rezko, Chicago Mob, Sociallism. Ask Mommy and Daddy why President Hussein Obama went to Cairo, Egypt - you know, where the PYRAMIDS are - and trashed America, and said it was allright for women to keep their faces covered, and lied about the history of Islam. Yes, the religion whose Prophet married a 6 year old girl, who cut the heads off 900 Jewish men and raped their wives and sold their kids into slavery. Prez Obama should know this because he went to Muslim school when he was a kid like you, and he bowed with his head in the dirt praising Mohammad, the Prophet. Did President Obama know that Mohammad called Black People 'Raisinheads'? Ask Mommy why Obama lets the Enemy Terrorists free, and why you kids, and your kids too, will still be paying for Prez Hussein Obama's crazy spending in the first 6 months of his Presidency. Ask Mommy and Daddy if they knew this when they voted for President Barrack Hussein Obama. Tell Mommy and Daddy they can look all these things up on Google, too, but it's too late to save the country from this man Obama. He has 3 1/2 more years to tear down America and apologize for our Success. Did you know, America is the Richest most Powerful Country in the Entire History of the World? And did you know we are also the most kind, charitable, sharing country in the world? We give Billions of dollars, and medicine, and help and tools, supplies, books to every country in the world. And EVERYBODY wants to come here - from all countries, because we are the BEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD....WHY WHY WHY DOES MR. OBAMA WANT TO CHANGE US? Ask Mommie and Daddy. Your Friend, Randy