My Senator and Me: A Dog's Eye View of Washington, D.C. [Hardcover]

Edward M. Kennedy (Author), David Small (Illustrator)

Book Description

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

Living legends Ted Kennedy and David Small team up to provide a smart, funny, and affectionate look at life in our nation's capital from the perspective of the senator and his very perceptive dog.

There's an old saying: "If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog." A few years ago, Senator Ted Kennedy decided to do just that.
Now his beloved Portuguese Water Dog Champion Amigo's Seventh Wave (nicknamed Splash) is the most famous canine on Capitol Hill. Here we follow Senator Kennedy and Splash through a busy day in D.C., from press conferences to meetings with school groups to committee discussions to a floor vote. The result is an exciting, behind-the-scenes look at the life of one of the most energetic figures in American politics -- and, of course, his equally famous owner.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. Grade 1-5–Kennedy's introduction to the political process is clear, informative, and loaded with child appeal, in part due to the choice of narrator: his Portuguese Water Dog, Splash. This canine bundle of friendly, panting fun takes readers on a tour of monuments and then describes a typical day: staff discussion of an education bill, a ride in the underground tram between the Senate and the Capitol, a press conference, a committee meeting, and a floor vote. Children will appreciate Splash's joy at the snacks and time for outdoor catch along the way, as well as the strategic Woof when the committee reaches an impasse on the bill. While the swift and tidy resolution is clearly fictional, the actual process is rendered memorable through the presentation. Small's shifting perspectives capture the shimmering lights viewed from a moving tram, the glory of the soaring Capitol rotunda, the heartfelt affection in a beloved dog's eyes. Back matter includes information about Kennedy, Splash, and how a bill becomes a law. With its multicultural cast, nonpartisan viewpoint, and protagonist brimming with personality, this look inside the Beltway is a first choice for classrooms, tourists, and animal lovers everywhere.–Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 2-4. In this high-spirited if low-angled trot through the congressional halls of power, Splash (a Portuguese water dog, for those who dote on such details) follows his senatorial companion (who looks a lot like Senator Kennedy) through a typical day. Interspersed with such highlights as a romp on the Capitol's lawn and a ride on the underground tram that runs between the Capitol and the office building, the day features a press conference, photo ops, a heated conference committee discussion about an education bill, and an important vote. In sketchy watercolor views of, first, the puppy farm, and, later, the Capitol Hill area, Caldecott winner Small tones down his customary caricatures (though not entirely) to match the narrative's light, amiable tone. Capped by a precis of the legislative process, this book is a natural companion for Judith St. George's So You Want to Be President (2000). John Peters
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 56 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Inc. (May 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439650771
• ISBN-13: 978-0439650779
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 9.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #476,971 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Edward M. Kennedy (1932-2009) represented Massachusetts in the United States Senate for 47 years. In 2004 he began interviews at the Miller Center of the University of Virginia for an oral history project about his life. For his 2009 memoir, "True Compass," he drew from his 50 years of contemporaneous notes from his personal diaries and worked closely on the book with Pulitzer Prize-winner Ron Powers, co-author of "Flags of Our Fathers" and author of "Mark Twain: A Life."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

92 of 111 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful book with dual education purpose, April 11, 2006

By 

Susan Hobbs (Cupertino, California United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: My Senator and Me: A Dog's Eye View of Washington, D.C. (Hardcover)

I have long been a lover and collector of children's literature. I am a former teacher and now have an almost 4 year old, hence an excuse to contribute to my ever expanding collection of children's lit. Since I share a home with a Portuguese Water Dog, I was intrigued to learn that Senator Kennedy had two of these fine canines and I pre-ordered the book. It arrived yesterday and I am quite pleased with it. The illustrations are whimsical and fabulous; Caldecott Medal winning artist, David Small doesn't disappoint. I was pleasantly surprised that this book not only conveyed an accurate portrayal of the personality of a "typical" PWD, it also clipped along at a satisfactory pace sharing with the reader some of the steps it takes for a bill to become a law. This is told as a "day in the life" of Senator Kennedy from his dog, Splash's perspective. You receive a bit of Senator Kennedy's political agenda, but in the most benign sense as the bill which is discussed in the book is an education bill. I truly enjoyed this book -- more than I anticipated. I read it to my daughter tonight, not sure if it would be too long and detailed to hold her attention at her young age. The subject matter intrigued her since it was about a Portie like Jetty (our PWD). She enjoyed the book and even looked through it afterwards, retelling the story (a sure sign that it will be a new favorite). I would definitely recommend this book to dog lovers (especially PWD owners) everywhere in addition to someone looking for a straightforward children's book about how a bill becomes a law or what it is like to be a member of Congress. Happy reading!

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Get over yourself -- it's a kid's book!, July 15, 2006

By 

B. Almond "mcdcbear" (Washington DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: My Senator and Me: A Dog's Eye View of Washington, D.C. (Hardcover)

I saw a couple of reviews of people offended because Kennedy named his dog "Splash". I understand how someone might see that as a reference to Chappaquiddick, but that's a little immature, don't you think? Splash is a Portuguese Water Dog. WATER. SPLASH. Get it? The dog loves to swim. I'm a fellow PWD owner, which is why I got the book. It wasn't the best children's book ever, but it was fun and I was excited to see a PWD get the limelight. They are wonderful, loving, intelligent dogs!

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book might very well prompt kids to make their own 'splash' with civic participation, July 9, 2006

By 

Robin Orlowski "political activist" (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: My Senator and Me: A Dog's Eye View of Washington, D.C. (Hardcover)

I've always been a cat lover, so anything with dogs is a tough sell for me--regardless of who writes it. However, I also recognize the American legislative process is a tough sell for little kids.

Showing them what goes on through the perspective of a family pet helps them relate---and potentially get interested in the process. Splash talks with the audience at their level throughout the book text, building up a friendship between the subject of the book and the book reader.

Also helpful, this book avoids partisan battles, instead focusing on non-partisan civic involvement.

Kids who believe that their government is both important and interesting then have a greater opportunity of registering and regularly turning out to vote (any party every election) when they are older.