With the impending American mid-terms looming large on the horizon, it must surly have been serendipity which saw 'Dear Donald Trump' pop through my letterbox. Sam is sick of sharing a bedroom with his brother. He plays on his phone all night, keeping Sam awake and he has had enough! After seeing Donald Trump on the news talking about building a wall to keep out 'undesirables,' Sam decides his brother falls into that category and that a dividing wall across their bedroom may just be the solution. Now all he has to do is convince his family that his plan's a good one. Or can his family convince him it's not? Told through a series of letters from Sam to Donald Trump (and inspired by Siers watching Trump on the news talking about a wall between the U.S.A. and Mexico), this clever picture book will work in different levels for adults and children. It also opened up a conversation about famous walls of the world! On the face of it, Sam's letters detail typical family life - arguments with siblings, parents as mediators learning how to get on with one another. On another level, they highlight the current political situation and that problems can be solved via communication, regardless of the size of the problem. Communication is key! The humorous illustrations cleverly show Sam and Donald Trump's lives in parallel as they go about their daily business. I love how they tell you more of the story alongside the text, and the end illustration gives me hope that perhaps one day Trump will realise it's ok to change your mind. It will be interesting to see what kinds of discussions it prompts within the classroom. * Library Girl and Book Boy *
An interesting book based on some very current issues! Sam has a problem; he has an annoying older brother who he has to share a room with! Sam hears of Donald Trump's plans to build a wall while he is watching TV one day. This gives him a great idea - he could build a wall so him and his brother can have separate bedrooms! Sam writes numerous letters to Donald Trump as he begins planning to build his wall when his thought process starts to change. As his plans begin to change, he realises that building the wall may not be a very good idea after all as sometimes, it is useful to have your big brother around! This is a book with a brilliant message for adults and children; we all need other people at points, both to help and to get help from! It is an interesting read for any child to learn about peace, conflict and building good relationships but especially useful for any children who are quite aware of the political climate that we are living in! A great discussion point for KS2 children in schools or with their parents at home. * Reading Zone *
A funny and clever book that works on many levels. On one it's a story about Sam struggling to share a bedroom with his older brother and wondering if building a wall is the answer; on another it's a subtle reflection of how a child learns that negotiation and compromise are key and that there are benefits even in things that don't seem so good, and of how this journey could be helpful to world leaders. The story is written by way of letters to Donald Trump, and there are entertaining illustrations showing each one being handed to him. Sophie writes: "Having to share a bedroom is a common sibling problem in many families. I wanted to explore this idea through the lens of our current political landscape." This combination might also help families discuss how world leaders react to complex situations and to events happening across the world, and address any anxiety children might feel from hearing about them. * Juno *
Here's a poignant and thought provoking book that might just be the right age group for the Shredded-Wheat-Headed weird orange baby-man himself. Though I think perhaps the message might be a bit too sophisticated for him. Kids though, kids will love the tone of "Dear Donald Trump" by Sophie Siers and Anne Villeneuve. Particular kids with annoying siblings just like the central character, Sam Sam has a problem you see. His older brother is always hogging space in their shared room, in a tiny house in New Zealand. Sam's frustration boils over - and when he sees Donald Trump on TV talking about "Building a wall" Sam thinks it actually sounds like a great idea, and begins to write to the President of the USA for some handy tips and hints. Of course, the story really isn't about Sam idolising the President - more the tone that the story takes as Sam begins to question the need for a wall at all, and some quite sage wisdom from his older brother might actually sink in more than anything Trump could possibly say (or tweet). Neatly written, with some great illustrations it's a very tongue in cheek look at how sometimes, even when you act like a childish brat yourself, you can still take some keen advice from kids who say what they see - and have a habit of making us realise just how daft we can be sometimes. * Read it Daddy *
