Bush Women Write Children's Book
August 9,2007 — -- First lady Laura Bush and daughter Jenna Bush are writing a children's book about a boy who doesn't like to read. It is based on their experiences as teachers. HarperCollins plans to announce today that it will publish the as-yet-untitled picture book next spring. It will be illustrated by Denise Brunkus, who's best known for her drawings in the popular Junie B. Jones series.
"It's a book that I've always wanted to write," Laura Bush said Wednesday in an interview. "And it's fun to be able to do it with your daughter."
She says the book is set in a school — somewhat like the Miss Nelson series by Harry Allard and James Marshall — and is about a funny, mischievous second-grader "who professes not to like books. He says he likes real things. Of course, what everyone who loves books knows is that even a fantastical character can become very real to a reader."
And that, she says, is something the boy learns with the help of his teacher. "It's loosely based on students we both had in our classrooms."
The first printing for each book will be 500,000 copies.
Laura Bush was a teacher and school librarian in Texas. Jenna Bush has taught at a public charter school in Washington, D.C.
Laura Bush says after Jenna's book tour this fall (she's appearing in schools and bookstores in 25 cities), she expects her daughter to return to teaching or go to graduate school.
HarperCollins says the Bushes will donate their net proceeds from the book to two national teacher programs: Teach for America and The New Teacher Project.
The publisher says it is donating an unspecified share of its profits and will give away $1 million worth of children's books to schools and libraries to coincide with the publication of the book.
Reminded that children's book editors often say every parent thinks he or she can write a children's book, Laura Bush chuckled.
"I know how difficult it can be. In a picture book, there are so few words, so each word has to be perfect. Jenna and I know that, and we know that each page should have something to make you want to turn the page. That's the challenge."
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