Laura Bush

The Bush's "Read All About It" Panned by the New York Times

birdie — Mon, 12 May 2008 15:16:47 -0400

"The belief that books aren’t “real” is exactly what keeps many kids from preferring to read, but while the first lady, Laura Bush, and daughter Jenna Bush are on target with their diagnosis in “Read All About It!” their course of recommended treatment is hard to follow, let alone swallow" says NYT reviewer Roger Sutton about this new title.

On the subject of "Read All About It" (oops, watch out, when you click this link you hear the authors speaking about their book)... Sutton asks "Whom is this book supposed to convince, and of what?" The main character, Tyrone Brown, (“professional student and class clown”) would say, (according to Sutton) "it’s not real. The point is laboriously made, the teachers’ names are dorky, the plot is hectic and the suspense and dialogue are artificial. What child today says “pesky”? (And anyone who has ever shelved books for minimum wage is likely to feel insulted by Tyrone’s aggrieved dismissal of the library: “All I will meet there are stinky pages.”)

Jenna's away on her honeymoon; maybe she won't get a chance to read the review.

Laura Bush

kmccook — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 09:49:43 -0400

How can Laura Bush be the wife of George and a librarian?

Laura Bush says Library at SMU will Showcase her Education Efforts

birdie — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:17:38 -0400

Speaking of the First Lady, Laura Bush is hoping to have the George W. Bush Presidential Library at SMU showcase and promote activities she pursued while living in the White House.

Bush stated: "I hope that out of both the library and the Bush institute that will be there, I'll be able to continue working on the issues that are important to me. And part of that is education and literacy, including worldwide and especially the education of girls and women in Afghanistan."

Here's the scoop from the Dallas Morning News.

Oh, did anyone catch Mrs. Bush on the Today Show? Impressions?

Bush Budget Would Eliminate RIF

birdie — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 18:45:32 -0400

And who doesn't love RIF? Since 1966, it's been a dynamic program providing books to underprivileged children and encouraging them to read; now its very existence is threatened.

According to Kevin Howell of Publishers Weekly, RIF's CEO and president Carol Rasco tells us that if Bush’s budget is approved, 4.6 million children will not receive 16 million free books in 2009. RIF has been funded by Congress and six Administrations without interruption since 1975. It is the oldest and largest children’s and family nonprofit literacy organization in the U.S.

Here's the website to take action on this issue: RIF Support.

WWLauraD?

American Libraries - First Lady Laura Bush Discusses Post-White House Agenda

Blake — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 14:29:26 -0400

George sent over a Link To American Libraries and their interview with Laura Bush. There's also a video and a transcript.

Q.: I have one final question for you, and that’s about the future. What comes after the White House? Are you going to have a role in your husband’s presidential library? Are you going to do some writing?

Mrs. Bush: Oh, I will have a role in his presidential library. I’m really looking forward to being actively involved in the building of it. We have a very good architect.

Good Books (and W) for Company

birdie — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 08:32:35 -0500

Hear ye hear ye...this could be one of the final Laura Bush stories:

"A nation that does not read for itself cannot think for itself. And a nation that cannot think for itself risks losing both its identity and its freedom. Ray Bradbury was right when he said, 'You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them.'

"Both reading and a love of reading are learned behaviors that should be taught at home and in schools. Like many of you in this room, I've spent my life in the company of good books, because my mother taught me to love them, and my teachers taught me to read them, and my library let me take them home free. Those early experiences had a profound impact on my life, and on my career as a public school teacher and librarian, and on my present work in the U.S. and around the world."--First Lady Laura Bush, speaking yesterday at the AAP annual meeting in New York City.

Interview of the First Lady and Librarian of Congress Dr. James Billington by FOX & Friends

Blake — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 21:34:00 -0400

You just know any interview on FOX & Friends is going to be full of hard hitting and insightful questions. This Interview Of Billington & Bush is no exception. The first question asked was just what you'd expect from the liberal driveby media: "Just out of curiosity, who would be the number one librarian? Would it be the First Lady or the guy sitting next to you, Mrs. Bush?"The attack continued for 6 minutes.

TX library to be named for Bush (Not that one, the other one)

Blake — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 19:01:00 -0400

Chron.com reports First lady Laura Bush is getting an Austin library named in her honor.

Construction is set to begin next year on the Laura Bush Community Library in a posh Austin neighborhood. It'll be the first library named solely for the former librarian and school teacher.

Book Deal for Laura Bush & Daughter Jenna

birdie — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 18:59:00 -0400

PW reports that HarperCollins has signed the First Lady and Jenna Bush to write a children's book (as yet untitled) about a boy who doesn't like to read (imagine!).The happy authors say: "I am delighted to have the opportunity to partner with one of my favorite teachers, my daughter Jenna, to write a children's book," said Mrs. Bush, "and to have it illustrated by the wonderfully talented artist, Denise Brunkus."

"My mom has been my lifelong inspiration," added Jenna Bush, "sharing her love of reading and books with Barbara and me since we were little girls. I've taken that passion into the classroom. I hope this book will help kids realize the importance and fun that reading can add to their daily lives."

Mrs. Bush Praised for Helping Libraries

Blake — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 15:18:00 -0400

First lady Laura Bush was honored Tuesday night for her foundation's donations to Gulf Coast school libraries devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

"Schools are essential to the recovery that is under way," Mrs. Bush told guests at a dinner sponsored by the Community Foundation, a public charity. "Until schools are rebuilt, families can't come home."

The first lady said it takes $50,000 to rebuild an elementary school library and $100,000 to restock a high school library. Last week, she visited New Orleans Charter Science and Mathematics High School and the Holy Cross School for Boys in New Orleans to announce grants.