Let’s see a show of hands–who’s feeling pretty demoralized by the current political climate? Oh wow. That’s a lot of hands. Yeah, me too.
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what it is like to be a kid growing up in the Trump era. How is it shaping their understanding of what a president is? Of what America is about? Will it shape them into a generation that wants to make a difference, make things better? Or a generation that will give up on the system altogether?
And then I find a book like Sofia Valdez, Future Prez, and my outlook is given a much-needed jolt of optimism. The latest in the “Questioneers” series, written by Andrea Beaty and illustrated by David Roberts, stars Sofia as a plucky, determined and compassionate young lady, who cannot sit idly by as she watches people in her community suffer.
With the help and guidance of her Abuelo (clearly a civic-minded man in his own right, if the buttons on his hat are any indicator), Sofia delivers groceries to the home-bound, rakes leaves, walks pets and more. Sofia is, as Beaty puts it:
“A dreamer. A doer. A real-life go-getter.
Most people like good,
but Sofia liked better.”
(How adorable and inspiring is that??)
When Abuelo gets hurt by the huge, dangerous eyesore “Mount Trashmore,” Sofia gets mad. She declares, “This is not right!”
She navigates the bureaucracy of city hall, overcomes fear of public speaking, rallies the support of the community (including some familiar faces from Beaty’s other books), and ultimately, gets a park built in Mount Trashmore’s place!
The book emphasizes that while Sofia led the way, it was “with the hard work OF, BY, and FOR everyone” that got the job done. This is what real leadership looks like. Someone with a dream of bigger and better things for their community, not just fighting for them, but drawing them into the fight as well, by helping them believe it is possible and organizing real action.
A president is meant to be a public servant, “OF, BY, and FOR everyone,” to echo the book. Sofia embodies exactly that. (And bears more than a passing resemblance to Bronx-born Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, by the way! Physically AND politically.)
Kids will surely feel inspired by Sofia’s selfless and inclusive brand of leadership. Why not fuel that inspiration with…Presidential Pancakes! There’s much work to be done, so they’re gonna need the sugar.
I used this great recipe for Red Velvet Pancakes from Cooking Classy. I just added some blueberries once the batter was in the pan to complete the red, white and blue. (It works better to sprinkle them on than to mix them into the batter before pouring.)
I found that the key to not browning the vibrant red color is keeping the flame quite low and letting the pancake cook for a while, rather than rushing it.
I also found that each pancake I made was bigger than the last and my flipping more bold and decisive–perhaps big-dreaming Sofia was having an influence on me?
If the young person in your life seems interested in leadership and civic engagement, this thoughtful article by the book’s author has some great suggestions to take them further. In the Bronx, a great place to start is with the Bronx Defenders. In addition to fighting for better representation of the accused in the Bronx, they frequently organize community events, which are sometimes kid-friendly. Check their events page periodically for block parties, family activities and educational opportunities.
And if you’re looking for more presidential reads, give these titles a try:
Grace Goes to Washington by Kelly DiPucchio, illustrated by LeUyen Pham
Grace and her classmates debate how to use their recently-earned bake sale money and learn about the branches of government.
Pedro for President by Fran Manushkin, illustrated by Tammie Lyon
This Katie Woo spin-off features Pedro as a presidential candidate unwilling to participate in mud-slinging and bias-based campaign strategies. How refreshing…
Words That Built a Nation by Marilyn Miller, Ellen Scordato and Dan Tucker, illustrated by Mary Kate McDevitt
Great for older readers, this collection features over 30 primary sources, from speeches to letters to verdicts which exemplified democracy and “shaped America’s history.”
