And that book helped me love reading, because before then reading was kind of like something you did when you had to do it. But that book, it like grabbed me and pulled me and I just kept reading and kept reading.
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama is an American lawyer and writer. She is married to the 44th and current President of the United States, Barack Obama, and is the first African-American First Lady of the United States.
[Take your kids to work day - What's your favorite book and why?] Oh, man, you guys are tough. All right, okay, there are kids books that I enjoy, everything from “Goodnight, Moon” -- do you guys -- have your parents read “Goodnight, Moon” to you, guys? “Where the Wild Things Are” -- we just read -- the girls read that at the Easter Egg Roll. So I have a ton of those books.
Also recommended by: Gwyneth Paltrow
In a great green room, tucked away in bed, is a little bunny. "Goodnight room, goodnight moon." And to all the familiar things in the softly lit room--to the picture of the three little bears sitting in chairs, to the clocks and his socks, to the mittens and the kittens, to everything one by one--he says goodnight. In this classic of modern children's literature, beloved by generations of readers and listeners, the quiet poetry of the words and the gentle, lulling illustrations combine to make a perfect book for the end of the day. A young bunny rabbit goes through his bedtime routine, bidding goodnight to all of the familiar objects and characters in his room. As the time for going to sleep comes near the room grows darker and quieter, until all we can see is the glow of the fire and the light of the stars and moon.
[Take your kids to work day - What's your favorite book and why?] Oh, man, you guys are tough. All right, okay, there are kids books that I enjoy, everything from “Goodnight, Moon” -- do you guys -- have your parents read “Goodnight, Moon” to you, guys? “Where the Wild Things Are” -- we just read -- the girls read that at the Easter Egg Roll. So I have a ton of those books.
Also recommended by: Richard Branson
Where the Wild Things Are is fifty years old! Let the wild rumpus with Max and all the wild things continue as this classic comes to life as never before with new reproductions of Maurice Sendak's artwork. Astonishing state-of-the-art technology faithfully captures the color and detail of the original illustrations. Sendak himself enthusiastically endorsed this impressive new interpretation of his art before his death in May 2012. Winner of the 1964 Caldecott Medal for the Most Distinguished Picture Book of the Year, Where the Wild Things Are became an iconic book that has inspired a movie, an opera, and the imagination of generations. It continues to be one of the best loved books of all time the world over, by the one and only Maurice Sendak.
One of the books that I loved -- one of the first books that I loved and read cover to cover in one day -- not because anybody made me read it but because the book was good -- it was called -- it was a book called “Song of Solomon” by Toni Morrison. And that book helped me love reading, because before then reading was kind of like something you did when you had to do it. But that book, it like grabbed me and pulled me and I just kept reading and kept reading. ... So those books are my favorite books. And there are many, many others books that I’ve read like that over the years, but “Song of Solomon” was my first one.
Milkman Dead was born shortly after a neighborhood eccentric hurled himself off a rooftop in a vain attempt at flight. For the rest of his life he, too, will be trying to fly. With this brilliantly imagined novel, Toni Morrison transfigures the coming-of-age story as audaciously as Saul Bellow or Gabriel García Márquez. As she follows Milkman from his rustbelt city to the place of his family’s origins, Morrison introduces an entire cast of strivers and seeresses, liars and assassins, the inhabitants of a fully realized black world. The Song of Songs, also known as the Song of Solomon or Canticles, is one of the megillot of the Ketuvim, and the fifth of the "wisdom" books of the Christian Old Testament.
And any book that does that for me -- do you feel that way when you get a book and you just can’t put it down, whether it’s a mystery or one of the gossip things like “Camp Confidential”? Who reads “Camp Confidential”? Sasha is loving those books. I think those are just -- they just suck her in and she can’t put it down.
Camp Confidential is a US book series for preteens written by Melissa J. Morgan. It focuses around a group of girls at Camp Lakeview. There are 25 books in this series so far. The series is also sold in the UK under the name Summer Camp Secrets published by Usborne Publishing.
[One news report said Michelle seemed to know the words to this animal story by heart, meowing and barking along with her attentive audience at a community health organization in Washington, D.C.]
Children see a variety of animals, each one a different color, and a mother looking at them. These beloved children's stories are now available in beginning reader format. With the important pre-reading concepts of rhyme, rhythm, and repetition, these picture books have long been used as beginning readers. Now, with a 6" x 9" trim and a classic beginning reader layout, children will have a more "grown up" version to read by themselves. Complete with an introduction by master educator Laura Robb, and with fun reading activities added, these new versions of Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? are certain to appeal to a new age group and find an even wider audience.
[Dr. Seuss' classic tale of the cat that turned a dull, rainy day into a magical adventure is a go-to for any parent—and the first lady is no exception. She once used this story to entertain a dozen preschoolers during a visit to military families in North Carolina.]
Poor Dick and Sally. It's cold and wet and they're stuck in the house with nothing to do . . . until a giant cat in a hat shows up, transforming the dull day into a madcap adventure and almost wrecking the place in the process! Written by Dr. Seuss in 1957 in response to the concern that "pallid primers [with] abnormally courteous, unnaturally clean boys and girls' were leading to growing illiteracy among children, The Cat in the Hat (the first Random House Beginner Book) changed the way our children learn how to read.
Olivia is a pig of all trades: She has saved a circus, rocked out in a band and even pioneered an intense "Santa watch." However, the series all began with this simple day-in-the-life look at the unforgettable porcine heroine. The book—and the first lady—were a hit when Michelle read it at the University of South Carolina's Children's Center.
Have fun with Olivia... -dressing up -singing songs -building sand castles -napping (maybe) -dancing -painting on walls -and -- whew! -- going to sleep at last.
