Throughout the media world, both online and off, political pundits, news analysts and regular people are writing, talking and commenting about the life and legacy of Senator Ted Kennedy.
While his life was dominated by his political achievements and personal follies, there was a quieter side that was all about books. In 2006, spurred by his experiences with a Washington, DC-based reading program, Kennedy wrote a children’s book.
My Senator and Me: A Dog’s Eye View of Washington, DC tells the story of life in our nation’s capital and the work of Congress through the eyes of the Senator’s dog, Splash. With detailed and fanciful illustrations by Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator David Small, the book won praises from the School Library Journal and Booklist for its accessible and fun approach to governance.
Kennedy had said repeatedly that, “Reading is a lifelong adventure” and he meant it. Every Tuesday, he would visit a local DC-area school and read with children as part of the Everyone Wins! Power Lunch program.
But he also made time for adult books too. He wrote a book of political history, criticism and advice entitled America Back on Track, detailing his ideas for reclaiming the American ideal of checks and balances in the government (it was published at the height of Bush II’s administration, of which Kennedy was a vocal critic). And now, in the wake of his death, his memoirs, True Compass, will be published. Though there are several biographies detailing the secrets of the Kennedy clan, this book is from Ted himself – in his own words and his own voice, the tumultuous ups and downs of his life.
According to the publishers, True Compass has been in the works for five years, with the Senator working tirelessly to ensure its completion before his death. Jonathan Karp, editor of Twelve Books Press said, “His book will be a revelation, an international event, and a lasting contribution to American history.”
[Photo Credit: Education Week website]
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