Today heralds the release of MOUSE RUSHMORE, Commander in Cheese Super Special #1. Why is it so super special for me to publish a super special (and yes, I’ll answer what the heck a super special is in just a moment)?
When I was in junior high, I was preeeeeetttttyyy obsessed with the Baby-Sitters Club, which led to a rather ironic and viscous cycle.
Lindsey babysits
Lindsey uses babysitting money to buy Baby-Sitters Club Books
Babysitter’s Club gives Lindsey advice on life, love, and of course, babysitting
Lindsey babysits some more.
I didn’t buy or read all the Baby-Sitters Club books, but the ones I was most excited about were the SUPER SPECIALS. These books were longer and had white covers. The girls usually went on huge trips together, which as a mom sounds like a logistical nightmare, but as a 12-year-old was my dream vacation. Like a cruise! (I’m pretty sure one of the girls finds a cruise boyfriend, also a childhood day dream of mine. Also: all-you-can eat lobster).
And now, here I am, 25 years later, with my own Super Special Book! Dreams do come true, kids. In Mount Rushmore, the Squeakerton mice take a break from the White House (hallelujah!) and jet off to Mount Rushmore to solve their first mystery. There’s a mouse roller coaster, an ice cream shop, mysterious gold and adventure (but no cruise ship. Ann M. Martin already wrote that book). There’s also more fun facts and cool tidbits in the back of the book, including art tips from AG Ford.
I’m also doing a giveaway until Friday over on my instagram–you can win the entire COMMANDER IN CHEESE series along with some other fun goodies.
I really love writing this series, mostly because I really love meeting with readers of this series. It’s an extraordinary experience to write the first book a child reads, or write the gateway that gets a reader into history books. Happy Reading!
If you watch this video, I will send your school/library a free book. Seriously. Let’s just lay that out there before I share more. Video. Book. Here’s why…
I love America. Love love love love my country. I love America’s rich history, our social progress, our diversity and our gumption. There are, however, things I don’t like about national current events. Soooooo many things. Like many concerned citizens, I’ve thought hard about what I can do as one person to contribute to the betterment of my country. One thing I’ve realized is I happen to be writing a book series set inside the White House while many people are Not Cool with changes made by the new administration inside the White House.
So I decided to make this little video and do this BIG giveaway. I have so adored teaching and reading about the history of our country’s leaders. I love talking to students who are also big into presidential history (like Macey Hensley. My favorite seven-year-old besides my own seven-year-old). I want elementary readers to be excited about our presidency and to serve as helpful citizens and leaders. Whitney Houston said it best: The children ARE our future, y’all. Let’s invest in them (And invest in the arts. And libraries. And education. Maybe I need to write another blog post…)
I asked some author/illustrator friends 2 questions. Click on the video to discover what they said. And then share this video. Teachers, share with your students. Librarians, share with your patrons. Parents, share with your kids. Ask your kids these questions. Ask yourselves these questions. (Thanks to AG Ford, Jen Malone, Stacy McAnulty, Kristen Chandler, Elizabeth Eulberg, Lisa Schroeder, Julie Olsen, Lindsay Eager and some adorable children who may or may not be related to me for chiming in with their thoughts!)
Once you’ve watched this video, email me at contact (at) lindseyleavitt (dot) com (or you can message me on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook). Tell me your answers to these questions and send me your school/library address. I’ll send you a copy of Commander in Cheese #4: THE BIRTHDAY SUIT, which just released January 10 and takes place in the White House ON Presidents’ Day!
Yes. That’s it. Watch a video. Discuss. Email. GET A FREE BOOK.
I have no idea what kind of response I’ll get to this, so I’ll just keep sending out books until I run out of money. If I spend all the money I made on this book on FREE books for you… score. My work here is done.
Please share this #commanderincheese giveaway with other teachers and librarians. Again, it’s not a contest. I’m going Oprah with this thing (or, like an iota of Oprah. 1/2932940982309238 Oprah). You get a book! You get a book! You get a book! Just share this video and YOU GET A BOOK!
Yesterday, after recovering from a nasty flu, we marched.
It was cold and we were alone. I bought some balloons because, I don’t know, BALLOONS!! We talked about feminism and femininity. We talked about how we should be treated and how we should treat others. We talked about motherhood and education and creativity. We talked about the difference between God and government. We talked about respecting beliefs that are contrary to our own. We talked about not making fun of people, even when they make fun of us. We talked about the Statue of Liberty, refuges, mismatched socks, and why books are cheaper at the scholastic book fair (our march is not without its tangents). Most of this talk happened back in the truck, because dang it was cold, but the important thing is… we talked.
The snow in the pic says so much too. January is dreary and infinite. I’m distracted, triggered, and world-weary. On a good day, I remember to switch the clothes from the washer to the dryer, and on the hard days, I agonize over how I can possibly contribute as an everyday citizen. I’m so grateful for these little lights and the hope I feel from this quote: “Your success as a family… our success as a nation… depends not on what happens inside the White House, but on what happens inside your house.” ~Barbara Bush
No piñatas were harmed in the making of this family. Okay, one.
This was my favorite Commander in Cheese book to write. I know authors say that picking a favorite book is like picking children, but the truth is I like some books more than others, and sometimes I even like one kid more than their siblings. It’s okay if I say that because my family probably isn’t reading this. Our little secret, okay?
The beginning of THE BIRTHDAY SUIT tells the quick version of how James F. Squeakerton, the sorta-mouse president, proposed to his wife VIA PINATA. I based this on my own husband’s proposal, which involved family and all of our kids and a very
confused, weepy birthday girl. It was one of the most surreal and magical moments of my life. It was easy to pick my husband for this book’s dedication, and maybe every dedication from here on out because he’s just that decent and good. But I’ll spare you too much sap.
I never know which pieces of the story the brilliant AG Ford will pick to illustrate. I squeaked when the illustrations came back with this… You’ll notice this isn’t a screenshot from the book. No, this is the actual illustration. You see, I told my editor Caroline how much joy this illustration brought me. So she thoughtfully asked AG Ford for this illustration, which she had framed and sent to me as a Christmas/book release present. It currently sits by my bedside while we finish building our home. I can’t wait to stare at it in my own office. It’s the second best gift I’ve ever received paying homage to the very first.
I think this illustration also illustrates (pun alert!) just how many people go into a book’s creation. #TEAMCOMMANDERINCHEESE (T-shirts available soon/please make your own) is made up of a wonderful illustrator, editor, agent, and publisher. Sure, my name is on the book. But they’re all working just as hard to make this series into something that early chapter book readers will love for a really long time. I hope this becomes a favorite. With sprinkles on top.
Logan being her cherubic, innocent, adventurous self
Last night, my daughter said this in our family prayer: “Please bless that Donald Trump won’t take over America.”
After we finished, I started to talk to her about how our republic works and that president’s don’t “Take Over.” But I didn’t really know what to say, and maybe I started to cry a little. When I tucked her in to bed, she wanted to plan her seven-year-old birthday party. We are thinking a trampoline park or maybe bowling.
Once Logan was asleep, I started writing. I tried to make my thoughts short, because although Logan is a great listener, at some point she would understandably rather talk about bowling. That said, I am also 5’10”. I don’t do short well. So if you are looking for something to start this conversation with your kids, pick what you like from here. And know I am so grateful for you, for this country, for our system of government, for diversity, for liberty. And, especially, for hope….
To my super cool, super smart, super SUPER elementary readers,
(And their parents. And their teachers. And their grandparents who buy books for Christmas presents),
In 2014, I had a conversation with my editor, Caroline. I wanted to write something my younger children could read. We came up with the early chapter book idea COMMANDER IN CHEESE, about a mouse family that lives in the White House. Caroline and I met up in Washington DC to discuss famous mice and famouser presidents. (Yes, I know famouser is not a word, but making up stuff is part of being an author).
I jumped right into presidential research. I’ve always loved being a writer, but now I got to mix in my love for American history. I could read about Air Force One and the Oval Office for hours and hours and call it all “work”. Also, I wore old yoga pants and ate lots of cookie dough while doing this. That doesn’t have much to do with our topic. I’m really just bragging about my job.
When I sold the series to my publisher, Random House, we did not know what the 2016 election would look like. When I made my president female (and named her after my editor, Caroline Abbey), I did not know Hilary Clinton would be the Democratic candidate. When I added Macey and Banks, the president’s young children, I did not know Donald Trump (who has a ten year-old son) would be the Republican candidate. The first two books came out in May 2016, before the Democratic and Republican conventions.
Elections are a historically tense time. The election of 2016 was especially hard on our country. People have not liked candidates before, but this election was dipped in mean. It wasn’t just beliefs that were attacked—it was people. People of color, people with disabilities, people of different religious backgrounds. I’m sure you know better than to tease or hate someone just because they are different than you. I think most people in our country know better than this, and although they may have voted for a candidate who promoted some ugly ideas, it does NOT make the voter a mean person. I’ve met Americans from all around the country–wonderful, good, smart people. They had to choose a candidate. Millions of Americans made a very hard choice.
Parents also had to decide what to discuss with their children. I started to watch one of the presidential debates with my kids but stopped because there were so many “adult conversations”. Readers, this is a little secret. A lot of adult conversations involve adults not really acting like adults. Maybe that’s why adults don’t want you to listen: Sometimes we are rude and unkind. We should set a stronger example for you. Many kids I know are actually better at thoughtful, mature conversations than their parents! One of those kids lives in my house. She knows who she is.
I’m sure you know at least one adult who is upset with the election results—a parent, an uncle, a teacher, a celebrity. Maybe you saw them cry. Maybe you heard them yell. Maybe they were that scary kind of quiet where you know better than to interrupt. Adults aren’t simply mad because the person they voted for lost. It’s not like we are cheering for a sports teams here (Go Giants!) They are not pouting or whining. This is different. People are grieving. They are worried that the country they want America to be is different than maybe the country their neighbor wants America to be. They likely do not like President-elect Trump, which is hard when we have had so many noble and good leaders in the past. Americans want to love their president.
But! (In posts like this, there is always a but. We all have butts.) We live in an amazing country. America didn’t stop being America overnight. The future is unclear, but that’s usually how futures are. YOU are part of that future, and kids are awesome. Really, all you have to do is STAY AWESOME. Stay awesome and know that everything will be okay. Even more, you can help to make things okay. Here’s how…
Government: Our government is a democratic republic. Some countries are ruled by one leader. Ours is not. We are more than our president. We have congressmen, senators, and governors. Our government has many branches. If the president wants to make a law a law, he doesn’t just wave a magic wand. There is a process. For much, much more on how our government works (and it does work), go here.
Could have done better, Johnson.
History: We have had many good presidents. We have also had bad presidents. Richard Nixon broke the law and had to resign. James Buchanan passed horrible pro-slavery policy. Andrew Johnson… don’t even get me started on Andrew Johnson. We have also disagreed before. In fact, many laws and amendments are shaped around our disagreements. We have won wars and lost wars. We have been a wealthy country, and we have lost oodles of American tax dollars. Our country is better now than when your grandparents were your age. We have rights that did not exist then. We have technology and opportunity that did not exist then. America’s goal has always been to progress and improve. Regardless of who are president may be, our goals remain the same.
Home: My family is building a house right now. We are painting it white. My kids think it’s cool that I will write books about the White House in my white house (actually, I’m the one who thinks it’s cool. My kids don’t really care about house colors—they just want a trampoline). A home is where we learn foundations of love. And I’m not talking about whether your parents are married or what they’ve taught you about this election. I’m talking about YOU—about your relationship with your siblings, with your parents, with your cousins, your neighbors. There will be times you do not like your family members. You will fight. But at the end of the day, they are still your family. Life is much easier if you can figure out a way to work together, despite your differences. Home is where we learn to share. Home is where we learn to compromise. Home is where we learn to love someone, even if we don’t LIKE our bratty little brother sometimes. Home is where we plant our love, so it can grow outside and beyond. As Barbara Bush said, “Your success as a family, our success as a society depends not what happens at the White House, but what happens inside YOUR house.”
Community:
Smart little mice and possibly future presidents…
I registered to vote a few weeks ago. While I waited for my papers at the clerk’s office, an older man walked in to drop off his ballot. He was very loud about who he was voting for. We were not voting for the same person. He said some negative things about the person I voted for. Honestly, my first reaction was to yell at him. I did not agree with him. At all. But. (More butts!) Yelling at him would not make him open his envelope and change his vote. Just like his loud boasts would in no way change my vote. There are other ways to stand up for what you believe is right. Listen. Learn. Educate. Recycle. Get to know your neighbors. Do work in your community. And again, love. When we walked out of the clerk’s office at the same time, I held the door open for Mr. Opposite Voter Guy. Even though we had different views, we can both still be good citizens. Hate has never been and never, ever will be the answer.
My very favorite quote of all time says this: “Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” ~Martin Luther King Jr.
Service: Not very long ago, I went through a very hard time in my life. I felt like I could never know happiness again, that nothing good could possibly come from bad. I prayed, I cried, I struggled, I failed, I loved, and I tried tried tried. And on the dark days, I learned to serve. Service did not erase the bad things I had to face. But service always changed my point of view. It made the big things feel a little smaller. Service is the most powerful, meaningful way you can bring change. Look for moments to serve. Look for people who might not have the same chances in life you do—that maybe are treated wrong just because they are different. Those people are especially hurting right now. Hug them. Love them. Serve them. Our service will not SUBTRACT the bad. But our efforts will ADD to the good.
I want YOU for U.S. um… anything
YOU: We do not know yet what changes will happen in this country. Some will be good. Some will be bad. Some of these changes will have nothing to do with you. Some of these changes may impact your life. One thing that does not change is you are the youest you that ever youed. Boy or girl, black or white, Muslim or Christian—you can still grow up to be a president. Or a stand-up comedian. Or an accountant. Or a Target Cashier (my daughter’s dream job). Or actually, let’s not worry about what your job will be. Let’s think about what YOU will be. Will you be kind? Will you help others? Will you have courage? I think you will. And those traits are something you can start right now. You do not have to be an adult to make your country a better place. Build up your goodness, so when the time comes for you to have your adult conversations, you will speak with an open mind and listen with an open heart.
Today is Veteran’s Day. Please talk to your teachers, parents, and grandparents about what this day means. Learn about the people who have fought for this country. And know we will keep fighting for this country.
Being an adult does not mean we know everything. But it does mean we have certain responsibilities that are not your responsibility. Your responsibility is to grow and learn and enjoy childhood. You live in a country where you can decide who and what you want to be. Be kind. Be brave. Be clever.
I didn’t buy or read all the Baby-Sitters Club books, but the ones I was most excited about were the SUPER SPECIALS. These books were longer and had white covers. The girls usually went on huge trips together, which as a mom sounds like a logistical nightmare, but as a 12-year-old was my dream vacation. Like a cruise! (I’m pretty sure one of the girls finds a cruise boyfriend, also a childhood day dream of mine. Also: all-you-can eat lobster).
You’ll notice this isn’t a screenshot from the book. No, this is the actual illustration. You see, I told my editor Caroline how much joy this illustration brought me. So she thoughtfully asked AG Ford for this illustration, which she had framed and sent to me as a Christmas/book release present. It currently sits by my bedside while we finish building our home. I can’t wait to stare at it in my own office. It’s the second best gift I’ve ever received paying homage to the very first.
Parents also had to decide what to discuss with their children. I started to watch one of the presidential debates with my kids but stopped because there were so many “adult conversations”. Readers, this is a little secret. A lot of adult conversations involve adults not really acting like adults. Maybe that’s why adults don’t want you to listen: Sometimes we are rude and unkind. We should set a stronger example for you. Many kids I know are actually better at thoughtful, mature conversations than their parents! One of those kids lives in my house. She knows who she is.
