Dear Mr. President: Reagan Kennedy's Letter (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781545214046)

Meet Reagan Kennedy a/k/a/ LisaMcDougall Version one has Reagan Kennedy as a precocious but naive environmental scientist wannabe. A ten year old who simply believes there is a good chance that Trump will do right by the environment. Seriously? On what possible basis? Reagan's older brother shared a copy of a December 6, 2009 letter that ran as a full page ad in the New York Times. Guess what? Trump and others wrote to Obama acknowledging the scientific basis for climate change and urging action lest there be consequences both imminent and irreversible. The message is loud and clear.. Hat hanger number one for Reagan, apparently unaware that Trump can blow hot and cold. And hat hanger two, as per Reagan's logic -Trump has a personal stake in the future of a healthy planet - look at his loving family, including children and grandchildren. The final convincer for Reagan is that Trump is self proclaimed as smart, very, very smart, even a genius, so Reagan believes duh, of course Trump gets it. Reagan reflects the wonder and awe that a child sees in nature and questions how anyone with power could not use that power for life affirming purposes, taking literally the words that come out of people's mouths because words matter. Version two, maybe Reagan is at heart a Bernie Sanders supporter intent on exposing hypocrisy and the impending ruin of the environment by Trump appointees who possess a slash and burn, take no prisoners mentality, reporting to a president who is complicit, ignorant or doesn't care, or all of the above. The same President who says he is an environmentalist. The passion of Sanders' supporters inspire Reagan to write a letter to the President. Reagan shows some friends. They like it. Say they will also write the President so he knows they are watching, concerned. Reagan then makes the letter into this book. More kids read it. A kids' movement. Lots and lots of kids writing letters to the President. Kids learning more about science to be ready to recognize falsehoods. Kids becoming citizen scientists. Kids educating their families on going green and staying green. Kids visualizing their future. Kids calling out hypocrisy and environmental degradation. Kids mobilizing parents. Kids organizing. They get it.You get it. Truth be told, as it should be, Reagan Kennedy is in a sense both versions. Reagan is the child within Lisa McDougall, who is the adult who transcribed and illustrated Reagan Kennedy's hopes, thoughts and feelings.