StoryMakers with Richard Michelson NEXT YEAR IN THE WHITE HOUSE
Join New York Times bestselling author, Richard Michelson for StoryMakers as he shares the story behind his non-fiction picture book, NEXT YEAR IN THE WHITE HOUSE which tells the tale of how a small Seder dinner on the campaign trail inspired Barack Obama to host the first ever Presidential Passover celebration in the White House. Richard also highlights the connection between Black and Jewish cultures, a theme explored in his book, MORE THAN ENOUGH, and discusses how we all can help make the world a better place in both small and big ways!
Viewers: How would you improve the WORLD?
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ABOUT THE BOOK
The true story of how a small Seder dinner on the campaign trail inspired Barack Obama to bring the tradition into the White House and host the first ever Presidential Passover celebration.
In 1800, President John Adams held the first formal Christmas dinner at the newly built White House. In 1878, President Rutherford B. Hayes observed Easter with a public “Egg Roll.” But it wasn’t until 2009 that a US president officially celebrated Passover.
A year earlier, on the campaign trail, three staffers had to get creative in order to host a Seder dinner. They gathered in a hotel basement, joined by candidate Barack Obama. They made the most of their surroundings and modest dinner, shared the stories and rituals of the holiday, and found connections between their communities. They made a toast and a promise to a future, grander celebration: next year in the White House.
For the first time, this story is told for picture book readers by award-winning author Richard Michelson and lauded illustrator EB Lewis in this special partnership with PJ Library.
ABOUT THE BOOK
A community grows as neighbor helps neighbor in this heartwarming story inspired by the
Golden Ladder, a Jewish approach to charity intended to create a fair society.
Moses isn’t used to jingle-jangle in his pocket, so he’s reluctant to give money when Barefoot Benny clink-clanks his cup of change. But Mom encourages him to follow her example and help a neighbor. “Feels better to help than to need help,” she tells him, so drops a coin in Benny’s can.
Later that spring, Benny’s fortunes have improved. He’s cutting hair at the barber shop, where he gives a free trim to Big Jim, who’s down on his luck. Soon Big Jim becomes the building superintendent, and then he and Moses volunteer to babysit for Ms. Brown when she gets a last-minute job interview and can’t find childcare.
Throughout the year, each neighbor finds the opportunity to help another, and the community grows and deepens through mutual support. As it turns out, “Little enough is more than enough to share.”
Inspired by the twelfth-century Jewish scholar Maimonides’s concept of the Golden Ladder, this picture book models different stages of giving and provides ample opportunity for thoughtful discussions about charity, generosity, and economics while telling an appealing, accessible story. Back matter features an author's note and more information about Maimonides and the Golden Ladder.
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About Richard Michelson
Richard Michelson’s many books for children, teens and adults have been listed among the Ten Best of the Year by The New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and The New Yorker; and among the best Dozen of the Decade by Amazon.com. He has received a National Jewish Book Award and two Sydney Taylor Gold Medals (and two Silver) from the Association of Jewish Libraries.
Other credits include two Junior Library Guild Gold Medals, a National Parenting Publication Gold Medal,an International Reading Association Teacher’s Choice Award, a National Network of Teachers of the Year Social Justice Award, two Massachusetts Cultural Council Fellowships, and two Massachusetts Book Award Honors. Michelson’s work was chosen to “highlight the literary culture and history of Massachusetts” at the 2018 Library of Congress National Book Festival in Washington DC. In 2019 he became the sixth recipient of the Samuel Minot Jones Award for Lifetime Literary Achievement.
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