Laura Bush

2016 marks the centennial year of the The National Park Service here in the United States, and in honor of that anniversary, and to draw attention to the many wonderful parks across the country, former First Lady Laura Bush and her daughter Jenna Bush Hager have collaborated with illustrator Jacqueline Rogers to produce this entertaining tale of a young girl who embarks (reluctantly!) on a 'Great American Road Trip' with her family. Initially disappointed that she won't be able to spend the show more summer online, Jane is eventually won over by the natural beauties the she encounters in various national parks. Her family visit the Florida Everglades, Big Bend, the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite. By the end of the trip, Jane has a better appreciation of the natural world around her, and an awareness that she doesn't have to be in front of a screen to have fun.

As someone who has a long list of US sites, both natural and historical, that I would like to see some day, I really appreciated the theme of Our Great Big Backyard. I know a number of people who have taken extended cross-country trips, precisely to see more of our vast country, and have often thought I'd like to do the same. There are so many amazing parks out there, waiting to be explored, and this engaging book gets that message across in a fun way. As someone raised without a television until I was an older child, I also appreciated the fact that the story here emphasizes the pleasures of being outdoors, away from computers, tablets and TVs. Of course, not everyone has a backyard, but we all have parks we could visit - which reminds me that I've been meaning to start going up to Fort Tryon Park on my days off, to spend some time reading while enjoying the views of the Hudson below. I know some people who might be put off reading this, because of the identity of the authors, but this really is a book with wide appeal, for people of all political persuasions, so I hope that people will judge it on its own merits. Although not an outstanding title, it is a solidly engaging one, which presents some important ideas. Recommended to young nature and geography lovers, who should be sure to check out the map on the end-papers! show less

This is aptly titled. Laura Bush's memoir reads as if it could have been transcribed from her own words, and, in places, directly from the heart. It has a warm and relaxed quality to it, especially in her description of growing up in the boom-and-bust town of Midland, Texas. She includes the events of her husband’s presidency but doesn’t let them overshadow her own story and her accomplishments in promoting literacy and education. Also, she doesn’t skimp on giving the White House show more staff, Secret Service, and other related entities recognition for the work they do. Overall, this is a very good blend of Texas and American history and the personal reflections of a gracious First Lady. show less

Jane and Sam's summer plans change when their parents inform them they are going on "The Great American Road Trip." Their disappointment extends into their first stop at the Everglades where they would rather be consumed by their misery. Sam begins to warm up, waving to a riverboat captain as they cross the Mississippi River while Jane hides behind her iPad. Finally when their father got Jane to put down her iPad and look through the telescope at Big Bend National Park in Texas, she began to show more enjoy the trip. From there, they went to the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite. When they got home, the kids even wanted to share their experience with their friends by having a backyard sleepover. I was a little disappointed in the choice of parks. They drove through an area that looked like it might have been Great Smoky Mountains National Park before reaching the Everglades, and it is a shame they didn't use the opportunity to include it. The book encourages kids to explore the outdoors instead of spending all their time behind a screen. The illustrations by Jacqueline Rogers are nice but not Caldecott-worthy. show less

More like 3.5 stars. I enjoyed reading this. I learned a lot about the ways Mrs. Bush used her platform to advance literacy, women's health and education, and other causes, most of which I remember hearing little about at the time. The tone is reserved, but her classiness and warm heart for others shine through. In many ways, the best part of the book is the scene-setting of the first two chapters, as she reminisces about her dusty West Texas upbringing. The section on 9/11 also brought back show more startlingly visceral memories, reminding me just how scary the aftermath was, as well as what a weird time the early '00s were to be coming of age.

She also writes movingly of the odd melancholy of being an only child, and of the longing for children. show less