My Senator and Me: A Dog’s-Eye View of Washington, D.C.
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Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools -- School Library Journal, 6/12/2008
My Senator and Me: A Dog’s-Eye View of Washington, D.C. video or DVD. 24 min. (closed captioned). with tchr’s. guide. Weston Woods (scholastic.com/westonwoods). 2007. video, ISBN 978-0-545-04376-2: $60; DVD, ISBN 978-0-545-04375-5: $59.95; cassette with hardcover book, ISBN 978-0-545-04380-9: $24.95; CD with hardcover book, ISBN 978-0-545-04379-3: $29.95.
Gr 2-5–“There’s an old saying: ‘If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.’” Accordingly, this entertaining and informative animated version of the book (Scholastic, 2006) by Senator Edward M. Kennedy is narrated by his Portuguese Water Dog, Splash. The pooch explains how he joined the family, how his senator got elected, and how a bill becomes a law; he also provides a guided tour of the Capitol District from the backseat of the Kennedy family car. Viewers see iconic landmarks such as the White House, the Kennedy Center, the Capitol, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Washington Monument. Splash describes a typical day in his life with the Senator, from 6:40 am when “…the tags on my collar jingle, waking the whole family.” After breakfast, they go to their office where they discuss an education bill. Viewers learn that the bill needs to be approved by the Senate and the House of Representatives before it passes to the President to sign or veto—no simple task as the debate rages “on and on.” It takes Splash’s admonishing bark to bring everyone to their senses. The clever pairing of an endearing pup with information about the legislative branch of the U.S. government makes the subject accessible and fun. David Small’s signature ink-and-watercolor sketches and caricatures are lively and amusing—particularly one of the furry narrator’s ride in an underground tram with ears dancing, eyes popping, and tongue dangling in wild excitement. Senator Kennedy reads his part of the story, and upbeat background music captures Splash’s good-natured enthusiasm. A humorous, informative, not-to-be-missed look at a day on the Hill.
