Beloved children’s book character Oliver Doodle Dandy is kicking off a national tour that will end with his story about the American Dream being shared at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum on July 4th in Simi Valley, Calif.
Children’s author Todd Zimmermann is no stranger to mingling with national and state leaders.
His “Oliver the Ornament” book series has received accolades from former First Ladies Barbara Bush and Melania Trump. Now, it’s caught the attention of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, which asked Zimmermann to bring his patriotic-themed Oliver Doodle Dandy book to its annual Independence Day celebration in California.
The book teaches children that in America, you can accomplish anything you dream and that what unites us is greater than what divides us.
“Oliver’s story is my story, and probably yours,” Zimmermann said. “I’m just someone from Sheboygan, Wisconsin who thought he had it all: a great job and a great life. Circumstances intervened and I had to start over. That’s when I really started living my full American dream. I want others to know that they can live their dream, too.”
To build up to the July 4th event, Zimmermann launched the American Dream tour on Monday, May 15, at James Madison Elementary in Sheboygan; the school where he learned to read and write. The event included an Oliver Doodle Dandy book reading and related activities that include children writing “Notes of Love” for Operation Finally Home.
“We are so excited to welcome back author and former James Madison student Todd Zimmermann for his program with the new book Oliver Doodle Dandy,” said Principal Charity Cartland. “Not only are students enjoying an engaging story, but they are learning about important former Americans who have shaped the freedoms and opportunities we all now enjoy. This is really a special treat for our students!”
American Dream tour stops are already scheduled in Wisconsin, Florida, Illinois, Indiana. Louisiana and Michigan. More will be added.
Zimmermann has given away thousands of his books to hospitalized children and classrooms across the country. His American Dream curriculum is available free to any teacher in America. It includes options for community service projects, book-related activities, games, speech and research projects, a sing-along, and story time for classroom use.
Fifteen percent of Zimmermann’s online sales profits during the tour will go to Operation Finally Home. Operation Finally Home is a national nonprofit organization which builds hope by providing mortgage-free homes and home modifications to wounded, ill or injured veterans, first responders and their families. Prior to the dry wall being installed in the home, family, friends, and the community gather at the build site to surround the family with “Notes of Love” by signing inspirational phrases, scripture, and notes of appreciation on bare studs and headers. Recipients of these homes read the notes before the drywall goes up, so their home is literally wrapped in love.
“These notes of love fit perfectly into the Oliver Doodle Dandy curriculum, and we’re grateful that we can help the organization with its wonderful mission,” Zimmermann said. “This book is an effort to help our youngest Americans learn that America still offers opportunities to everyone. Partnering with Operation Finally Home allows us to give back to the heroes whose efforts ensure our American freedom.”
Why is it important to instill a sense of patriotism in kids? I think it's important to instill patriotism and love of our country for many reasons. Number one, is that it builds a shared sense of unity and pride. At a time when we are so divided as a nation, knowing that what unites us is greater than what divides us is a very positive and unifying notion. I believe instilling patriotism is in many ways unique to our nation. No other nation has freed more suppressed citizens of the world than the United States. No other nation has shown more generosity towards others than our nation, and no other nation provides endless opportunities for her citizens than the United States. In America children can accomplish anything they dream possible. And because of that, I believe it's critically important for children (and adults) to have pride in our country.
How does kindness fit in with being an American citizen? As mentioned above, no other nation has shown more generosity than our country. Whenever or wherever there is a disaster in the world, it's the United States that is first on the scene with physical, emotional, and financial support. Over over a ten-year period, 72% of Americans reported helping a stranger, 61% reported donating to a charity, and 42% reported having volunteered their time to an organization. That demonstrates, first-hand, the fact that kindness is an important trait of being an American.
How can parents work to balance a sense of pride in what our country offers while still recognizing that there are areas that need improvement? Our founding fathers talked about "A More Perfect Union" at the birth of our nation in our Constitution. As such, we are constantly evolving, improving, learning from our past and our mistakes. We are always striving to better as a nation and better as a people. Have we made mistakes in the past? Absolutely. But, we have gone to great lengths to right those wrongs. I often say that I believe it's wrong to use today's standards to judge yesterday's behavior. Instead, I think it's important to look at our past and learn from it, so we don't repeat the mistakes of the past.
Zimmermann, a Sheboygan native now based in Chicago, launched his book series in 2015. Since then, he has expanded from a print edition and associated ornaments, games and other products to a digital version. He has read the book in hundreds of stores and classrooms across the country, as well as with former First Lady Melania Trump at the Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C.
Oliver Doodle Dandy is a spin-off of the award-winning Christmas series and teaches children about American history, geography, inspirational Americans and more. Most importantly it shows all of us that what unites us is greater than what divides us.
“Our message of kindness, optimism and hope has resonated so well with children, that we wanted to share these same themes when discussing America,” Zimmermann said.
No comments:
Post a Comment