Sam and the Trump Hat Review

Sam and the Trump Hat by Reva Beck, an educator and grandmother, who is a staunch advocate for children using storytelling to teach positive and healthy messages about life in general. The main character in this book is Sam, a young boy turning eight years old, who is given a red baseball hat with the imprinted words on the front of the cap Keep America Great, for his birthday.  At only eight years old Sam is an ardent admirer of not only President Trump but could name all 45 presidents of the United States having memorized them from a poster on his bedroom wall. Excited to share his birthday present from his parents he showed it to two of his playmates, Jayden and Marco, who thought it was pretty cool. 

On a subsequent trip to the mall with his parents, Sam was so proud of his cap that he wore it proudly with a huge smile on his face. He was met with numerous positive feedback from fellow shoppers and relished the attention it was bringing to him. The following day his mother brought him to a park to play while she remained on a bench reading a book. Suddenly, a much older kid approached Sam and tried to take his hat off of him calling him a racist. Sam told his mother sitting nearby who explained to him what the term meant and assured him he was not one by simply wearing a cap with the words Keep America Great. She also defended President Trump and cited all his accomplishments in fighting for what would continue to make America the premier country that it is. 

Unfortunately, and wearing it at school the next day, Sam was met by the same older kid who took it off of his head and ran off with it. Saddened by this, Sam solicited the help of his friends, Jayden and Marco, to write a letter to President Trump explaining to him what happened. They wondered, being a busy man, if he would read their letter. Weeks passed and the mailman delivered to his home a package addressed to Sam, Jayden and Marco. The return address said " Capitol Hill." Notifying his two friends to come over they eagerly opened the box containing three hats, and a letter from President Trump stating, " You are great patriotic Americans and thank you for supporting me."

Also included, were several tickets inviting Sam, his family and friends to come to the White House on Thanksgiving Day. Upon arriving, they were met by the president himself and the First Lady, Melania Trump, which also included a tour of the White House. Later on, after picture taking and eating freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and hot cocoa, they all went outside to enjoy the Thanksgiving Day parade from the White House balcony.

by Joanne Seward, Chairman Literacy Committee