Chester Barkingham Saves the Country - by Julie Falatko (Hardcover)

About the Book

"The November 2020 election meant a return to pets in the White House, and at some point, George H.W. Bush's funny and charming 1992 memo about not giving unauthorized treats to his dog Ranger made the rounds. It made me think about how dogs bring kindness, acceptance, and love to every situation, both in the White House and in my own house. In a moment of giddy delight after reading the original memo--which really does contain the phrase 'the very bottom basement'--and happy that pets and their owners would return to leading the country, I wrote this book. I hope future White House occupants take a page from Chester and approach the presidency with enthusiasm and egalitarianism--and pizza if necessary"--

Book Synopsis

A White House dog teaches lawmakers how to be better humans in this hilarious picture book told in presidential memos!

Good dog Chester Barkingham moves into his forever home--the White House!--when he's adopted by the president's daughter. The president sends memos to let everybody know about Chester joining the staff and, soon enough, the trouble he gets into.

The president has other things to worry about, though. Congress can't seem to get along, and bills are getting stalled as both sides argue and debate. Chester knows just what to do about the deadlock...if anybody would listen to him. When Chester starts sending memos of his own, Capitol Hill turns upside down--which may be just what everybody needs.

Review Quotes

"The phrase "wag the dog" aptly describes the hijinks that follow the arrival of a canine White House "staff member" in this energetic epistolary tale."--Publishers Weekly "7/15/2024"

About the Author

Julie Falatko writes books for children. She is the author of the picture books Snappsy the Alligator (Did Not Ask to Be in This Book) and Snappsy the Alligator and His Best Friend Forever (Probably), No Boring Stories!, The Great Indoors, the Two Dogs in a Trench Coat chapter book series, Rick the Rock of Room 214, and Chester Barkingham Saves the Country. Julie lives with her family in Maine, where she maintains the Little Free Library in front of their house.

Eva Byrne is an FIT graduate who lives on the coast of Ireland where she works in fashion illustration and illustrates picture books. Her art is imbued with her contagious sense of fun, elegance, and whimsy.