 Hey everybody, I'm Michael Lambert City Librarian for the San Francisco Public Library and today I am sharing a ban book storytime in solidarity with my beloved colleagues at the Kansas City Public Library a Bet is a bet and I am delighted to share Sophia Valdez future prez by Andrea Beatty Illustrated by David Roberts Sophia was a baby who got things done Helping her family before she turned one She and Abuelo went out every week to help her elderly friends around Blue River Creek Who couldn't get out and about on their own and with no place to gather were stuck home alone? raking the leaves Taking pets for a walk or just dropping by for a treat and a talk Sophia Valdez did as much as she could for her family and friends and her whole neighborhood A dreamer a doer a real-life go-getter Most people liked good, but Sophia liked better Each morning Abuelo walked Sophie to class. They walked home again along Blue River Pass Making plans munching cookies Abuelo and girl except for that Tuesday when pup saw the squirrel with a howl Pup took off Racing all through the town over under beneath and around Sophia scrambled to try to keep up with the hollering man and the bellowing pup Up the squirrel ran to the top of a hill Made of leftover junk for the local landfill They reached the tip top of that mountain of trash which jiggled and broke with an ear-splitting crash Down they all tumbled and hit with a thud On a moldy old pumpkin surrounded by mud Ouch cried Abuelo. He struggled to stand a dangerous mess. He said grasping her hand The next day Sophia walked to school solo But it wasn't the same without her Abuelo This is not right Declared young Sophia who glared at Mount Trashmore and got an idea The very next morning at half past dawn she planted a sign at the front of the lawn She stood back and smiled and pup gave a bark Get rid of Mount Trashmore. Let's build a new park Each of her neighbors had something to say about benches and fountains and places to play meeting spots gardens a Basket for bees a rubber duck pond and a kiosk for cheese She drew every thought on her map of the park, which was perfectly perfect by a quarter till dark She drifted to sleep in her soft cozy bed then bam She woke up when a thought smacked her head her heart skipped a beat as she realized each one of her neighbors had said Let me know when it's done They all thought Sophia could build it alone, but how could one girl do so much on her own? The weight of that thought made her tender heart ache as night thunder growled and she lay wide awake Then dawn brought a storm and the gloomy sky wept and the heart-sick Sophia Finally slept Abuelo baked cookies when Sophie got up. He gave her a bag full and sneaked one to pup He blinked back a tear as he hugged his Sophia for courage. He whispered Te amo mi vida Sophia's knees wobbled. She felt weak inside. She looked at his ankle and quite nearly cried Though she didn't feel brave or courageous at all Sophia Valdez went to face City Hall. There's the library Right next to City Hall Here's Sophia The mayor's office sent her to room 401 the Blue River Creek Department of Fund Which sent her downstairs to room 302 the office of duck ponds and cool things to do To the office of monkeys the Department of cheese the division of fountains and meetings and bees Then down to the basement so musty and cramped Where all the town's papers were sorted and stamped and that's where the clerk said what no one else did You can't build a new park. You're only a kid The words smacked Sophia deep down in her heart. Her plan was kiboshed before it could start. I Think said Sophia. I think that law is wrong But her second grade voice didn't sound very strong The clerk said clearly it cannot be done Do you have any questions? Sophia said one If you were me and if I was you and if if he was your grandpa, what would you do I? Well said the clerk Then she said nothing at all. She thought and she thought Then she sent out a call to every employee throughout City Hall The entire government a blue river creek crammed into the office to hear Sophie speak But her words jumbled up and her and her cheeks turned bright red as a dozen emotions rushed into her head Her heart beat so loudly. She thought it would crack the crowd leaned in closer Sophia leaned back Then her arm brushed the edge of the old cookie sack and that was the moment when Sophia first knew Being brave means doing the thing you must do Though your heart cracks with fear Though you're just in grade two She took a deep breath Looked the mare in the eye and though her knees wobbled she held her head high Sophia started talking. She spelled out her plan and why it all mattered and how it began and once she got rolling she had lots to say and about meeting spots monkeys and places to play and Other ideas for things they could do to help the town elders and other folks, too She had thoughts on the library thoughts on the zoo and perhaps a way to combine the two and Alright cried the mare go start a petition if the town wants a new park will form a commission and So and so young Sophia got right to work With some help from her family and pup and the clerk Then others joined in not all but a few Like Miss Lila Greer and the kids in grade two There were hearings and surveys and taxes to figure then bulldozers cranes and a blue bigger digger They all built that park. That's how it got done with the hard work of buy and for everyone But it began with the dream of one person just one Who laced up her shoes and then led the way to help Blue River Creek get a new place to play Now every evening till long after dark the town comes together at Citizens Park They all hold this truth to be self-evident That Sophia Valdez could grow up to be president Until then Sophia that real life go-getter Helps Blue River Creek get better and better and that was Sophia Valdez future prez I hope you enjoyed our band book story time Thank you for your partnership Kansas City Public Library signing off