Critics Slam Scholastic For Rosy Portrayal of Trump in Kids’ Books

FEATURING DEBORAH MENKART – The school textbook publishing giant Scholastic is under fire – for its children’s books about President Donald Trump. Scholastic publishes a large numbers of books that are in wide use throughout American schools and libraries. While the corporation has gotten in trouble before, this new scandal has irked many Americans over the rosy picture the kids’ books paint about Trump.

The books in question are both written by the same author, Joanne Mattern. One, for older kids is part of the ‘A True Book’ series. The other one, for younger kids is part of the ‘Rookie Biography’ series. While the books were published last year they have received renewed scrutiny recently after a social media backlash. The group Teaching for Change just reviewed the books and many are using #StepUpScholastic to call the company out its portrayal of a dangerous president as utterly normal.

Find out more at www.teachingforchange.org.

Deborah Menkart, Executive Director of Teaching for Change.

**This segment was originally broadcast on June 22, 2018.