The White House said Thursday that it would continue to donate books to schools, despite the “divisive” and “unfortunate” decision by a Massachusetts school librarian to turn down a donation of books this week from Melania Trump.
“Mrs. Trump intends to use her platform as first lady to help as many children as she can. She has demonstrated this in both actions and words since her husband took office, and sending books to schools across the country is but one example,” Stephanie Grisham, the first lady’s communications director told NBC Boston. “Turning the gesture of sending young school children books into something divisive is unfortunate, but the first lady remains committed to her efforts on behalf of children everywhere.”
Trump chose the school as one of 10 to receive 10 Dr. Seuss books as part of a National Read-a-Book day, according to WhiteHouse.gov.
“As I was thinking about your return to school, I wanted to send you a special gift. Dr. Seuss’s Oh the Places You’ll Go! is a book my son and I have read over and over again, and one that we want to share with all of you,” Trump wrote in her letter addressed to the school.
In a response letter published by the Horn Book’s Family Reading blog, Liz Phipps Soeiro, the Cambridgeport Elementary School librarian, said the library has no “need” for the books, and said the books Trump offered are “a bit of a cliche, a tired and warn ambassador for children’s literature.”
