Etta Extraordinaire Goes to the White House

PreS-Gr 2–It is an extraordinary sight to see the cherry trees blooming in Washington, DC. In this charming book, Etta and her class are going to visit the White House during this spectacular time. Etta is an exuberant Black girl who practically dances onto the bus, so great is her excitement about the upcoming journey. Etta loves pink, and she knows all about the cherry blossoms from her grandmother. Upon arrival, Etta’s teacher announces that the class will vote upon their White House activity in accordance with democratic principles. Etta proposes a cherry blossom party on the White House lawn, while painting the cherry blossom petals, listening to the sound of birds, and eating pink ice pops and cupcakes. To Etta’s delight, her idea wins, and the whole class begins to decorate enthusiastically. However, when a downpour begins, Etta’s joy proves short-lived. While Etta mourns the loss of her outside party, her classmates are busy moving the party inside the White House. When Etta finally walks inside, she is greeted by her smiling friends and the best cherry blossom party ever. She concludes that she has extraordinary friends because they are creative, adaptable, and supportive. Burgett’s digital drawings of the large-eyed, diverse classmates radiate happiness, and the background illustrations are suffused with plenty of pink while capturing the beauty of cherry blossoms.