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What Is First Lady Michelle Obama Reading?
By Ashley Hamilton
Oprah.com   |   August 13, 2009
Whenever President Barack Obama is spotted reading a new book, it generates a lot of buzz. But what stories tickle the first lady's literary bone? And what stories would she read to her daughters?

We've scoured through photos and news clips—following Michelle Obama from elementary schools to Easter egg hunts—to discover the books she loves to read.
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
Everyone has bad days...even when they're in the third grade. Michelle read this tough tale to a group of 8- to 10-year-olds at a Washington, D.C., elementary school and followed it with a discussion on how to cope with those very bad days. 

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.
One news report said Michelle seemed to know the words to this animal story by heart, meowing and barking along with her attentive audience at a community health organization in Washington, D.C. 

The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
Dr. Seuss' classic tale of the cat that turned a dull, rainy day into a magical adventure is a go-to for any parent—and the first lady is no exception. She once used this story to entertain a dozen preschoolers during a visit to military families in North Carolina. 

Olivia by Ian Falconer
Olivia is a pig of all trades: She has saved a circus, rocked out in a band and even pioneered an intense "Santa watch." However, the series all began with this simple day-in-the-life look at the unforgettable porcine heroine. The book—and the first lady—were a hit when Michelle read it at the University of South Carolina's Children's Center. 

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
This wild adventure story about a boy named Max and his imaginative journey seems to be a hit with all the Obamas. President Obama has even said, "My wife still thinks that I'm Max...that I'm getting into mischief all the time." Michelle and the couple's two young daughters, Sasha and Malia, looked on as President Obama read this story to kids at the White House Easter Egg Roll this past April.

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Printed from Oprah.com on Thursday, May 23, 2013
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