No one expects the Obama family to join the commerce-crazed masses on Black Friday, but the First Family has proven to be devoted to Small Business Saturday, an annual post-Thanksgiving event that encourages shoppers to support local merchants. This Saturday, President Obama made it a father-daughter outing by taking Malia and Sasha to Washington, D.C.'s Upshur Street Books, before capping off the trip with ice pops at local D.C. food merchant Pleasant Pops, according to Reuters.
As they have over the past few years, the Obamas loaded up on a variety of books at an indie bookstore. They seem to be making a tradition of it, which is great because they're promoting the importance of both shopping local and reading. (Not to mention ice pops. Those are wonderful, too.) The trio didn't buy quite as many tomes as they did last year — nine compared to 17 — but their loot should still be enough to keep them busy for a while. According to CNN, their purchases ranged from work by Booker Prize winner Salman Rushdie to YA novels by Newbery Medal winner Cynthia Voigt.
Based on a tweet from the POTUS, they had a fantastic time. He wrote that he "enjoyed stopping by Upshur Street Books" and encouraged others to support their own local small businesses as well. It definitely looked like more fun than camping out all night in front of a superstore and battling chaotic crowds.
Small Business Saturday may be over, but you can still follow the Obama family's lead and shop at local small businesses. Books and ice pops for everyone!
