Hot Dogs for the Queen

At a time when racism pervaded American society, a young African-American girl from Hyde Park, NY, developed a close relationship with the wife of one of the most powerful world leaders of her time. While Eleanor Roosevelt is remembered by many as a first lady of our country, a compelling humanitarian, and a champion for women’s rights, she extended the same down-to-earth warmth, kindness, and hospitality to Shirley, as she did royalty, dignitaries and other neighbors. One of the few books documenting an African-American youth’s experiences with the First Lady, “Hot Dogs for the Queen” is a collection of Shirley Jackson’s treasured childhood memories of her family relationship with “Mrs. Eleanor.”